Tennis player Frances Tiafoe took a moment to recognize actor Tony Goldwyn during his on-court interview after reaching the quarterfinals of the U.S. Open. Tiafoe, who defeated Australia’s Alexei Popyrin in four sets on September 1, spotted Goldwyn, known for his role in “Scandal,” in the audience.
“Hold on. Sorry, sorry. Tony Goldwyn was in the crowd,” Tiafoe exclaimed. He expressed his admiration, saying, “Yo, I’m a huge fan of you, bro. Me and my girl used to watch ‘Scandal’ all the time.” Tiafoe has been in a long-term relationship with fellow tennis player Ayan Broomfield for nearly nine years.
The moment was highlighted on social media by the U.S. Open, which shared a clip of Goldwyn cheering for Tiafoe.
Goldwyn portrayed President Fitzgerald Grant in “Scandal” from 2012 to 2018 and remains a popular figure. He was joined at the match by several familiar faces from the show, including creator Shonda Rhimes and co-stars Scott Foley and Bellamy Young, along with “Grey’s Anatomy” star Ellen Pompeo and her husband, Chris Ivery.
Tiafoe has emerged as a key player in tennis, having made history by advancing to the semifinals of the U.S. Open in 2022. He became the first American man to reach that stage since Andy Roddick in 2006 and the first Black American man since Arthur Ashe in 1972.
This year marks Tiafoe’s third consecutive appearance in the quarterfinals at the U.S. Open. When asked about being considered a favorite to win during a post-match press conference, Tiafoe offered a humble response, stating, “I appreciate the compliment that you think I’m one of the favorites, but I’m just day by day, literally.”