CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) 鈥� Frances Tiafoe wore a when he beat in an exhibition tennis match.
A day later, Tiafoe returned to the Spectrum Center to watch the Hornets play the Cleveland Cavaliers on Saturday.
Tiafoe hit souvenir tennis balls into the stands during the game and visited the Cavaliers' locker room after they beat the Hornets .
鈥淚鈥檓 a big NBA fan and I know and like a lot of the guys in the league,鈥� Tiafoe said after picking up signed jerseys from Cleveland players Donovan Mitchell and Darius Garland.
Garland said he met Tiafoe during Fashion Week in New York in February.
鈥淲e just hit it off and I came to the tennis match last night, talked to him a little bit and told him to come to the game today,鈥� Garland said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 pretty cool to know someone in another sport like him.鈥�
Garland said he got a signed tennis ball from Friday鈥檚 exhibition.
鈥淵eah it鈥檚 pretty cool that he wanted a jersey,鈥� Garland said. 鈥淚 got a signed tennis ball and I think that鈥檚 a pretty good trade-off.鈥�
Tiafoe, who is from Hyattsville, Maryland, said he grew up a Wizards fans and that former Washington guard John Wall is his favorite player. Former Wizards star in Flushing Meadows to support his friend when Tiafoe reached the U.S. Open semifinals in 2006.
鈥淚鈥檓 still a Wizards fan and an NBA fan,鈥� the 26-year-old Tiafoe said. 鈥淚 love going to games when I can.鈥�
Hornets coach Charles Lee was thrilled that Tiafoe, currently ranked No. 18 in men's singles, came to see his team鈥檚 practice on Friday.
鈥淚 think it鈥檚 good for our players,鈥� Lee said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 great for them to interact with another guy who is one of the best in the world in his craft and profession. They get to sit down and pick his brain a little bit.
鈥淗aving him at practice yesterday was very cool. I admire him from afar. What he鈥檚 been able to achieve at a young age on the tennis circuit.鈥�
Tiafoe wore a replica jersey of Hornets guard Brandon Miller when he edged Alcaraz, the four-time Grand Slam champion from Spain, 5-7, 6-1, 11-9 on Friday. Earlier, 2017 U.S. Open women鈥檚 singles champion Sloane Stephens played an exhibition match against Madison Keys.
The tennis drew 16,194 fans, a few hours before the NBA game that drew 18,832.
Among those in attendance Friday were Hornets players Miller, LaMelo Ball, Miles Bridges, Mark Williams, Josh Green, Vasa Micic, and Taj Gibson. Cavaliers players Garland, Ty Jerome and Georges Niang were also in the crowd.
The Hornets introduced Tiafoe in the first quarter Saturday.
鈥淚t鈥檚 been an amazing experience here in Charlotte,鈥� Tiafoe told the crowd.
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AP NBA:
Richard Walker, The Associated Press
