Francis Tiafoe is having a tough time against Carlos Alcaraz on Centre Court, and his sudden improvement has stunned the crowd. Tiafoe’s loved ones have been cheering him on from the box, and are out in force today. Even Tiafoe’s most die-hard fans are intrigued to see some new faces on his team, most notably his fitness trainer.
A fitness trainer is always an essential part of a team. In fact, some elite players choose to employ more than one trainer. But for Tiafoe, TC Costello will suffice. The mysterious man sitting in the box with the cap on does a great job.
TC Costello is a well-known figure in Tiafoe’s hometown of Washington. His day job is running the fitness program at the Junior Tennis Champions Center, a complex outside Washington, D.C. Costello got the job because his father happens to be the center’s maintenance man.
Tiafoe is pretty strict when it comes to hiring a coach. Recently, The New York Times reported that Tiafoe wants a player or coach who has reached the mountaintop. But Tiafoe can’t ignore the famous local fitness trainer who runs a popular YouTube channel. When Tiafoe’s popularity soared last year, Costello revealed how it affected his performance. He said:Francis admitted to us that [the fame] It may have hurt him a little bit, but honestly, he’s handled it well. Early in his career, he had his ups and his downs, but I think that helped him. He’s like, ‘I’m not going to let that happen again.’“
TC Costello’s contribution in speeding up Tiafoe’s recovery ahead of Wimbledon will be crucial.
Francis Tiafoe’s nasty fall at the Queen’s Club Championships
Tiafoe was seriously injured less than two weeks before the Wimbledon tournament at Queen’s. Many experts had doubts about his participation in Wimbledon, but Tiafoe surprised everyone by participating. He was wearing a knee brace on his right leg and performed brilliantly in the championships. The well-known British journalist James Gray was amazed by Tiafoe’s comeback.
He tweeted: “A week ago, I watched Francis Tiafoe play a scrimmage, barely able to walk from the baseline to his chair.“
A week ago, I watched Francis Tiafoe play a scrimmage, barely able to walk from the baseline to his chair.
It’s incredible that he’s now defending and winning two sets to one. #Wimbledon Champion Carlos Alcaraz…
— James Gray (@jamesgraysport) July 5, 2024
Tiafoe is now reaping the rewards of his trust in Costello, who lives in Washington and has accompanied Tiafoe to all of his Wimbledon matches and become a key member of his coaching staff.