Frances Tiafoe and interviewer Blair Henley show the value of a genuine work relationship

HOUSTON—When Frances Tiafoe won his first ATP title eight years ago, in Delray Beach, he celebrated with everyone. Family, friends, fans. Even the media.

“Taking photos of players is not something I do often,” says Blair Henley, who was part of the media in Delray that day. “But he was in the media room, just gathering the whole team around to take a picture with him.”

Chalk it up to youthful innocence if you like, but eight years later, Tiafoe still isn’t too big for his britches. The 28-year-old is one of the sport’s most popular players, with obligations and requests coming at him like opponents’ forehands and backhands. But on most days this week at River Oaks Country Club, Tiafoe could be seen casually walking into the media center, catching up with Henley.

Well, catching up in the Tiafoe sense of the word.

“Get off social media, Blair!” he chided an Instagram-scrolling Henley. “Be present!”

The next day, their conversation turned to fashion. After a hilarious exchange and more buddy banter, it was time for Tiafoe to go, but he made sure to get in the last word: “@Lululemon,” said the brand ambassador.

After Tiafoe and Henley next crossed paths following Frances’ first-round win at the U.S. Clay Court Championships, I asked him why Blair makes his ubiquitous smile just a little bit brighter.

“I hate Blair, I can’t stand her,” Tiafoe said with a laugh. “No, it’s great to just have conversations with her and see her. She’s known me since early in my career, having interviews, and she genuinely wants to see me do well.

“Obviously no bias, of course—but little bias, maybe with me.”

And with that, another beaming smile.

Getting to be there, as a very small part of the journey, is really special. Blair Henley on Frances Tiafoe

Tiafoe has always been someone to watch as a player, dating back to his junior days. He grew up with the sport at the Junior Tennis Champions Center in College Park, Maryland—a facility his father, an immigrant from Sierra Leone, helped build.

Given an opportunity to learn and train from a young age, Tiafoe has more than paid off the JTCC’s investment. At 15 he became the youngest boys’ singles Orange Bowl champion, and two years later became the youngest American since Michael Chang to reach the Roland Garros main draw. He’s gone on to reach five Grand Slam quarterfinals and two semifinals, both at the US Open.

While a big title eludes Tiafoe—he’s 3-8 in finals, all wins at the 250 level—his appeal to the crowd befits a major champion. But while he’s always been an extrovert, Tiafoe’s connection to the crowd wasn’t always as natural as it is today.

“He’ll be the first to tell you,” says Henley, “he used to sort of talk into his chest. You weren’t totally sure what he was saying. He’s really come a long way, how he connects with the outside world because of what he can do in front of a camera, and how magnetic he is.”

Henley, who played tennis for Rice University (right down the road from River Oaks), has become one of the preeminent emcees in the sport, conducting on-court interviews at many U.S.-based tournaments. Magnetic in her own way, she’s ascended in part because of the relationships she’s cultivated with players from their earliest days on tour.

“It’s been something that’s really meaningful to me,” Henley tells me during a rare break in her day. “For whatever reason, I’ve worked many of the 250s in the U.S., and as a result, I get to see a lot of the American men when they first start out. Francis, Tommy [Paul], Taylor [Fritz], Reilly [Opelka]—many of those guys, they might have done some of their first interviews with me, which has been a neat starting point for really nice relationships.”

Given Tiafoe’s success in the States, he and Henley regularly meet up in front of the camera. From his breakthrough in Delray Beach to deep runs in Cincinnati and the US Open to three consecutive finals in Houston, Tiafoe is a blue-chip stock for American tournament directors, filling stadiums and enthralling fans.

But for as often as they interact, Henley is never quite certain what she’s going to get from the gregarious marquee attraction. It keeps them both on their toes, in a good way.

“I remember this very clearly, when I first got to know Frances as an on-court interviewer, he would ask me questions,” says Henley. “He is also invested in the other person.

“Oftentimes with professional athletes, they sort of have blinders on—understandably so. But one of the things I think Frances does so well—and the reason people relate to him so much—is because he is actually looking at the person he’s speaking to. He was like, ‘Where are you from? How’d you start doing this?’ Questions that I was not normally getting from professional athletes.”

Henley believes Tiafoe has refined his innate energy over time. Where he was once letting it “seep out in all directions,” he’s learned to channel it for greater purposes. But there’s nothing artificial about Tiafoe, who is open book if you ask him the right question.

As a result, the world No. 18 is a must-watch—and a must-listen—on the court.

“Francis is very quick-witted,” says Henley. “Whatever I throw at him in the post-match interview, he does a great job of reacting. He brings the crowd in, and that’s something that not all players do.

“He used to just be able to command the crowd with his tennis, but now he can do it in front of a camera. That’s the ultimate.”

Henley’s on-court interview with Tiafoe on Thursday night touched on Frances adjusting to a new playing surface, his history in Houston and his run to last year’s Roland Garros quarterfinals without dropping a set.

“I’m a clay-court player,” deadpanned the hard-court heavyweight.

The two then discussed NBA superstar Kevin Durant’s attendance—for two of the three sets because, in Tiafoe’s words, “he’s old as hell”—and Frances’ love of basketball. Like many of Tiafoe’s matches, the spotlight brought out the best in him.

There was one more thing for Henley to do before she left the court: pump up the patrons for autographed tennis balls. After hitting the first two into the tony crowd, Tiafoe held the final signed souvenir in his hand. And with his other hand, he feigned hitting that ball right at Blair.

“It’s great to have her out,” Tiafoe told me afterward. “We always have jokes after matches all the time.”

And with that, two beaming smiles.