NEW DELHI: After throwing up on the court after a tough five-set victory at the Australian Open, Frances Tiafoe acknowledged on Monday that it was unclear if he would continue.
At 5-6 in the fourth set against Frenchman Arthur Rinderknech, the American was sick right behind the baseline and again on the edge of the court at a crucial point.
He persevered and won 7-6 (7/2), 6-3, 4-6, 6-7 (4/7), 6-3 in 4 hours and 8 minutes.
"Honestly, when I threw up, I felt like, returning 5-6, I could be out of here in two minutes, out of here in five minutes," he said.
"I think if it was, you know, any other event, I probably would have let it go. But here, you got to lay it all on the line."
Tiafoe, a two-time semifinalist at the US Open, blamed being over-hydrated instead of the heat for his performance in the middle of the day.
"I threw up all electrolytes and water. Wasn't like food in the tank was the issue. Neither was the heat, really," he said.
"Look, man, things happen. It's been funny all the things I've been getting tagged with since then."
He said, "Horrible. It's been terrible," when asked how his recuperation had gone following the game.
Next up for Tiafoe, the 17th seed, is Fabian Marozsan of Hungary, who also fought through a five-setter.
