TENNIS: Tiafoe makes online plea after losing racket in crowd during victory celebrations

PARIS — Frances Tiafoe won a French Open marathon against Hubert Hurkacz on Thursday, but lost his racket in the ensuing celebrations with fans. He later made a plea on social media for its safe return, offering two tickets to his next match.

Tiafoe, the American 19th seed, came through a grueling contest on Court 14 with a 6-7(5), 7-6(5), 6-4, 6-7(1), 6-4 victory. Afterward, he ran to the boisterous crowd to rejoice, only for a fan to cheekily snatch his racket.

Tiafoe did not immediately realize that the racket had been taken. He stepped away from the crowd and continued his celebrations by taking off his shirt, pointing to his head, and flexing his muscles on the court.

But reality soon dawned on him, and he took to social media a short time later to request that the racket be returned before he takes on Portugal’s Jaime Faria in the third round.

"Unreal atmosphere on Court 14 today," Tiafoe posted in an Instagram story. "But I must say to the fan who took my racket at the end when I was celebrating with y'all... can I please have it back? I'll bless you with two tickets for my next match."

Tiafoe, who reached the quarterfinals in Paris last year, is among several American players looking to end a U.S. men's Grand Slam title drought that dates back to 2003, when Andy Roddick won the U.S. Open trophy. -Reporting by Shrivathsa Sridhar in Paris; editing by Clare Fallon/Reuters