WATCH: Francis Tiafoe affectionately jokes with ball boy despite facing defeat

In just over 12 months, American Frances Tiafoe has risen from outside the world top 40 to establish himself as a top 20 player.

No-one can forget Tiafoe's run to the US Open semi-final in September, where he captured the hearts of not just the New York public, but the wider watching tennis world's as well, beating the likes of Andrey Rublev and Rafael Nadal in a show of what talent he has behind his racket.

A Tokyo final defeat to compatriot Taylor Fritz has been his best showing post-Flushing Meadows, but solid wins over Lorenzo Sonego, Britain's Jack Draper and Daniil Medvedev conqueror Alex De Minuar at the Paris Masters had 'Big Foe' confident of a first ATP 1000 title.

But the right-hander came up against arguably the best player in men's tennis in Friday's quarter-final, Canada's Felix Auger-Aliassime taking the win to the loss of just five games.

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However, despite being on the verge of defeat, Tiafoe won the hearts of the Parisians watching inside Bery's Court Central thanks to a moment of affection shared with a ball boy.

During his final service game, the American wrapped his arms around the kid's neck and had a joke with him, a move that was greeted with warm applause by the local fans.

Let's hope we see more of this, and more of Big Foe in 2023.

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