Frances Tiafoe explains Ryan Garcia line after tense Roland Garros row

The flashpoint came when Tiafoe challenged Faria during the match, saying: “Why don’t you quit trying to act like you’re tough? You’re not hard, bro, just play.”

The chair umpire stepped in as the argument continued, and the 28-year-old later admitted Faria’s chirping affected the mood of an already tense match.

“I felt like I needed that too because I’m up at the time, but I’m still a little nervous,” Tiafoe said in the on-court interview afterwards.

The world No. 22 felt Faria was acting like a fighter in a tennis match, rather than simply playing the next point, and compared him to WBC welterweight champion Ryan Garcia.

He explained: “He thought he was Ryan Garcia or something. So I just had to definitely let him know like, ‘Chill out, bro, just play and just enjoy being in Paris.’ So yeah, I mean, it was a little back and forth, nothing serious, but it definitely wasn’t my favourite.”

The American insisted it was nothing serious, but it still gave his comeback a different edge.

After two lost sets, Tiafoe needed a spark. Faria’s words provided one, and the American used it to take control in Paris.