“I’m 100 percent sure that we’re still going to be friends.” That was Ben Shelton ahead of his quarterfinal clash against Frances Tiafoe at the US Open. And sure, Big Foe took the win in a thrilling five-setter, but their friendship? Unshaken. Shelton and Tiafoe aren’t just rivals on the court—they’re brothers off it. Their bond is something special, and history agrees. At the 2023 US Open, they became the first Black American male duo to reach the quarterfinals of a Grand Slam in the Open Era. Fast forward to 2024, and they made history again when Shelton defeated Tiafoe in the first-ever all-African-American men’s final in Houston. And now, at Indian Wells, fans are gushing over their bromance!

Tiafoe’s parents immigrated from Sierra Leone, while Shelton’s father, Bryan Shelton, is of African-American descent. That shared heritage has only strengthened their connection. And after their Houston final, Shelton had nothing but love for his friend. “You’ve been such an inspiration to kids, people of color in our sport. Just an amazing representation. You’ve been that guy to always put on for us and always be selfless, thinking about others, kids younger than you,” he said.

The respect is mutual. Shelton once described Tiafoe as “a brother to me since he’s been on tour,” and someone who always believed in him. Tiafoe, in turn, has praised Shelton for his energy and humor. “As a guy, he’s just young and funny and crack jokes and just about as immature as I am. We always have fun joking around and cracking jokes for sure.”

That chemistry was on full display ahead of Indian Wells, where the two were caught goofing around on camera. Fans couldn’t get enough of them!

Fans react to Ben Shelton-Frances Tiafoe bromance

The tournament’s official Instagram posted a video of Ben Shelton and Frances Tiafoe laughing, captioned, “What do we think they’re yapping about?” And it’s safe to say, fans were all over it.

One user gushed, “Omg how cute is their friendship?!” The American duo are proof that intense rivalries don’t have to get in the way of real friendships. Case in point: Shelton once took a playful jab at Tiafoe’s driving skills. After Tiafoe shared an Instagram photo from a trip to Cabo, featuring himself and his girlfriend on an ATV, Shelton dropped a gem in the comments: “She’s brave getting on a 4-wheeler with u driving 😭.”And what’s friendship without music? Shelton has previously credited A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie for getting him into rap, but lately, he’s been all about Afrobeats. Who put him onto it? None other than Tiafoe.

Fans can’t get enough of their antics. “They crack me up. 😂 Can’t wait to see them,” one user wrote. Even Shelton knows their goofy energy is unmatched. “I think that we are both goofy, especially in the locker room,” he said. “He definitely knows how to bring out the clown side of me, and I do the same with him.”

The internet had a field day trying to guess what they were laughing about at Indian Wells. One fan took a guess, “Probably mocking him on the lost bet.” That wouldn’t be too far-fetched—Tiafoe recently had to wear a Philadelphia Eagles cap after losing a bet to Tommy Paul, despite being a die-hard Washington Commanders fan. He even reassured everyone on X and wrote,”Commanders fan for life. Lost a bet to Tommy Paul.” One user saw the banter and predicted, “We the best in the game tho lmao them Tommy Pauls ain’t got nothing on us cuz lol 😂.” Paul, a key figure in the all-American squad that includes Taylor Fritz, once admitted he wouldn’t have lasted on tour without his fellow Americans and is always rooting for them.

And of course, the love for Shelton and Tiafoe keeps rolling in. “Big Ben n’ Big Foe 🔥🔥,” one fan declared. Now, both are ready to put on a show for their home crowd. Tiafoe faces qualifier Damir Džumhur in the second round on Saturday after a first-round bye. Shelton, also receiving a bye, will take on the winner of Learner Tien vs. Mariano Navone on Sunday.

On-court battles aside, their bond stays rock solid. But what’s next for this dynamic duo? Can they make a deep run in the California desert?