American tennis star Frances Tiafoe was left red-faced after he mocked England midway through their World Cup match with DR Congo.
England were made to sweat in their round-of-32 clash with DR Congo, but came from behind to win 2-1 and punch their ticket into the last 16.
Brian Cipenga’s seventh-minute opener saw DRC take a shock lead before a superb, talismanic brace from Harry Kane rescued victory for the Three Lions late on.
Plenty of fans at Wimbledon were taking in the tennis while also keeping an eye on England’s first knockout match in the United States.
And that included the 17th seed Tiafoe, who was keen to revel in the fact that England had gone behind early in the first half when being interviewed by the BBC midway through the match.
After being asked for his prediction for the USA’s clash with Bosnia & Herzegovina, Tiafoe then asked the interviewer: ‘England’s playing right now, are you?’
And after being told that England were 1-0 down, Tiafoe started to grin before adding: ‘I see that, but you don’t want to talk about that though, do you?’
Tiafoe’s teasing comment caught a quick response from the interviewer, who quipped back: ‘I mean, that smile…You better wipe that smile off, my man.’
Ultimately, it was the English fans who had the last laugh following the Three Lions’ late comeback, with many fans keen to poke fun at Tiafoe for his hubris.
‘Ain’t smiling now is he,’ one fan joked on Instagram, while another responded: ‘We won, sorry mate!’
And with his country also safely through into the World Cup last-16, Tiafoe is one of several American players hoping to impress on foreign soil at the All England Club.
The 28-year-old has never previously got past the fourth round at Wimbledon but started this year’s tournament positively with a four-set victory over Terence Atmane.
And Tiafoe will now take on British hopeful Jan Choinski as he eyes up a spot in the third round.
Ben Shelton was the highest-ranked American in the men’s draw, but he suffered a shock first-round exit to wildcard Otto Virtanen.
Big-serving Taylor Fritz, a semi-finalist in 2025, is certainly one to watch as well after he cruised into the third round with a three-set victory over fellow countryman Patrick Kypson.
On the women’s side of the draw, there is also plenty of American optimism, with eight players guaranteed to reach the round of 32.
World No4 Jessica Pegula headlines the US female hopes after coasting into the third round on Wednesday.
And elsewhere, last year’s runner-up Amanda Anisimova will hope to go one better this time around after battling past Sofia Kenin to set up a third-round clash with fellow countrywoman Madison Keys.
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