Several tennis fans are fuming over Frances Tiafoe's series of jibes aimed at Stefanos Tsitsipas and the American's recent defense of his behavior. Tiafoe has a history of making unflattering remarks towards Tsitsipas. During the 2022 Laver Cup, he came under fire for the seemingly racist connotations of his words; Tiafoe called the former World No. 3 “Greek yogurt.”The American recently aimed another jibe at Tsitsipas, mocking him for expressing his feelings after his Barcelona Open match with a lesser-known Greek saying.“Mad respect for this dude. Great player. But you gotta chill with these quotes my dude smh (facepalm). Just saying,” Tiafoe wrote on his Instagram story.Jess 🍵@jessica4steinHe supports trashtalk but got pressed over common saying translated from other languages?17414He supports trashtalk but got pressed over common saying translated from other languages? https://t.co/ZmZ97miNH8On Monday, April 24, Frances Tiafoe and compatriot Taylor Fritz played an exhibition match in the Greek municipality of Acharnes as part of the IMG Future Stars tournament. During a press conference at the event, Tiafoe was questioned about his equation with Greece’s most successful tennis player, Tsitsipas.Tiafoe responded that he had no problem with Tsitsipas but that he doesn’t know him well. The American also claimed that his remarks shouldn't be referred to as “bullying” and that he was allowed to make jokes about his colleague.“I hope this will be heard everywhere," Tiafoe said. "I have no problem with Stefanos. I don’t want to say I love him because I don’t know him. He’s an incredible player. I just saw the comment and thought it was very funny."“He takes it as he takes it,” the World No. 11 added. “I don’t bully him. It’s not bullying, I can make a joke, it’s ok. I don’t know him. I just know he’s a great player. So let’s get this straight, me and Stef are fine.”Tiafoe’s comments did not sit well with tennis fans, who criticized him for his “ignorant” take on the issue."But he wasn’t making a joke out of it. He was being ignorant and arrogant, and it was TOTALLY uncalled-for. However he wants to pretend it was, it was 100% bullying," one fan said.Max 💙🇪🇺🕷🕸@MadAlix14@VGeorgatou But he wasn’t making a joke out of it. He was being ignorant and arrogant, and it was TOTALLY uncalled-for. However he wants to pretend it was, it was 100% bullying4@VGeorgatou But he wasn’t making a joke out of it. He was being ignorant and arrogant, and it was TOTALLY uncalled-for. However he wants to pretend it was, it was 100% bullyingAnother fan remarked that the American wasn't doing himself any favors by expressing his opinion on the matter."He's just digging a deeper hole for himself i fear," the fan said.jasmine 🇫🇮🇲🇩🇪🇪🇸🇪🇨🇿@miharasmissionhe's just digging a deeper hole for himself i fear twitter.com/VGeorgatou/sta…Vicky Georgatou@VGeorgatouTiafoe tells me he has no problem with Tsitsipas: “I got crazy amount of respect for him, he is an unbelievable player-Saw those comments (“patience of a donkey”), I just think they are very funny. It’s not me bullying him, where I grew up we kids like to clown”.13Tiafoe tells me he has no problem with Tsitsipas: “I got crazy amount of respect for him, he is an unbelievable player-Saw those comments (“patience of a donkey”), I just think they are very funny. It’s not me bullying him, where I grew up we kids like to clown”.he's just digging a deeper hole for himself i fear twitter.com/VGeorgatou/sta…Here are a few more reactions from fans:Corine Leegwater - YogaYatra@CorineYogaYatra@tennisdevotion @VGeorgatou It’s plain bullying.(Btw insecure people bully to feel better about themselves). That he has and makes time for these kind of posts is worrisome in the 1st place, too much time on his hands, he should focus on his tennis and practice kindness. This is the 2nd time he does this.5@tennisdevotion @VGeorgatou It’s plain bullying.(Btw insecure people bully to feel better about themselves). That he has and makes time for these kind of posts is worrisome in the 1st place, too much time on his hands, he should focus on his tennis and practice kindness. This is the 2nd time he does this.Gerda Pardiac@GerdaPardiacTo me the vibe of what he said was different. "He needs to chill" = STFU with your BS.If he thought he was funny, he could just say that and not patronizing him. twitter.com/VGeorgatou/sta…Vicky Georgatou@VGeorgatouTiafoe tells me he has no problem with Tsitsipas: “I got crazy amount of respect for him, he is an unbelievable player-Saw those comments (“patience of a donkey”), I just think they are very funny. It’s not me bullying him, where I grew up we kids like to clown”.43Tiafoe tells me he has no problem with Tsitsipas: “I got crazy amount of respect for him, he is an unbelievable player-Saw those comments (“patience of a donkey”), I just think they are very funny. It’s not me bullying him, where I grew up we kids like to clown”.To me the vibe of what he said was different. "He needs to chill" = STFU with your BS.If he thought he was funny, he could just say that and not patronizing him. twitter.com/VGeorgatou/sta…hoe logic@SommeEllierIt’s weird because Tiafoe often doesn’t do himself any favours with the things he says or how he says them, just like Stefanos really twitter.com/vgeorgatou/sta…Vicky Georgatou@VGeorgatouTiafoe tells me he has no problem with Tsitsipas: “I got crazy amount of respect for him, he is an unbelievable player-Saw those comments (“patience of a donkey”), I just think they are very funny. It’s not me bullying him, where I grew up we kids like to clown”.43Tiafoe tells me he has no problem with Tsitsipas: “I got crazy amount of respect for him, he is an unbelievable player-Saw those comments (“patience of a donkey”), I just think they are very funny. It’s not me bullying him, where I grew up we kids like to clown”.It’s weird because Tiafoe often doesn’t do himself any favours with the things he says or how he says them, just like Stefanos really 💀 twitter.com/vgeorgatou/sta…𝕀ℂ𝔼 | ℂ𝔽𝕚𝔸𝕚ℂ𝕊𝕆ℍ𝔼 𝔼𝕐𝔼🍹🥭🍧🏁@chfaorcheaoe"where I grew up we kids like to clown”. We, we, we.. 🤷‍♀️ people who aren't from merica have to accept every 'joke' from dudebro?🤦‍♀️ twitter.com/VGeorgatou/sta…Vicky Georgatou@VGeorgatouTiafoe tells me he has no problem with Tsitsipas: “I got crazy amount of respect for him, he is an unbelievable player-Saw those comments (“patience of a donkey”), I just think they are very funny. It’s not me bullying him, where I grew up we kids like to clown”.111Tiafoe tells me he has no problem with Tsitsipas: “I got crazy amount of respect for him, he is an unbelievable player-Saw those comments (“patience of a donkey”), I just think they are very funny. It’s not me bullying him, where I grew up we kids like to clown”."where I grew up we kids like to clown”. We, we, we.. 🤷‍♀️ people who aren't from merica have to accept every 'joke' from dudebro?🤦‍♀️ twitter.com/VGeorgatou/sta…Robyn | 🏃🏻‍♀️🎾@thxbutnoshanks@fedsipas Exactly and the fact that he clearly feels he needs to defend himself from bullying allegations and then saying "it's just a joke". Someone needs to do some better self reflection.1@fedsipas Exactly and the fact that he clearly feels he needs to defend himself from bullying allegations and then saying "it's just a joke". Someone needs to do some better self reflection.Susana Oliveira@Susana_OlllIt's more "I want to look cool for my friends, it doesn't matter if Stef thinks it's funny or not" 🤔 twitter.com/VGeorgatou/sta…Vicky Georgatou@VGeorgatouTiafoe tells me he has no problem with Tsitsipas: “I got crazy amount of respect for him, he is an unbelievable player-Saw those comments (“patience of a donkey”), I just think they are very funny. It’s not me bullying him, where I grew up we kids like to clown”.212Tiafoe tells me he has no problem with Tsitsipas: “I got crazy amount of respect for him, he is an unbelievable player-Saw those comments (“patience of a donkey”), I just think they are very funny. It’s not me bullying him, where I grew up we kids like to clown”.It's more "I want to look cool for my friends, it doesn't matter if Stef thinks it's funny or not" 🤔 twitter.com/VGeorgatou/sta…Robyn | 🏃🏻‍♀️🎾@thxbutnoshanksI'm sorry but I don't think he's getting the difference between banter among friends and singling out a person you aren't close with for "jokes". Not the first time he's been like this with Stef either. twitter.com/VGeorgatou/sta…Vicky Georgatou@VGeorgatouTiafoe tells me he has no problem with Tsitsipas: “I got crazy amount of respect for him, he is an unbelievable player-Saw those comments (“patience of a donkey”), I just think they are very funny. It’s not me bullying him, where I grew up we kids like to clown”.443Tiafoe tells me he has no problem with Tsitsipas: “I got crazy amount of respect for him, he is an unbelievable player-Saw those comments (“patience of a donkey”), I just think they are very funny. It’s not me bullying him, where I grew up we kids like to clown”.I'm sorry but I don't think he's getting the difference between banter among friends and singling out a person you aren't close with for "jokes". Not the first time he's been like this with Stef either. twitter.com/VGeorgatou/sta…Christina | Tsitsination 🇬🇷🦁@cpapajohnsSorry, don't believe him. "Greek yogurt" and all mocking laughs in LC were what exactly? twitter.com/VGeorgatou/sta…Vicky Georgatou@VGeorgatouTiafoe tells me he has no problem with Tsitsipas: “I got crazy amount of respect for him, he is an unbelievable player-Saw those comments (“patience of a donkey”), I just think they are very funny. It’s not me bullying him, where I grew up we kids like to clown”.263Tiafoe tells me he has no problem with Tsitsipas: “I got crazy amount of respect for him, he is an unbelievable player-Saw those comments (“patience of a donkey”), I just think they are very funny. It’s not me bullying him, where I grew up we kids like to clown”.Sorry, don't believe him. "Greek yogurt" and all mocking laughs in LC were what exactly? twitter.com/VGeorgatou/sta…Carolyn Horan@carolynhoran@cpapajohns Repeating the phrase "it's not bullying" doesn't make it true. It is, however, what a bully would say.5@cpapajohns Repeating the phrase "it's not bullying" doesn't make it true. It is, however, what a bully would say.Gerda Pardiac@GerdaPardiac@cpapajohns "He takes it as he takes it". How? Stefanos never said a word about Francis. He didn't even react on yogurt thing.2@cpapajohns "He takes it as he takes it". How? Stefanos never said a word about Francis. He didn't even react on yogurt thing.Zoi@zoi__@VGeorgatou He made this comment while he was in Greece for an exhibition match. Ηe couldn't say anything against him. What a clown!@VGeorgatou He made this comment while he was in Greece for an exhibition match. Ηe couldn't say anything against him. What a clown!LavanyaSingerDinesh🌺@LavanyaVocalist@VGeorgatou @tsitsidaily You only "joke around" or "clown around" with someone you're friends with or are very close to. Did Stef & his fans laugh at Tiafoe's so-called joke? They don't even follow each other on instagram.4@VGeorgatou @tsitsidaily You only "joke around" or "clown around" with someone you're friends with or are very close to. Did Stef & his fans laugh at Tiafoe's so-called joke? They don't even follow each other on instagram. https://t.co/2CpSPdHauQRegina✨@rubliever97@LavanyaVocalist @VGeorgatou @tsitsidaily When he called Stef motherf*cker was he also joking? When he made his racist comments was he joking? He’s not funny.2@LavanyaVocalist @VGeorgatou @tsitsidaily When he called Stef motherf*cker was he also joking? When he made his racist comments was he joking? He’s not funny. https://t.co/ecN7HwMHSHAthena Polydorou@AthenaPolydoro1@VGeorgatou To Tiafoe: You are not a kid anymore, stop acting like one. Jealousy is a dangerous sport, you cannot reach Stef so you make fun of him, but the joke is on you.7@VGeorgatou To Tiafoe: You are not a kid anymore, stop acting like one. Jealousy is a dangerous sport, you cannot reach Stef so you make fun of him, but the joke is on you.Stefanos Tsitsipas and Frances Tiafoe confirm 2023 Laver Cup participationFrances Tiafoe and Stefanos Tsitsipas at the 2022 Laver CupStefanos Tsitsipas and Frances Tiafoe have been confirmed as participants in the 2023 edition of the Laver Cup, which will be held in Vancouver, Canada from September 22-24. This will mark the duo’s fourth appearance at the event.While the entire line-up is yet to be finalized, Monte-Carlo Masters winner Andrey Rublev has also been confirmed to represent Team Europe alongside Tsitsipas. Meanwhile, Felix Auger-Aliassime, Taylor Fritz, and Nick Kyrgios will be joining Tiafoe as part of Team World.