Frances Tiafoe, Karen Khachanov make gnocchi with Michelin-Star chef, eat dessert 'crack' in Almaty

ALMATY, Kazakhstan—“I have no idea what I’m doing!” announced Frances Tiafoe after being tasked with helping to prepare gnocchi early Tuesday evening.

It’s probably fair to say most professional tennis players could relate to last month's US Open semifinalist.

Ahead of their campaigns at the Almaty Open, top seed Tiafoe and third seed Karen Khachanov welcomed a special opportunity to get hands on with a chef holding a Michelin Star. The two were introduced to Baptiste Renouard, before diving into a brief lesson on the art of making gnocchi.

“For me, in general I never cook. To learn and have this experience is just great for my life,” Khachanov told Baseline.

As the two learned about the potato dough-making process, Tiafoe and Khachanov exchanged pockets of playful banter. At one stage, when the two were discussing whether they cooked with their loved ones, the American learned a new fact about his peer’s personal life.

“You've been married eight years?!” a surprised Tiafoe said.

Once it was time to roll out and shape the gnocchi, it became clear one player was slightly better at executing the task at hand.

“You don’t want any of mine?” Tiafoe asked Renouard, as the room burst into laughter.

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Soon it was time to taste their creation, topped with parmesan sauce. On whether it’s a dish Tiafoe wants to recreate with longtime girlfriend Ayan Broomfield, the Hyattsville, Md. native shared, “I’m gonna tell her. Now I've got the ingredients, let’s get that cooking. Hopefully we can do that.”

But it was what the French chef served up next that won both players over. Explained Renouard about his sweet sensation, “The story of that dessert is about the hot chocolate memories of the childhood. In France, when you’re a kid and have the breakfast, you have the hot chocolate, the French toast with the butter and you put inside the chocolate.”

“Whaaaat?” reacted Tiafoe upon eating his first bite.

Shared Khachanov, “I love sweets. For me, it was one of the best ones. His signature dessert, to have this opportunity to try it especially when the chef comes to you, it’s one of a kind.”

Tiafoe also gave a glowing testimonial afterwards.

“It was crack, man. It was so good,” he began. “Probably one of the best desserts I’ve ever had. It was so rich, every bite was sensational. He put it at a high standard. He said, ‘this is going to be the best thing you’ve ever had.’ I was like, ‘man put your money where your mouth is.’ So I’m glad that’s what it was.”

Renouard, who played tennis as a kid, was thrilled to connect with two notables faces on the ATP Tour.

“It was a very nice moment, very amazing,” summed up the owner of Restaurant Ochre in Rueil-Malmaison just west of Paris. “I saw a lot of players on ‘Break Point’, where I discovered Frances. I thought, ‘this guy is very cool, I wish I could meet him.’”

I have a great relationship with the country of Kazakhstan. Here you have a lot of people who make you feel really welcome. It’s one of the best tournaments. —Karen Khachanov

Equally content about their encounter, Tiafoe reflected, “That was a lot of fun. From a guy like him who’s so elite, it was incredible.”

Having received first-round byes, Tiafoe and Khachanov will each take the court on Thursday. For the 28-year-old, he’s looking forward to competing inside an arena that feels like home.

“I have a great relationship with the country of Kazakhstan. Here you have a lot of people who make you feel really welcome,” said Khachanov. “It’s one of the best tournaments.”