frances tiafoe

Biography

Overview
Tiafoe first represented Team World at the inaugural Laver Cup in Prague 2019 as a 19-year-old, and Berlin will mark his fifth appearance on Captain John McEnroe’s roster. He clinched Team World’s breakthrough triumph in London at the O2 Arena in 2022, sensationally beating Stefanos Tsitsipas on Day 3 to secure victory for his team, having earlier combined with Jack Sock to defeat Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal in the Swiss star’s final professional match. At Vancouver in 2023, he contributed to Team World’s second Laver Cup title, beating Hubert Hurkacz in the singles and winning two doubles matches, partnering with Tommy Paul and Ben Shelton respectively.

Off Court
The son of Frances Snr and Alphina, who are immigrants from Sierra Leone, Frances developed his game at the Junior Tennis Champions Center in Maryland. His father had helped build the facility and later became its Head of Maintenance. As children, he and twin brother Franklin would spend entire days with his father at the center and Frances took to the court at every opportunity. Development was quick for young Frances, who won the prestigious Orange Bowl at age 15 and earned a wildcard to compete in the 2015 French Open. In 2020 he received the Arthur Ashe Humanitarian Award.

Career
Frances Tiafoe has proved himself on the world stage, with victories over many top-ranked players and a sensational run to the 2022 US Open semifinals, defeating four-time champion Rafael Nadal in the fourth round. Tiafoe became the first American man to reach the US semis since Andy Roddick in 2006 and was edged out in a five-set marathon to eventual champion, Carlos Alcaraz. In 2023 he reached the quarterfinals at Flushing Meadows, falling to Team World teammate, Ben Shelton. Tiafoe won his first ATP Tour singles title at Delray Beach in 2018 and added two more titles in 2023 at Houston on clay and Stuttgart on grass, breaking into the top 10 for the first time. Tiafoe hit form on the North American hardcourt swing in 2024, reaching the semifinals at the ATP 500 in Washington, the finals at the ATP Masters 1000 in Cincinnati and the semifinals once again at the US Open where he was defeated by Team World teammate and good friend Taylor Fritz in five sets.

2024 Highlights
Runner-up: Houston, Cincinnati
Semifinals: Delray Beach, Washington, US Open
Quarterfinals: Hong Kong, Dallas, Stuttgart, Atlanta
3R: Wimbledon