Frances Tiafoe | Bio | ATP Tour

Personal
Career

Nickname is Big Foe.
Began playing tennis against a wall at age 3 with twin brother, Franklin.
Trained as a kid at the Junior Tennis Champions Centre in College Park, MD, USA, where his father served as Head of Maintenance. Occasionally came to work with his father and spent entire days at tennis centre. Mother helped him and his brother with school.
Father, Frances Sr., and mother, Alphina, moved from Sierra Leone to USA in 1996.
Visited Sierra Leone at age 8 alongside his mother and brother. "I came back thinking different," said Frances. "I came back appreciating everything."
Favourite surface is clay, shot is forehand and tournament is ATP Masters 1000 Indian Wells.
Childhood idol was Juan Martin del Potro, whom he beat en route to 2018 Delray Beach title.
Dream opponent is Yannick Noah.
Recipient of 2020 Arthur Ashe Humanitarian Award.
Ambassador for ThanksUSA and USTA's National Junior Tennis and Learning(NJTL).
During COVID-19 pandemic, auctioned off signed memorabilia to benefitCenter for Disaster Philanthropy.
Also in 2020, posted"Racquets Down, Hands Up" video that united Black tennis community during Black Lives Matter movement.
Enjoys going to the movies and watching basketball and American football.
Big fan of NBA players Bradley Beal, Kevin Durant and LeBron James.
Often imitates James' celebrationfollowing victories and was congratulated by James on Twitterafter defeating Rafael Nadalat 2022 US Open."Man, I was losing it in the locker room. Bro, I was going crazy," Tiafoe said. "That's my guy. So to see him post that, I was like, 'Do I retweet it as soon as he sent it?'"
Supports Washington Wizards (NBA), Washington Capitals (NHL) andWashington Commanders (NFL).

(UPDATED 17 JANUARY 2025)

Former World No. 2 junior achieved career-high No. 10 in June 2023 after capturing 3rd title in Stuttgart on grass, saving 1 MP vs. Struff in final to earn ATP Tour titles on all three surfaces.
Joined Fritz in Top 10 during 2023 season to mark 1st time since May 2012, two Americans (No. 9 Fish, No. 10 Isner) were ranked in Top 10.
Defeated 4-time champion Nadal en route to 2022 US Open SF, becoming that event’s 1st American men’s semi-finalist since Roddick in 2006.
Led Team World to 2022 Laver Cup title, teaming w/Sock to defeat Federer/Nadal in Swiss’ final match before clinching cup with win over Tsitsipas.
Earned 200th win of career and saved 2 MPs vs. Rune in SF en route to 1st ATP Masters 1000 final at 2024 Cincinnati.
Won 1st ATP Tour title as 20-year-old at 2018 Delray Beach and remains youngest American champion since Roddick, 19, at 2002 Houston and 2nd ATP Tour title at 2023 Houston.
Posted 5-0 singles record to help Team USA win inaugural United Cup in January 2023.
Parents emigrated from Sierra Leone in 1996 and father was Head of Maintenance at Junior Tennis Champions Center in Maryland, where Frances and his twin brother Franklin trained as kids.