Born in Hyattsville, Maryland, in 1998, tennis has been a part of Frances Tiafoe’s life since birth. He and his twin brother Franklin spent much of their youth inside the Junior Tennis Champions Center in College Park, Maryland, where their father, Constant (Frances Sr.) Tiafoe worked as head of maintenance. The Tiafoe brothers split their time between their father’s home within the Center, and their home with their mother, Alphina Kamara, a nurse who worked nighttime shifts throughout the week. Tiafoe’s parents had emigrated to the United States from Sierra Leone in the mid-1990s, escaping a civil war, and making a life in Maryland.  

Their father, utilizing the boys' time at the center, signed them up for tennis lessons at the age of 4. This is where Tiafoe practiced and honed his tennis skills, becoming one of the best American male tennis players on the ATP circuit since Andy Roddick. After a stellar junior career, in which he reached a world No. 2 ranking, Tiafoe turned pro in 2015 at the age of 17. At the age of 20, he won his 1st ATP title at the 2018 Delray Beach tournament. This title makes him the youngest American champion since Andy Roddick won at the age of 19 in 2002. On his 21st birthday, he defeated Grigor Dimitrov of Bulgaria to reach his 1st major quarterfinal at the 2019 Australian Open, becoming the youngest American major men’s quarterfinalist since Roddick, 20, at the 2003 Wimbledon Championships. He went on to become the youngest American male to make his way through quarterfinal and final rounds at several ATP tournaments throughout 2018. That same year he achieved No. 29 in the ATP rankings.  

In September of 2022, Tiafoe reached new heights in his career with an exceptional performance at the US Open, defeating 4-time champion Rafael Nadal in the round of 16 and posting an 8-0 tiebreak record at the US Open. He was the first American men’s semi-finalist at the tournament since Andy Roddick in 2006 and the first Black American to make the men’s semi-finals at the US Open since Arthur Ashe in 1972. Though defeated by Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz in the semi-final round in five sets, 6-7(6) 6-3 6-1 6-7(5) 6-3, Tiafoe’s tournament performance captivated the tennis world. In September of this same year, he went on to lead Team World to the 2022 Laver Cup title, teaming with fellow American Jack Sock to defeat Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal in the Swiss’ final match before clinching the cup with a singles win over Stefanos Tsitsipas.  

In January of 2023, Tiafoe competed in the inaugural United Cup in Australia for Team USA. He ended the tournament with a 5-0 record and, alongside teammates Madison Keys, Jessica Pegula, and Taylor Fritz, won the United Cup title for the United States. He continued in his success in 2023, with two clay titles and a grass title. He also reached his career high ranking of World No. 10 in June of 2023.   

Off the court, Tiafoe has been a vocal advocate for social activism, change, and for giving back to the community. In 2020, he started a peaceful protest on social media that sparked the social media movement, “Racquets Down, Hands Up.” The protest, a response to the murder of George Floyd in May of 2020, invited those in the tennis community to put their racquets down and hands up. Notable players and industry leaders participated including Serena Williams, Naomi Osaka, Gael Monfils, and Jo Wilfred Tsonga, among others. This activism earned him the 2020 Arthur Ashe Humanitarian award. In response to receiving the award he stated “…I [want] people to know that everybody matter. It does not matter who you are, where you come from, or what the color of your skin is. Everybody has the opportunity to be something special…Winning this award is just a reminder that now that I’m here, I need to pay it forward and help the next generation.”  

In addition to his social justice advocacy, he is the spokesperson for ThanksUSA, a non-profit that provides educational opportunities and support to military children and spouses. “I know what it’s like watching your parents sacrifice everything to give you every opportunity in life. I’m blessed.” 

Tiafoe has become an inspiration, not only to young Black athletes in the United States and his parents' home country of Sierra Leone, but to all young American tennis players and fans, excited by his success and looking forward to his future dominant play on the world stage.