Tennis- Frances Tiafoe First Black American Man To Reach US Open Semi-Finals
Inspiring the next generation, especially people of color.
It doesn’t matter if you are not a tennis fan or don’t follow the sport.
Frances Tiafoe’s success story will still inspire you. Maybe make you teary-eyed. Like it did to me.
‘Big Foe on the come-up’ has been Frances Tiafoe’s slogan on social media and post-match press conferences for years.
Now, he’s officially come all the way up—and the sky’s the limit after breaking through to his first Grand Slam semifinal. Tiafoe creates history by defeating two top 10 players in the 2022 US Open — No. 2 seed Rafael Nadal in the pre-quarterfinals and No. 9 seed Andrey Rublev in the quarter-finals.
First Black American Man To Reach US Open Semi-Finals
1. US Open Tennis
Here is what US Open Tennis twitted after Tiafoe’s superb 7–6 (3), 7–6 (0), 6–4 victory over No 9 seed Andrey Rublev.
Frances Tiafoe becomes the first Black man to reach a #USOpen semifinal since Arthur Ashe in 1972.
He did it on the court named after Ashe. #BeOpen
The Frances Tiafoe story.
Tennis- Frances Tiafoe First Black American Man To Reach US Open Semi-Finals
Inspiring the next generation, especially people of color.
Tiafoe’s journey into the ATP Tour’s elite has been well documented:
🎾 The son of immigrants from Sierra Leone, his parents came to America from Sierra Leone in the ’90s.
🎾 Tiafoe’s dad took a job on a construction crew for a tennis center in Maryland, then as a custodian.
🎾 For 11 years, the Tiafoe family slept in one of its offices. Spurring his eventual interest in the sport.
🎾 He says, “My father encouraged me to play tennis to get a tennis scholarship for a good school and college as we could not afford it. Serena and Venus Williams have been great inspirations for me.”
🎾 Tiafoe’s first coach paid for his tournament entry fees. He turned pro in 2015. Today, he plays his first US Open Semi-Finals. Becoming the first Black American Man to reach US Open Semi-Finals since Arthur Ashe in 1972.
2. Front Office Sports
Front Office Tennis took to Twitter, congratulating Tiafoe on his advancement to the US Open semifinals. Also, sharing with fans his success story.
Frances Tiafoe’s parents came to America from Sierra Leone in the ’90s.
His dad took a job on a construction crew for a tennis center in Maryland, then as a custodian.
For 11 years, the Tiafoe family slept in one of its offices.
Frances just advanced to the US Open semifinals.
3. The Tennis Letter
🎾 Watch the video as Tiafoe answers — what message his life story should send to people in his post-match press conference?
Frances Tiafoe was asked what message his life story should send to people.
Frances: “That anybody can do it…”
He’s the first American into the semifinals of the US Open since Andy Roddick did it 16 years ago.
Up next, Frances Tiafoe plays Carlos Alcaraz in the semi-finals on Friday at 7 PM. at Arthur Ash stadium. Fam, who are you supporting tonight?
Let’s chat in the comments section. 😊
Final word
Frances Tiafoe has a powerful message for YOU— “If I can do it, you can do it.” Period.
