Frances Tiafoe credits Serena and Venus Williams’ dominance in a ‘predominantly white sport’ for shaping his dreams
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Frances Tiafoe, Serena Williams and Venus Williams
American professional tennis player Frances Tiafoe made it to headlines this year when he advanced to the semifinals of a singles major for the first time in his career at the US Open. By doing so he became the first American to reach the semifinals at the event since his compatriot Andy Roddick in 2006.
During a recent conversation with The Old Man And The Three podcast, the 24-year-old Tiafoe opened up about his childhood and the inspiration behind taking up tennis among other things. On the show, Tiafoe credited Serena and Venus Williams dominance in tennis for shaping up his dreams.
“If Serena and Venus weren’t playing tennis, even with the come up I had like, I’m you know, seven eight years ago watching them play against each other in the Wimbledon final, in a predominantly white sport, I’m looking at my dad, that’s iconic,” Tiafoe said while being brutally honest about his tennis dreams.
“I’m not saying, I want to be them because they’re one of ones. But I want to be remembered like that. And I think, and when you create that, it’s you know, it’s insane” Tiafoe continued talking about Williams sisters and how he would like to be remembered.
Tiafoe also said that he wants to make tennis more accessible to people of color and show them how much fun it is. “I want more people of color to play the game of tennis, obviously. So, make it more accessible and let people know that it is fun,” Tiafoe elaborated on his view.
Frances Tiafoe reveals the childhood story that inspired him to take up tennis
American professional tennis player Frances Tiafoe shared how the ‘funny’ circumstances during his childhood played a huge role in his journey to becoming a professional tennis player. He mentioned that his parents worked at an under-construction tennis academy and they took him with them as they were afraid of leaving him alone at the neighbourhood.
“My dad helped build a tennis academy. Once the tennis academy was built, he became the head maintenance guy,” said Tiafoe. “My dad lived at the tennis center. So, with all those kind of things, it allowed me and my twin brother to be there for free,” Tiafoe said.
“Honestly, it’s funny that we’ve been doing all these cause they were only doing that to get me to tennis center, to not be in our neighbourhood after school and kind of just be in a good environment,” the 2022 US Open semifinalist further elaborated.
Tiafoe is among the next-gen tennis star to feature in the upcoming Netflix docuseries Break Point.
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