That love helped score a career-changing win over Rafael Nadal in Flushing Meadows and took him into the Top 20 on the ATP rankings, but for how surreal his ascent has been, Tiafoe insists it was all part of the plan.
“In life, things do come with a little bit of luck, the stars have to align, but success is when opportunity meets preparation. I had the opportunity, I was ready for it from a young age. I had what I wanted to do in my mind, so I just worked towards it.”
Tiafoe began that work at 11 years old, telling his father his dreams of playing on big stadiums around the world like his idols, Venus and Serena Williams. While a career on par with the Williams sisters feels far off, the 24-year-old hopes to have a similar impact on those watching him compete.
“I want, when I’m playing, for fans who don’t even know how to keep score, or who just never watch tennis, but are there to watch Frances Tiafoe. I also want more people of color to play the game, so it’s about making it more accessible and let people know that’s fun to go out and play tennis. It’s always an emotional topic for me, but it’s what I really want my legacy to be.”