‘Never sleep on your dreams’. That is the message Frances Tiafoe had for budding athletes striving for excellence and record triumphant feats similar, or even better, than the American star. Following his rise to prominence nearly three years ago, the former World No. 10 shared his insights on facing adversities. For those unaware, Tiafoe, fellow player Coco Gauff, and the legendary Williams sisters, among others, are some of the top-tier talents that have strengthened the Black Community’s voice on the tour.

Tiafoe’s hustle to the top is not unknown. It’s a story about hard work, resilience, and overcoming obstacles. After his parents fled Sierra Leone’s civil war in the 1990s and shifted to the States, they encouraged a young 3-year-old Tiafoe to express himself on the court. As he grew older, the American sensation established himself on the junior circuit. But, it wasn’t until the 2022 US Open he fully realized his potential.

He marked his maiden Slam semifinal run that season and, despite falling short of recording similar results at other tour-level events, the 27-year-old scripted a similar outing in New York last year. Following an underwhelming start to the 2025 season at the Australian hardcourt swing, Tiafoe jetted for the Dallas Open. Seeing as he battled numerous hurdles en route to recognition, he was asked to disclose the critical elements that helped him elevate his level.

In an Instagram video, Tiafoe said: “There’s no secret to it. It’s hard work…Seeing yourself in a different place than where your feet are…When we (are) in that tough adversity space and the odds are against us, opportunities against us…but having that inner belief (and) having good people around you to get you go through the moments. But you got to dream so big for it to then be reality. Never let anybody step down on your dreams.”

“No dream too big fear you in a sense where you don’t want to do,” he added. And, best believe, his hunger for making it big in tennis isn’t going anytime soon.

Frances Tiafoe digs deep to book a second-round date in Dallas

American superstar Frances Tiafoe put on a thriller for the home crowd as he rallied past Japan’s Taro Daniel in a riveting three-set showcase in the opening round of the Dallas Open on Tuesday, February 04. He clinched the first set but, a flip in momentum, saw the second set slip through his hands. However, the fifth seed maintained his composure and used the crowd’s energy to down the Japanese player, 6-1, 3-6, 6-4, in one hour and 45 minutes.

Before leaving the set, Tiafoe shared a few words to address the crowd. “That was massive. Once I held there at 1-0 I opened up the shoulders again. I felt good. Tennis is a game of inches, man. As soon as I held there, I felt a big weight off my back and I was able to swing out.”

“Overall, pretty good first round. I let my foot off the gas a little bit there in the second and you give a guy an inch they take a mile on the Tour. But I was really happy with how I came out,” Tiafoe said. “I played really, really well in the first set. And sometimes when you play that well, you can only go down,” Tiafoe said in his on-court interview.

Next up, Tiafoe will lock horns with Yoshihito Nishioka for a place in the third round of the indoor ATP 500 event in Dallas on Thursday, February 6.