“My Goal Is To Help More Black People Play Tennis” – Frances Tiafoe

You can argue that tennis has liberated itself from societal evils over the years. However, what no one can deny is the obvious class divide that exists with respect to the sport. Tennis equipment is expensive and hence only a few people get access to the best facilities. American player Frances Tiafoe was one of those who broke this divide and served as inspiration for many.

Serena Williams might be the greatest tennis player of all time. But the truth remains that the Black community remains severely under-represented in the sport. Problems compound when you’re not just black, but also from an immigrant background.

Tiafoe faced the harsh side of life when his family migrated from Sierra Leone to Maryland in the USA. His father worked as a janitor at a tennis center while his mother worked double shifts as a nurse to make ends meet. Countering all that, he became a top-level tennis player and is a former Australian Open quarter-finalist. He now wants to encourage more black kids to take up the sport. Let’s find out what he told the ATP Men’s Tour.

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What did Frances Tiafoe say? 

Tiafoe said that his goal was not just to win more accolades. It was to leave a legacy that can inspire future generations.

“I want to be known as a guy who was caring for the fans, a guy who wants to really build an unbelievable legacy,” said Tiafoe.

“My goal is to help more black people play tennis ultimately, and just to be a good role model.”

The road was obviously tougher for him. That also meant that when he finally got the opportunity, he had to take extra care not to deviate.

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“It’s got to be a priority. You’ve got to be able to sacrifice certain things. You can argue I sacrificed doing normal things, just being a kid,” he said.

“But I was having the time of my life, so I was really just enjoying it and that’s all I wanted to do. “I was different than a lot of other kids.”

It’s very heartening to hear these words from a tennis player. He doesn’t have to be more than he already is considering he has amassed $3.5 million in prize money. The fact that he is taking the effort should be enough to tell you that he is destined for greatness.