"Thank you for giving back, for caring" - Chris Evert lauds Frances Tiafoe for launching charitable tennis fund to help youth in America
World No. 10 Frances Tiafoe has earned plaudits from tennis icon Chris Evert for launching a charity fund to give American youth a platform.
Tiafoe, 25, is the third Black American man to have been ranked in the top 10 of the ATP rankings, following in the footsteps of Arthur Ashe and James Blake. The American has won three ATP singles titles in his career, with the latest coming at the 2023 Stuttgart Open.
Tiafoe's best finish at a Grand Slam was at the US Open last year, where he reached the semifinals before falling to eventual champion Carlos Alcaraz.
Recently, Frances Tiafoe announced that he was partnering with the U.S. Tennis Association Foundation to launch his own charity fund at the Junior Tennis Champions Center (JTCC).
Tiafoe first learned tennis at the JTCC, having spent a good chunk of his childhood there. While announcing his new initiative, the American explained how his love for helping people was a motivating factor behind the venture.
"I’ve wanted to do this for a long time. It’s something I’ve always been passionate about. I love people. I love helping people," Tiafoe said.
Evert turned to social media to applaud the World No. 10 for his work, thanking him for giving back to the community.
"Thank you, Frances, for giving back, for caring, for taking action…. @ustafoundation," the American legend wrote on Twitter.
Thank you, Frances, for giving back, for caring, for taking action…. @ustafoundation twitter.com/usta/status/16…
Frances Tiafoe was last seen in action at the 2023 Wimbledon Championships. The 25-year-old had an underwhelming campaign, losing in straight sets to Grigor Dimitrov in the third round.
"I’m a guy who was given a chance and look what I was able to do with it" - Frances Tiafoe on launching his charity fund
Speaking to the media during the launch of his fund, Frances Tiafoe shed some light on how he felt about starting his initiative from JTCC.
The American said he was provided a platform and that is why he could flourish and become a tennis professional. He also said he believes there are more people like him who deserve a platform to shine.
“I’m a product of this place. I’m a guy who was given a chance — who wouldn’t have really had one — and look what I was able to do with it. I feel like more people need to be given that, especially in this area, and especially people who look like me. I know how much influence I have in this area, so I’m happy to start it here in D.C,” Tiafoe said.
Frances Tiafoe's father was a maintenance worker at the JTCC, having migrated there from Sierra Leone following a civil war. The fund is named "The Frances Tiafoe Fund."