Not many had heard of Frances Tiafoe outside of the tennis community before this year’s U.S. Open.
But his inspiring run at the event has amassed a new legion of followers, particularly those who tuned in to watch Serena Williams’ reported final Open appearance and Coco Gauff’s run to the quarterfinals.
Now, these fans are tuning in to watch the 22nd-ranked Tiafoe follow the path that Arthur Ashe blazed fifty years ago at the courts now graced by a new generation of players like Big Foe.
According to the US Open, Tiafoe became the first Black American man to reach a US Open semifinal since Arthur Ashe did it in 1972.
And, even more significantly, Tiafoe accomplished that feat on a court named after Ashe.
“I love to show the world what I can do,” said the 24-year-old Tiafoe. “I just want to go out there and try to give the crowd what they want — and that’s me getting the win.”
Tiafoe’s history-making run hasn’t been easy.
In the first round, he defeated fellow American Marcos Giron 7-6, 6-4, 6-3.
His second-round match against Australian Jason Kubler was more challenging, with Tiafoe winning 7-6, 7-5, 7-6.
The third round against Argentinian Diego Schwartzman began the same way the second round ended, 7-6 before Tiafoe dug in and prevailed 6-4, 6-4.
Then came the round of sixteen, where he faced off against the no. 2 ranked player in the world, Rafael Nadal.
Not many gave Tiafoe a chance against the dominant player from Spain, many thinking that his exciting run was over.
But Tiafoe had other plans.
The younger player refused to back down, eventually shocking the Spaniard and the world with a 6-4, 4-6, 6-4, 6-3 victory, pushing him into the quarterfinals against Russia’s Andrey Rublev.
In that match, played in front of a boisterous crowd, Tiafoe dug deep and fought through to earn the 7-6, 7-6, 6-4 victory over the world’s ninth-ranked player.
Wednesday’s victory thrilled all in the celebrity-packed crowd, including good friend and Washington Wizards star, Bradley Beal.
It also made Tiafoe the first American player to make the US Open semis since Andy Roddick last did it in 2006. Roddick is also the last American to win a Grand Slam singles championship, winning the US Open in 2003.
Now Frances Tiafoe is two victories away from breaking a 19-year-old drought for US men’s tennis.
That’s something that he’s poised to do and appears more than capable of doing.
He’s beaten the no. 2 player in the world and has fought through matches where others would likely crumble.
And he’s done it consistently during this US Open.
Tiafoe is making history and definitely making Arthur Ashe proud.
In 1968, Ashe became the first black person to win the US Open. That win also made him the first player ever to win the U.S. Amateur and US Open in the same calendar year.
Now, 50 years after Ashe made the US Open finals, Frances Tiafoe has the opportunity to reignite the torch Ashe carried, put US men’s tennis on his back to end a 74 consecutive majors win drought, and make history on courts named after the very man who first made history during one of the most significant years in Black American history.
When the US Open started, Frances Tiafoe was just a young player in the event.
Now he’s the featured attraction at Arthus Ashe Stadium in Queens, NY.
On Friday afternoon, Tiafoe can take another step forward in his thrilling run.
Only now, the entire world will be watching.
