“Going to practice wearing hand-me-downs… People are laughing at us”: Frances Tiafoe opens up on childhood struggles, calls father Constant his rock

Despite facing challenges during his childhood, Frances Tiafoe has now shared his experiences and reflected on the time he spent with his brother, Franklin Tiafoe, as they pursued their dreams of becoming professional tennis players. He also acknowledged the unwavering support of his father, Constant, who has always been his pillar of strength.

Tiafoe’s parents, Constant and Alphina Kamara, moved to the United States in order to flee the civil war in their native country. His father was employed as the head of maintenance at the Junior Tennis Champions Center (JTCC) and was given a spare office to live in. At the same time, Tiafoe’s mother worked as a nurse at a hospital and held part-time positions.

During a recent episode of Nick Kyrgios’ video podcast, ‘Good Troubles with Nick Kyrgios,’ Tiafoe shared personal experiences about the difficulties he encountered in his childhood. He recounted that as a result of financial hardships, he and his twin brother Franklin were frequently dressed in hand-me-downs and had to use demo rackets. This caused them to be mocked by others when they competed in tournaments.

“There’s days where it got tough for me, my brother. We’re going to practice, and we’re wearing hand-me-down stuff or demo rackets, whatever you can play with. People are laughing at us, saying, ‘This guy thinks he can be a pro, or this guy is playing with holes in his shoes, whose shoes are those or Pikachu shirts and khaki shorts, and I’m playing tournaments, and they’re like, ‘That’s not even tournament equipment’ and I’m like, ‘This is all I got,’” he said (at 4:06).

During his childhood, Kyrgios inquired with Frances Tiafoe about who had been his constant source of support and stability during the challenging times he faced.

Tiafoe responded by expressing his gratitude for his father, Constant, who has been a constant source of strength for him. He shared that Constant takes great pride in his achievements. Additionally, he acknowledged the support from his girlfriend, Ayan Broomfield, and his brother, Franklin.

“Yeah, my dad’s definitely one. My dad was always saying, ‘It’s not about where he starts but where you going.’ That sentence right there changed my life. He’s just so proud of me. He, my long-term girlfriend, and my twin brother,”Frances Tiafoe said (at 5:05).

Tiafoe highlighted the significance of his family’s support during his developmental years, acknowledging how it played a crucial role in his achievements.

“I like a good family base. I think families are so big that you can just lean on them and they’ll tell you the room—stuff you’re not trying to hear but you need to hear. Yeah, I’ll probably say my whole family,” he added.

Frances Tiafoe’s Promise to His Family: Becoming a Pro and Taking Care of Everyone

During their conversation on the previously mentioned podcast, Frances Tiafoe revealed to Nick Kyrgios that he and Franklin would occasionally have to spend the night in their father’s office while their mother Alphina Kamara worked night shifts in order to provide for the family.

“2–3 times a week I’ll get picked up from school and my dad is working, and me and my brother would have the ball against the wall, kind of joke around, we’d see the coaches, tell the players some stuff, and we would go to empty court and try to mimic it, like whiff and serves or whatever, but we’re trying to do it,”Frances Tiafoe said (at 2:57).

Tiafoe shared that they dedicated multiple days each week to being at the tennis center, where they would engage with fellow players, coaches, and support staff. During their visits, they also aided their father with tasks such as collecting litter and upkeeping the clay courts.

“Then my mom calls us, and she’s like, ‘I’m working overnight; you’re going to the tennis center.’ So we’re picking up trash, we’re lining the clay courts, we’re doing all this, and I always go to my dad, and I’m like, ‘Man, this is crazy.’ He’s like, ‘Look man, this is going to play out one day.’ We’re sitting in the golf cart while he’s sweeping the place, saying, ‘It is going to pan out one day,’” he added.

As a result of the struggles that he and his family faced, Frances Tiafoe made a commitment to turn professional and support them.

“I was like, ‘You know, I’m going to be the guy who is going to change that.’ He’s always chasing dreams; I’m doing this for the greater good, and so then the appreciation came. Anything that came my way, I was very appreciative. So yeah, I mean, then I’m just sitting there sleeping on the massage table with my dad and I’m like, ‘I’m going to be a pro; I’m going to take care of everybody,’” Frances Tiafoe said (at 3:35).

Tiafoe, who is seeded third, is currently set to begin his campaign at the U.S. Men’s Clay Court Championships on April 4th with a second-round match against James Duckworth.