Tiafoe, the Washington D.C. native ranked 17 th, has come close to winning a Slam, making two U.S. Open semifinals, including last year’s extravaganza in Flushing Meadows.

Tiafoe, the Washington D.C. native ranked 17 th, has come close to winning a Slam, making two U.S. Open semifinals, including last year’s extravaganza in Flushing Meadows.

In Tiafoe lore, he started out playing in NJTL programs in Maryland. His father worked in a country club as a janitor and little Francis would whack balls on the tennis courts at age 4.