JTCC alumnus Frances Tiafoe’s impact in tennis – both on and off the court – is now immortalized in tennis history.
The Hyattsville native is one of 16 players included this year in the prestigious International Tennis Hall of Fame (ITHF) digital exhibit “Breaking Boundaries in Black Tennis.”
Launched in February 2022 to celebrate Black History Month, the digital exhibit highlights the evolution and tremendous impact of Black tennis players worldwide over the past 120 years.
There are 102 players and contributors representing 21 nations included in the Breaking Boundaries exhibit. Tiafoe joins Hall of Fame legends Arthur Ashe, Althea Gibson, Dr. Robert Johnson, and younger generational stars Venus and Serena Williams, Felix Auger-Aliassime, Gael Monfils, and Naomi Osaka.
Katrina Adams, the ITHF Black Tennis History Committee Chair who was interviewed by JTCC when the exhibit opened during Black History Month, commented:
“It has been a pure labor of love, bringing light to the importance of Black Tennis History on a global front.”
A staunch proponent of social activism, Tiafoe created national headlines in 2020 when he sparked the social media movement “Racquets Down, Hands Up,” in response to the tragic death of George Floyd.
The movement included players sharing videos of themselves putting their racquets down while holding their hands up. Notable players such as Serena Williams, Naomi Osaka, Coco Gauff, and the before mentioned Katrina Adams participated in the campaign.
On the court, Tiafoe became the first Black American man since Arthur Ashe in 1972 to reach the semifinals of the US Open after a magical run last year which included wins over Rafael Nadal and Andrey Rublev.
Click here to read more about Tiafoe and check out the comprehensive digital exhibit!
