Recognizing Frances Tiafoe

Floor Speech

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Mr. HOYER. Mr. Speaker, there is always time to celebrate extraordinary Americans, which is why I rise today to recognize American tennis star and proud son of Maryland's Fifth District, Frances Tiafoe.

Last week, he became the first American man to reach the U.S. Open semifinals since 2006 and the first African-American man to do so since Arthur Ashe in 1972.

Indeed, Tiafoe is one of the only three African-American men in the history of tennis to advance out of the rounds and into the finals of the U.S. Open.

Of course, we have been very proud to cheer Serena Williams and Sloane Stephens, who together won 4 out of the last 10 women's titles in the U.S. Open, not to mention an extraordinary young woman, Coco Gauff, who made it to the U.S. Open quarterfinals.

Tiafoe's accomplishments in the men's tournament are especially impressive, Mr. Speaker, considering his extraordinary story. Born in Maryland's Fifth District--mine--to immigrant parents who fled civil war in Sierra Leone, Frances grew up living in a spare office at the Junior Tennis Champions Center in College Park, Maryland, where his father worked as a custodian. Indeed, earlier, his father had been part of the construction crew that built that tennis center.

Noticing young Frances' upbeat attitude and love of the game, the coaches and staff of the center took him under their wing and helped him train to become one of the most promising American tennis players in recent memory. How proud they must be.

We saw that training bear fruit last week when he made it to the semifinals by defeating one of the greatest tennis players in history, Rafael Nadal, from Spain. Although Frances ultimately didn't win the title, he showed the world that the future of American tennis is bright indeed.

I had the opportunity of talking to Frances just a few minutes ago. I am inviting him down to the Capitol, and I want all the Maryland Members to meet him. But I am going to invite all of you to meet him, as well, Mr. Speaker.

He is an extraordinary young man. I congratulate him, I congratulate his family, and I congratulate those coaches who saw a promising young man and took him under their wing not because he was paying them but because they saw great promise in Frances Tiafoe.

Boy, were they right.

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