Frances Tiafoe it is a name already established within the ATP circuit. His presence, however, is not just limited to his actions on the court. Outside of it, the American tennis player has always been one of the most local players when it comes to denouncing the racial injustices suffered in the United States. She did it during her quarantine and after the Black Lives Matter protests, but Frances’s commitment to the African-American community dates back to the beginning of her career. He is a man with one goal: to inspire a generation, just as his idol (and that of many other kids) did, Arthur Ashe. After being awarded the Arthur Ashe Humanitarian Award, Tiafoe ventured in the form of a letter. A letter with only one recipient: heaven, where Arthur is. This is the complete letter in Spanish (you can read the original on the ATP website):
“Dear Arthur,
I didn’t have much when I grew up. My parents are immigrants from Sierra Leone. My father was the janitor at a tennis facility in Maryland, and I was lucky enough to be around the sport from a very young age, even when I didn’t have the money or opportunities of other kids. None of that stopped me from dreaming big. I went to the limit every day with a huge smile on my face.
Here I am, 22 years old, and I just found out that I won the Premio Humanitario Arthur Ashe. That boy with big dreams now has his name associated with yours. It’s crazy. But I know this is not just a prize. It is a brutal honor and a huge responsibility. I’m no longer just that promising kid who smiles a lot. Now I know that I must keep the flame alive and make a difference in this world.
This year my girlfriend and I made a video called “Rackets down, hands up” to raise awareness of the unjust deaths of many African Americans in the United States. We were able to get a lot of black players involved, from Serena Williams and Coco Gauff to Gael Monfils and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga.
I wanted people to know that everyone matters. It doesn’t matter who you are, where you come from or what the color of your skin is. Everyone has the opportunity to be someone special. I was one of those kids who didn’t have much of a chance to go far. Winning this award is simply a reminder that since I’m here, I need to give all of that back and help the next generation.
I wasn’t lucky enough to be around you while you showed your magic, but I know you went beyond tennis. In fact, You could have been President! There was something you said once that stuck with me forever: “From what we receive, we can earn a living; with what we give, however, we create a life”. Fuck, it’s deep. Nothing you did was just for you. You were first a person, and then an athlete. It was always about helping others. That really inspires me.
One of the most incredible things about you is that everyone knows your work in making the world a better place. But you won Grand Slams, brother! I wish I could grab your head to find out how you were able to be so successful on the court while you were such an amazing human being. I know that balancing both is not easy, especially with you as a model. One of the most important things I’ve learned is that you can’t meet other people’s expectations. You have to fight to be the best version of yourself, to be your biggest critic. I think that helps me feel more comfortable in my own skin. I know I’m giving it my all, on and off the track.
If I look further, I know that there is a clock in my career. I can’t play at the highest level forever, but I will live for many years once I hang up the racket. It’s a shame that you’re not here and that I can’t meet you, but rest easy: you still make a difference. That’s why I know it’s important have goals beyond sport. We are not simply athletes. We are human beings. There is life beyond tennis. I sincerely believe that in recent years I have found my true purpose.
I realized that I am fortunate to be able to make sure that my family does not suffer financially. I started thinking: I know I’m ready, that my family is fine. But isn’t life much more than that? What about those kids who are where I was not so long ago? Ten years ago I thought it would be amazing to just see in person the stadium that was named after the Us Open. Just walking up to the Arthur Ashe would have been amazing, forget about playing and competing there. I still remember some tears when in 2014 I played in the Madison Square Garden. He was a 16-year-old from College Park, Maryland, the son of two immigrants, serving as the opening act for Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray at the world’s most famous pavilion. Do you remember the madness that was here when you faced John McEnroe?
Two years later I reached the quarterfinals of the Open de Australia And I celebrated LeBron James. This guy is one of the best players in basketball history and he told me on my Instagram. Isn’t it crazy? He is one of my childhood idols and he knows who I am! Those things inspire me. I have met young children who have come to tell me that they want to be like Frances Tiafoe. Every time that happens, I always feel overwhelmed.
This is precisely why this means much more than giving my family stability for life. What about those kids? I want to help you write your stories for the first time. If there are kids out there who think they can’t achieve their dreams, I want to change that. I firmly believe that success is in each one. I want to make you see an image that you didn’t think was possible. I want them to make that image become reality.
You showed us the way, and now I want to continue it. I want to help these guys understand that they must find their passion, and from there become obsessed and dream about it. I found mine and I get to live my dream every day. But the most important thing is that I want you, first of all, be good people. You always treated everyone with great respect. I want that to continue to be there generations later. If in a few years people say that Frances Tiafoe was a magnificent person and then a great athlete, I will be very happy.
Obviously, I also want people to remember me as a great tennis player. I don’t want to be one of those guys who was a good tennis player and was forgotten. I want the complete pack, on and off the track. I was lucky to have guys like you in my life, who showed that this is possible. I know I have to keep working every day. I am lucky enough to make a living. Now, it is time to give life. You did your part with the world, to spare. I promise you that I will fulfill mine.
Sincerely, Frances “
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