2022 U.S. Open semifinalist, Frances Tiafoe’s return to the Mubadala Citi DC Open this year marks more than an appearance on the ATP Tour — it’s a homecoming.
Tiafoe, 26, grew up just miles away in Hyattsville, Maryland, and trained at the Junior Tennis Champions Center (JTCC) in College Park.
He first attended the Citi Open as a ball kid and later competed in the tournament as a teenager. Now, he enters the 2025 edition as one of the most recognizable American players in the sport.
“It’s a hard court,” Tiafoe said during a press conference ahead of his opening match. “And ultimately, I hate to say it, but it’s the tournaments I care about the most. Everything, obviously like Wimbledon and the French Open, all these tournaments are very big, of course I want to win, but here is just a different feeling.”
The Citi Open, now part of the ATP-WTA 500-level, has long held personal significance for Tiafoe.
It’s where he made his ATP debut at 16 and where he has remained a crowd favorite ever since. This year, he’s looking to rebound from a rocky summer stretch and build momentum heading into the U.S. Open.
“I snuck into this event,” Tiafoe said. “I have no more motivation than to want to see my name on the stadium.”
Tiafoe’s return comes as he teams up in doubles with 21-year-old Ben Shelton, the 2022 NCAA singles champion and rising ATP Tour contender — a nod to the next generation of American talent.
But in D.C., the local talent Tiafoe remains the main draw. His connection to the local community and efforts to increase representation in tennis have earned him respect beyond the court.
“Man, I love this area wholeheartedly, man,” Tiafoe said. “It’s shaped me into the person I am today. Everywhere I go, it’s like a long homecoming. I know everyone from security and everyone and staff for so long, and everyone’s so excited to see me. It’s a lot of love.”
While a Citi Open title is not yet his, Tiafoe steps on the court with one goal: to leave everything out there.
“I come out here, it’s do or die,” Tiafoe said. “I have that mindset. That’s why I play great tennis. I want to show up, compete at the highest level.”
Tiafoe and Shelton pushed hard in their doubles match on Monday but ultimately fell short, exiting the tournament in the early rounds. Despite the loss, their performance highlighted the promise of both players and the bright future of American tennis.
Picture Credit: Fox Sports Radio Photographer Joy Washington
