[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 149 (Thursday, September 15, 2022)]
[House]
[Page H7847]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  1215
                       RECOGNIZING FRANCES TIAFOE

  (Mr. HOYER asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  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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