September 15, 2022 Press Release WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Steny H. Hoyer (MD-05) delivered remarks on the House Floor today praising Fifth District tennis star Frances Tiafoe, the first American man since 2006 to make it to the Semifinals of the U.S. Open. Below is a transcript of his remarks and a link to the video:Click here for a link to the video. "Mr. Speaker, there's always time to celebrate extraordinary Americans, which is why I rise today. I rise 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 only three African American men in the history of tennis to advance 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 four out of the last ten 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 is 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 Champion 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's upbeat attitude and love of the game, the coaches and staff of the center took him under their wing and helped him 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 didn't win the semifinal, he showed the world that American tennis is bright indeed. "I had the opportunity of just talking to Frances just a few minutes ago and I'm inviting him down to the Capitol and I want all the Maryland Members to meet him, but I'm going to invite all of you to meet him as well. An extraordinary young man. I congratulate him. I congratulate his family and I congratulate those coaches who saw a promising young man, took him under their wing, not because he was paying them, but because they saw great promise in Frances Tiafoe. Boy, were they right. I yield back the balance of my time."
