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Frances Tiafoe Jr. Age: 28 (January 20, 1998) Birth place: Hyattsville, Maryland Career high: World No. 10 Singles titles: 3 Miami Open Best: Quarterfinals in 2019 Prize Money: US$15,596,017 www.instagram.com/bigfoe1998 Frances Tiafoe turned professional in 2015, but his relationship with tennis began long before that at the Junior Tennis Champions Center in Maryland. His father, who emigrated from Sierra Leone, worked at the facility as a custodian and later became a coach, which allowed Tiafoe and his twin brother Franklin Tiafoe to spend countless hours around the game. That early exposure shaped both his work ethic and his love for the sport. As a junior, he made a major statement by reaching the final of the Junior French Open in 2013, a result that put him firmly on the radar and hinted at what was to come. When asked what comes to mind when he thinks of Miami, Tiafoe does not immediately go to tennis. “When I think of Miami, I think of LeBron,” he says, referencing LeBron James and the Miami Heat era. “I think about those years, that’s what I think about with Miami.” The city’s conditions, however, are impossible to ignore once he steps on court. Miami’s heat, humidity, and fast surfaces demand adjustments that fans rarely see. “A ton of hydration,” he explains. “A lot of nights going to bed early. You’ve got to get ready to play in the heat. Tough conditions, but obviously fun conditions. Great atmosphere and one of the best events in the world.”