Dutch debut for top talent Tiafoe

Frances Tiafoe will make his debut at the Libéma Open this year. The 21 year old American belongs to the Next Gen of the ATP Tour and is one of the stars of the future. The current world number 30 did not play in the Netherlands before.

Tiafoe started playing tennis, together with his twin brother, when he was three years old. The talent of the American player, whose parents are from Sierra Leone, was spotted by trainers of the Junior Tennis Champions Center in College Park at the East Coast where his father was working.

Tiafoe entered the world’s top 100 when he was 18 years old. Meanwhile he climbed to 30th position on the world ranking. Big Foe, his nickname, thinks his forehand is his greatest weapon. The athletic player feels comfortable on all courts and he won his first ATP tournament in Delray Beach last year.

The line-up for the men’s tournament becomes, with the participation of Tiafoe, a mixture of talented and experienced top players. Stefanos Tsitsipas is heading the list which includes David Goffin, Alex de Minaur, Fernando Verdasco and Robin Haase. Lleyton Hewitt will play for the very last time in the men’s doubles tournament.

The full line-up for both the men and women will be announced on Wednesday 1 May.

Libéma Open will be held from Monday 10 till Sunday 16 June on the grass courts of Autotron ‘s-Hertogenbosch. Richard Gasquet is the title defender of the ATP 250 tournament.

Kiki Bertens, Elise Mertens and Belinda Bencic will play in the women’s tournament. Aleksandra Krunic won the title last year.