Unlikely prodigy Francis Tiafoe hyped as U.S. tennis' next great success

"He's not afraid to rise to the occasion, and he wants the biggest situations possible," says Frank Salazar, who co-coaches Francis with Kouznetsov. "You

Jon Wertheim | May 23, 2014

Unlikely prodigy Francis Tiafoe hyped as U.S. tennis' next great success /

According to his coach, Francis Tiafoe isn't ready to make the leap to the ATP, but there's plenty of time. — According to his coach, Francis Tiafoe isn't ready to make the leap to the ATP, but there's plenty of time :: Manuela Davies/SI

"He's not afraid to rise to the occasion, and he wants the biggest situations possible," says Frank Salazar, who co-coaches Francis with Kouznetsov. "You really have to like the competitiveness."

Francis Tiafoe will play in the French Open juniors event for the first time this year. — Francis Tiafoe will play in the French Open juniors event for the first time this year :: Manuela Davies/SI

"But Francis has a sense of this," he says, "and here's the good thing: There's plenty of time."

Published May 23, 2014

JON WERTHEIM

Jon Wertheim is a senior writer for Sports Illustrated and has been part of the full-time SI writing staff since 1997, largely focusing on the tennis beat , sports business and social issues, and enterprise journalism. In addition to his work at SI, he is a correspondent for "60 Minutes" and a commentator for The Tennis Channel. He has authored 11 books and has been honored with two Emmys, numerous writing and investigative journalism awards, and the Eugene Scott Award from the International Tennis Hall of Fame. Wertheim is a longtime member of the New York Bar Association (retired), the International Tennis Writers Association and the Writers Guild of America. He has a bachelor's in history from Yale University and received a law degree from the University of Pennsylvania. He resides in New York City with his wife, who is a divorce mediator and adjunct law professor. They have two children.