Ayan Broomfield Says Staff Sent Her to Workers' Entrances at Tournaments — Tiafoe
Ayan Broomfield says tournament staff repeatedly sent her toward workers' entrances at tennis events, even when she had official credentials for tiafoe's tournaments. She said the pattern happened in multiple locations and left her feeling like she did not belong.
Broomfield at the entrance line
Broomfield, Frances Tiafoe's girlfriend and a former professional tennis player, said workers would tell her that the workers' entrance was over there. Her response was direct: "Well, actually, my significant other is about to play on center court in five minutes. I'm in the right line, I promise,"
She said the encounters were uncomfortable and repeated. In her words, "It's just uncomfortable, you know? And people don't really understand that part of it. It's not this whole big thing, it's not that they're not letting me in. It's just that little sense in your head that they don't think you actually belong,"
Women of color at tournaments
She tied the experience to a broader issue, saying, "It's just not pleasant, it's not fun. And I think it is because there isn't enough representation of women of color at the tournament." Broomfield also said she regularly faces racial prejudice while attending tournaments to support Tiafoe.
The discomfort sits alongside a résumé that includes the 2019 NCAA women's doubles title at UCLA and a WTA ranking of 680. Those are not the marks of someone outside the sport; they are part of why she said the repeated redirects felt so out of place.
Tiafoe's Hamburg Open form
Tiafoe is competing at the Hamburg Open after opening with a 6-4, 6-4 win over 18-year-old German wild card Diego Dedura. That result extended his perfect 10-0 record in opening-round matches this season.
He also said, "The key to a very successful man, I think it's a lot of things. But I think number one is a strong woman in your corner," and added during his Roland Garros build-up, "I've had a few hiccups with my body," before saying, "But now all eyes are on the French Open." Tiafoe reached the Roland Garros quarterfinals last year, and Broomfield's comments land in the middle of that run-up, where support off the court is being discussed as he keeps moving through the clay-court calendar.
