DELRAY BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Frances Tiafoe won the Delray Beach Open, with father Frances Sr. watching, on Sunday for his first ATP Tour title.
The 91st-ranked Tiafoe, the first wild-card recipient to win the title in its 26-year history, had consecutive aces on the final two points for a 6-1, 6-4 victory over Peter Gojowczyk of Germany.
At 20, Tiafoe is the youngest American to win a title since Andy Roddick at 19 in 2002 in Houston.
Tiafoe fell on his back in celebration and cried as he hugged his father.
"Now I'm in a position not only to help myself, but help fund my family," Tiafoe said. "It's an unbelievable place to be in and it's bigger than tennis."
Tiafoe's parents moved from Sierra Leone to the United States looking for a better life. The elder Tiafoe ended up working as a maintenance worker at a Maryland tennis club where the American-born Frances fell in love with the game. His twin brother, Franklin, wasn't interested in the sport.
"It's unbelievable," said Frances Sr., who now frequently travels the tour with his son. "I told them since they were little, work hard and you can achieve your goal. I told him whatever you put your mind to you can do it."
Tiafoe, who should move up to approximately No. 61 in Monday's new rankings, was playing in his first career tour-level final at Delray Beach. He entered last week's New York Open, where he reached the quarterfinals, with nine total career ATP tour-level match victories.