Frances Tiafoe is making waves in the tennis world, and his girlfriend, Ayan Broomfield, is right there by his side, cheering him on from the stands.
The couple has been together since 2015, having met early in their tennis careers. At that time, Tiafoe had just embarked on his professional journey and was a year away from being ranked among the top 100 tennis players globally.
Meanwhile, Broomfield was already competing professionally, earning a world ranking of 467th in women’s doubles.
Due to their demanding careers and often conflicting schedules, Tiafoe and Broomfield have spent much of their relationship living apart, on opposite coasts of the U.S.
In 2020, Broomfield graduated from the University of California, Los Angeles, with a degree in women’s studies.
She settled in Los Angeles, focusing on advancing her professional tennis career while also supporting Tiafoe’s endeavors on the court.
In 2022, Tiafoe made history as the first Black American man to reach the U.S. Open semifinals since Arthur Ashe in 1972.
A year later, in June 2023, he was ranked among the top 10 players in the world. Broomfield celebrated this significant achievement by sharing a series of screenshots that captured Tiafoe’s numerous accomplishments over the years.
“TOP 10 IN THE WORLD!” she exclaimed in an Instagram post. “I started taking screenshots of different moments and accomplishments a few years ago in anticipation of this day.
I can’t post them all, but I think this tells the story pretty well. I am so proud of you.”
Tiafoe responded with a heartfelt message in the comments: “Man, to think how far we’ve come. 2015, meeting you for the first time and just starting my career.
You’ve stuck with me through it all—the good, the bad, and the standstills. It’s been a ride no one can put into words.”
He concluded, “You mean more to me than you can ever imagine. I love you with all I’ve got.”
Ayan Broomfield was born on August 13, 1997, in Ontario, Canada. She spent her early years in Canada before relocating to the U.S. to advance her tennis career at Clemson University in South Carolina.
Broomfield played tennis at Clemson University for two years, during which she was named ACC Freshman of the Year and honored as ITA Carolina Region Rookie of the Year.
After her sophomore year, Broomfield transferred to UCLA, attracted by its rich history and the opportunity to contribute to its future legacy.
While at UCLA, Broomfield and her doubles partner, Gabby Andrews, won the NCAA doubles championship in 2019, marking the university’s seventh NCAA doubles title in its history.
In a celebratory Instagram post, Broomfield shared a photo of herself proudly displaying her championship ring, captioning it, “My number one goal for college tennis was to get a national championship ring. Look what just arrived. Could not be happier to get it while competing at UCLA.”
Before attending college, Broomfield made her WTA debut in 2014 at the Coupe Banque Nationale, competing in the doubles division with partner Maria Patrascu. The duo had a remarkable year, earning a world ranking of 467.
Afterward, Broomfield shifted her focus to her singles career. As an influential figure in women’s tennis, she also secured partnerships with Wilson and Athleta.
Despite being together for nearly a decade, the couple has kept details of how they first met largely private. However, Tiafoe’s Instagram reveals that their anniversary is on September 8, 2015.
On their fourth anniversary, Tiafoe posted a touching tribute to Broomfield alongside a photo of them dressed up for a night out.
“Happy Fourth year anniversary babes. Damn, time went craaazzyyy quick. We been datin’ datin’,” he wrote on Instagram. “Love you deep, sexy. You’re one crazy chick but couldn’t imagine being with anyone else.”
Though Broomfield and Tiafoe frequently share sweet tributes to each other on social media, it wasn’t until 2018 that Broomfield publicly acknowledged their relationship.
She marked Valentine’s Day by posting a photo of herself with Tiafoe, with her arms wrapped around his shoulders.
“My valentine for the day,” she captioned the post.
Broomfield’s exceptional tennis skills have led to exciting opportunities beyond the court. She served as a body double for Saniyya Sidney, who portrayed Venus Williams in the film King Richard. While on set, Broomfield met Will Smith, who played her character’s father, and Serena Williams.
Tiafoe accompanied Broomfield to the movie’s premiere in November 2021. Reflecting on the event, he shared on Instagram, “I couldn’t be happier we were able to experience such an iconic night together.”
Broomfield is Tiafoe’s number one supporter, both on and off the tennis court. Whenever their schedules allow, Broomfield joins the crowd to cheer on her longtime boyfriend. She also enjoys planning big romantic surprises.
In 2023, Broomfield secretly attended Tiafoe’s match at the Fayez Sarofim & Co. U.S. Men’s Clay Court Championship, where he won his second ATP title.
Tiafoe was unaware of her presence until the end of the first set when he spotted her in the crowd. During his post-match victory speech, he expressed his surprise and joy.
“I also want to thank … my girlfriend Ayan, who I see in the crowd at 1-0. I didn’t even know you were in Houston. I thought you were in L.A.! She surprised me; it’s unbelievable you’re here. You see me win my second title, so that’s unbelievable,” he said in a clip shared by Tennis TV on Twitter.
In an August 2023 interview with the ATP, Broomfield discussed her relationship with Tiafoe and how their personalities complement each other.
Reflecting on Tiafoe’s significant victory over Rafael Nadal at the 2022 U.S. Open—a moment featured in Netflix’s Break Point series—Broomfield said, “That was definitely a fun moment. Obviously, beating one of the greats of tennis, you’re going to be super excited. But Frances is just the happiest guy.”
Broomfield explained that while Tiafoe is naturally “happy-go-lucky,” she tends to be the more serious one. “I think we balance each other out a lot,” she added.
As a former college champion, Broomfield understands the sport deeply, which allows her to bond with Tiafoe over their shared experiences.
“We can talk about tennis. I mean, I played tennis myself. So even just when we’re seeing the draw, and we kind of look at certain players, sometimes I can act as a sounding board for matches,” she explained.
Though Tiafoe doesn’t always follow her advice, he values having someone to discuss strategy with. “I just feel like we understand what it takes for someone to compete at the highest level,” Broomfield noted.
In January 2024, Broomfield founded the Ayan Broomfield Foundation. The nonprofit organization’s mission is to “higher local programs worldwide” and “provide those in need with athletic gear to enrich their lives through the power of sport.”
