Alphina Kamara Is a Nurse – Frances Tiafoe’s Mother Admits to Knowing Little about Tennis

Alphina Kamara, tennis star Frances Tiafoe's mother, has played an essential role in nurturing his athletic career, providing unwavering support throughout his journey in the world of sports.

Frances Tiafoe has emerged as one of the brightest athletes in the world of tennis, carving out a successful career for himself. He owes this success to the most important woman in his life: his mother, Alphina Kamara.

Despite his mother's limited understanding of the ins and outs of the sport, Alphina's unwavering encouragement has been a constant source of motivation for Frances throughout his journey to success.

Alphina Kamara Fled to the U.S. for a better life

Alphina Kamara, originally from Sierra Leone, left her homeland in 1996 due to the devastating civil war that had plunged the country into chaos. This brutal conflict resulted in the loss of 50,000 lives and the displacement of millions.

Alphina, who previously worked for Sierra Leone's military forces in a documents office, witnessed the grim toll of the war firsthand. She attended funerals almost weekly as young men she knew from work or her neighborhood were randomly drafted to confront rebels in distant villages, with few returning alive.

Just in time to avoid the rebels' advance on Freetown, the capital of Sierra Leone and her mother's hometown, Alphina won the U.S. government's visa lottery and secured a coveted green card to work in the United States.

Her decision to leave was driven by the pursuit of a better life, ultimately leading to her becoming a U.S. citizen. Alphina and her husband, Frances Tiafoe Sr., met, got married, and welcomed their children in Maryland.

Alphina is a devoted mother to her twin sons, Franklin and Frances Tiafoe. She used to be an enthusiastic Instagram user, delighting in sharing cherished moments with her boys on the platform.

However, her Instagram activity dwindled as she became inactive nowadays. Her final posts on the platform were her twins' 21st birthday in 2019 and the Mother's Day celebration in 2020.

Alphina Kamara Is a Healthcare Professional

It's unclear why Alphina has been less active on social media, but she's been putting her energy into a meaningful career. She is a licensed practical nurse juggling night and grueling double shifts at a Bethesda nursing home on weekends.

Although Alphina doesn't possess an extensive knowledge of tennis, she takes great delight in her boys' achievements.

Despite her demanding schedule, Alphina wholeheartedly pursued her dream of becoming a registered nurse by attending school three days a week.

Working as a nurse during the pandemic was no easy feat for Alphina, and her son, Frances, couldn't help but worry about her safety. Frances said:

"Fast-forward to 2020, and having your mom be a nurse... it's scary. You know, when the pandemic first broke out, I was just like, Mom, you gotta sit this one out."

When the athlete tested positive for COVID-19, Alphina cared for her son until he recovered. Frances recalled that he and Franklin never left the house for three weeks. Their mom would drop off medicine and meals outside their room door, and they constantly updated her about how they felt.

Alphina Supports Frances in Tennis despite Knowing Little about It

Although Alphina doesn't possess an extensive knowledge of tennis, she takes great delight in her boys' achievements. A deeply religious woman, she openly acknowledges her limited understanding of the sport.

To Alphina, the true importance of these trophies lies not in the titles they represent but in the sheer happiness they bring to her son, Frances.

While she seems to have stayed out of the limelight, Alphina has shown her support for Frances in the past by attending her tennis matches, including those in Toronto, Canada, in 2018 and in Paris, France, in 2019.

Like Frances, other athletes with close relationships with their parents are Tommy Paul with his mom, Jill MacMillan; Naomi Osaka and his father, Leonard François; Serena Williams and Venus Williams' dad, Richard Williams.