Ayan Broomfield is Frances Tiafoe’s girlfriend (Image: Getty)

Ayan Broomfield, the girlfriend of Frances Tiafoe and a former professional tennis player in her own right, has opened up about the racial prejudice she regularly faces while attending tournaments to support the American world No. 21.

She described a pattern of subtle but deeply uncomfortable encounters with staff who assume she does not belong.

Speaking in an interview with ‘Hard Court,’ Broomfield recalled being repeatedly directed toward service entrances and staff areas despite having official tennis credentials for Tiafoe‘s tournaments. It comes after Tiafoe was left ‘super annoyed’ by the antics of an Indian Wells spectator.

The scenario, she claims, played out in multiple locations: tournament workers would see her approaching a restricted area and immediately tell her “the workers’ entrance is over there,” requiring her to explain herself before entering.

“Well, actually, my significant other is about to play on center court in five minutes. I’m in the right line, I promise,” she would respond. The correction did little to ease the discomfort of having to justify her presence in the first place.

“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,” she said.

She acknowledged that repeated exposure to those moments takes a toll regardless of their scale.

“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.”

The lack of visible diversity in tennis environments, she suggested, is both a cause and a symptom of the problem.

Broomfield, who won the 2019 NCAA women’s doubles title at UCLA and once reached a WTA ranking of 680, framed the issue not as something to accept but as something she feels personally obligated to address.

“I’m trying to fix it, because no one should feel like that. Everyone should feel like they can come to the tournament and be welcomed with open arms. That’s just the goal of my ancestors,” she said.

Tiafoe has spoken publicly about how central Broomfield has been to his career. “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,” the American told the ATP website.

On the court, Tiafoe is currently competing at the Hamburg Open, where he opened with a 6-4, 6-4 win over 18-year-old German wild card Diego Dedura to extend his perfect 10-0 record in opening-round matches this season.

He is using the tournament to prepare for Roland Garros, where he reached the quarterfinals last year. “I’ve had a few hiccups with my body,” he admitted. “But now all eyes are on the French Open.”

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