When Frances Tiafoe surprised University of Louisville junior Russell Lokko with a $30,000 scholarship at the Cincinnati Open, the moment became about more than a single act of generosity — it highlighted how top players can use their platform to change lives off the court.
Tiafoe announced the gift on-camera and through the USTA Foundation’s Frances Tiafoe Fund, saying the $30,000 will help cover Lokko’s college costs for his junior and senior years. In a video Tiafoe shared, he explained the personal connection: Lokko came up through the same kind of community program Tiafoe knows from Trenton’s National Junior Tennis and Learning program, and the scholarship was meant to ease the family’s financial burden. “I’m going to bless him today with $30,000… it is going to really help him for his junior and senior year,” Tiafoe said. He added that he wanted Lokko to see him as a “real person” and not just a tennis star, and hoped the gift would “take the monkeys off his back a little bit.”
The surprise also included branded items — a Lululemon bottle and hat, a La Roche-Posay product, and hats from the USTA Foundation and the US Open — and left Lokko visibly moved.
The act drew quick public praise from peers. American rising star Ben Shelton reacted positively on social media and later highlighted at Cincinnati Open media day that players such as Tiafoe, Coco Gauff and Taylor Townsend are broadening tennis’s U.S. audience and shifting the sport’s profile. Shelton said the current crop of players is helping tennis reach different demographics than before and adding excitement around the sport.
Tiafoe’s on-court performance at the Cincinnati Masters matched his off-court generosity: he opened the tournament with a straight-sets win over Roberto Carballés Baena and was set to face 20th-seeded Ugo Humbert in the third round, keeping both his competitive form and his leadership visible to fans.
Why this matters
– Practical impact: The scholarship directly reduces the cost barrier for Lokko to finish his college degree without added debt during his final two years.
– Role modeling: Tiafoe’s public act demonstrates how established athletes can give back in tangible ways, potentially inspiring peers and sponsors to support grassroots programs.
– Community connection: Highlighting Lokko’s roots in junior development programs underscores the importance of community-based tennis initiatives in creating pathways to higher education and collegiate sports.
Additional comments and context
– Follow-up reporting could include Lokko’s own words about how the scholarship will affect his college and tennis plans, and more detail from the USTA Foundation on how the Frances Tiafoe Fund operates and how similar gifts are distributed.
– This moment reinforces a trend of elite players using their visibility for philanthropic work; tracking similar gestures could show whether such acts become more common and how they influence youth participation.
– For readers who want to support programs like NJTL or the USTA Foundation, the foundation’s public channels can provide information on donations and scholarship programs.
Summary
Frances Tiafoe’s $30,000 scholarship to Russell Lokko at the Cincinnati Open provided immediate financial relief for the Louisville junior and served as a high-profile example of athlete-driven philanthropy. The gesture resonated across the tennis community, earning praise from peers and underscoring how top players can broaden the sport’s reach and help lift up the next generation.