Russell Lokko’s life just changed in a way few young athletes ever experience. When Frances Tiafoe stepped onto the court at the University of Louisville, no one expected the tennis star to leave such a mark off the court. A surprise, a scholarship, and an emotional moment later, it was clear this was about more than just sports.
The questions now: What does this act mean for Lokko, and why are stars like Ben Shelton looking to Tiafoe as the blueprint for giving back?
How Did Frances Tiafoe’s $30,000 Scholarship Gift at the Cincinnati Open Inspire Ben Shelton and Russell Lokko?
Tiafoe, known for his play on the ATP Tour, spotlighted Lokko with a move rarely seen at this level. With cameras rolling, he revealed the $30,000 scholarship through the USTA Foundation’s Frances Tiafoe Fund, designed to support Lokko’s college journey over the next two years.
Tiafoe didn’t just share the moment on Instagram, he made sure fans knew Lokko’s history at Trenton’s National Junior Tennis and Learning program matched his own roots.
“I am out here in Cincinnati Open. I got my man Russel Lokko, who goes from Louisville. I am going to bless him today with $30,000. He’s junior out in Louisville, it is going to really help him for his junior and senior year. Shout out to the USTA foundation for helping the Tiafoe fund do something so special for this kid today,” Tiafoe said in the clip.
This gift was more than symbolic. The scholarship will close the gap on Lokko’s college costs, setting him up to finish his junior and senior years without debt. Tiafoe’s excitement was clear as he added, “I can’t wait to excite him. Shout out Russell Lokko. I’m blessing you today my brother. Love!”
The surprises didn’t stop with the check. Tiafoe also handed Lokko gifts, including a bottle and hat from Lululemon, a La Roche-Posay product, plus hats from the USTA Foundation and the US Open. Lokko, a Louisville junior, left the moment beaming.
Tiafoe didn’t wait long to see his gesture praised. Ben Shelton, one of America’s promising talents, dropped an emoji of approval in the comments, validating what many fans felt. The reaction circled back at Cincinnati Open media day, when Shelton spotlighted Tiafoe, Coco Gauff, and Taylor Townsend as leaders who are changing tennis’s audience in the US.
He said, “It’s a great opportunity for Americans in tennis right now, but just in tennis in general, I think that there’s a lot of hype around the sport. I think tennis is reaching a different demographic than it was before and that’s because of especially in the US, stars like Coco and Frances , and Taylor but not just Americans, North Americans, Europeans too,” he said.
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What Does Frances Tiafoe Want Fans to See Beyond the Court?
With the spotlight off the match and on the moment, Tiafoe talked to Tennis Channel’s Prakash Amritraj about what this meant. He explained his hope for Lokko to see him as a real person first, not just as a tennis player.
“For me this was really special because you get a personal relationship with a guy, knowing and understanding that he looked up to me. And we’re doing just basic stuff and understanding. Yeah he seen me a good tennis player more than that though, I want to be known as a great person and just a real person, and he got to see that.”
Tiafoe clarified that support like this was about more than just the sport. He trusted that Lokko and his family would feel relief. “And I am happy this is going to take the monkeys off his back a little bit. Him and his family, he deserves it. He’s super solid kid and, he deserves his blessings and I’m happy for him,” he added.
On the court, Tiafoe showed grit at the Cincinnati Masters 1000, starting the tournament with a straight-sets win over Spain’s Roberto Carballés Baena. Now, he’ll try to keep the run going against twentieth-seeded Ugo Humbert in the third round, with fans watching both his game and his growing reputation as a leader off the court.