Frances Tiafoe awards NJTL alumnus with $30,000 college scholarship
Two-time US Open semifinalist Frances Tiafoe awarded rising junior and standout tennis student-athlete at the University of Louisville, Russell Lokko, with a $30,000 scholarship over two years through the USTA Foundation’s Frances Tiafoe Fund. The award will cover Lokko's gap in scholarship money as he continues his education at Louisville. Tiafoe surprised Lokko with the news during a special behind-the-scenes experience Friday, Aug. 8, 2025, at the Cincinnati Open.
Lokko grew up playing tennis at the NJTL of Trenton, a community organization part of the USTA Foundation’s National Junior Tennis & Learning (NJTL) network–the same network that supported Tiafoe’s early training at the Junior Tennis Champions Center (JTCC) in his hometown of College Park, Md.
Co-founded in 1969 by Arthur Ashe, Charlie Pasarell, and Sheridan Snyder, the NJTL network is made up of over 270 organizations nationwide that use tennis and education to prepare young people from under-resourced communities for the challenges and opportunities of life.
During the visit, Lokko had the opportunity to meet Tiafoe, watch his practice, and shadow him around the tournament grounds, building a mentor-mentee relationship as they both continue on their tennis journeys.
Lokko and Tiafoe also attended a professional soccer game together on August 7, 2025, and Lokko sat courtside in Tiafoe’s player box during his first-round match on Saturday, Aug. 9, 2025.
The check was a huge surprise, and one that Lokko said he's grateful for.
Frances Tiafoe awarded Russell Lokko with a scholarship through the USTA Foundation’s Frances Tiafoe Fund. Photo by Rob Banez/All Pro Reels.
“I’m super excited. I’m really blessed for Frances to give me that check,” Lokko said, according to atptour.com. “It’s going to take a lot off my parents and help me stay focused on what I want to do in college and past that."
“Growing up, Frances has always been a role model for me. People like me, we don’t see people like us around the game often, so it’s just really inspiring to have that role model and believe that you can do it yourself.”
The scholarship was a recognition of Lokko's hard work and determination, and a moment for Tiafoe to—quite literally—pay it forward.
“When you get a chance, you have to grab it with two hands and use it to the best of your ability,” he told Lokko. “But ultimately, I did this because of the guy you are. Keep being you, keep standing on your morals, and keep striving to be great.”
