Lokko Awarded Scholarship from Frances Tiafoe Fund

MASON, OHIO - University of Louisville men's tennis rising junior Russell Lokko honored with a prestigious two-year scholarship from the USTA Foundation's Frances Tiafoe Fund, the USTAF announced Saturday.

ATP's No. 14-ranked player Frances Tiafoe surprised Lokko with the $30,000 scholarship on Friday, August 8 in a special behind-the-scenes experience at the Cincinnati Open, where the star was competing. Over the weekend, the pair formed a strong mentor-mentee relationship as they attended a professional soccer game together and Lokko was invited to sit in Tiafoe's player box during the star's first round matchup on Saturday, August 9.

"I appreciate the check from Frances. It's going to help a lot. It's definitely going to take a lot of pressure off my parents," said Lokko. "It's less stuff you have to worry about. And I'm focused on doing what I have to do"

"Growing up Frances has always been a role model for me. To get this directly from him is unbelievable and it makes me love him even more," he continued.

Lokko grew up playing tennis at the NJTL of Trenton, a community organization part of the USTA Foundation's National Junior Tennis and Learning network. Which is the network that also supported Tiafoe during his early training in College Park, Md., leading to a strong commonality for the two athletes.

The USTA also awarded Lokko a scholarship in 2023 called the Donald Lawson Tisdel College Scholarship Award that honored successes both in tennis and in the classroom. Lokko has continued to be an academic powerhouse during his time at the University of Louisville. Most recently, he was named an ITA Scholar-Athlete alongside four other Cards by earning a GPA over 3.5.

"Russell is the kind of player every coach wants - no drama, no excuses, just hard work," said Louisville head coach Rodrigo da Silva. "He shows up everyday ready to compete and get better, and he leads by example in everything he does. This award is a reflection of the grit and focus he brings in day in and day out."

On the court, the junior is coming off a 2025 campaign where he had his best performance in a Cardinal uniform yet. With the benefits of this scholarship, Lokko heads into fall with a bright future ahead of him and is prepped for the next steps in his collegiate career.

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USTA Foundation Incorporated (USTAF or USTA Foundation), the national charitable arm of the United States Tennis Association Incorporated (USTA), supports the National Junior Tennis and Learning (NJTL) network, a nationwide group of more than 250 sports-based youth development organizations that use tennis as a vehicle to prepare young people from under-resourced communities for the challenges and opportunities of life. The NJTL network, co-founded in 1969 by tennis and cultural icon Arthur Ashe, along with Charlie Pasarell and Sheridan Snyder, provides thousands of youth access to tennis, academic, and life-skills programs that help shape them into well-rounded adults. USTAF supports these NJTL chapters by providing grants, scholarships, capacity-building resources, and training, fortifying their local communities. USTAF raises money and awareness through donations, corporate support, and fundraisers, including the US Open Opening Night Gala. USTAF has awarded approximately $64 million in grants and scholarships to date. For more information, visit ustafoundation.com and stay connected through Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.

About the USTA Foundation's Frances Tiafoe Fund Established in 2023, the USTA Foundation's Frances Tiafoe Fund (Fund) is a philanthropic initiative through the USTA Foundation, which is the charitable arm of the United States Tennis Association. This Fund supports the USTA Foundation's National Junior Tennis and Learning (NJTL) network, which comprises over 250 community-based organizations dedicated to using tennis as a vehicle to prepare young people from under-resourced communities for the future. Frances Tiafoe, a two-time US Open semifinalist who has been ranked since the world's Top 10, began his tennis journey at age four at the Junior Tennis Champions Center (JTCC), an NJTL chapter in College Park, Maryland, where his father was the head of maintenance after immigrating from Sierra Leone. The Fund reflects Tiafoe's commitment to giving back to the programs that shaped his career and to inspiring the next generation to pursue their dreams through tennis and education. Since its inception, the Fund has had various activations, including Tiafoe joining in youth tennis clinics to emphasize his support of NJTL chapters and students nationwide.

University of Louisville Athletics

Players Mentioned

Russell Lokko

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