Frances Tiafoe has made a career by supplying big moments on the field, but on Friday in the Cincinnati Open the departing American saved one of his most meaningful victories for outside the field.
During a day behind the scenes at the tournament, Tiafoe University of Louisville Russell Lokko surprised by giving him a $ 30,000 stock exchange, spread over two years, via the Frances Tiafoe Fund of the USTA Foundation. The gift will cover the last gap in the university costs of Lokko, allowing him to finish his junior and senior year debt -free.
“This is great, I am excited to get it out,” said Tiafoe, the number 14 player in the PIF ATP ranking. To see how ecstatic he was to take care of his junior and senior career, it is a big problem. [Being] The son of immigrants, I have been to that chair, I know what it is like. ‘
Photo: All Pro Rells
The surprise hit at home for both men. Lokko, an emerging junior from Trenton, New Jersey, grew up playing at the NJTL of Trenton – part of the same National Junior Tennis & Learning (NJTL) network that supported the early days of Tiafoe in the Junior Tennis Champions Center in College Park, Maryland.
Lokko, who had no idea what would come, was overwhelmed by joy. “I am super excited. I am really blessed with Frances to give me that check,” he said. “It will take a lot of my parents and help me stay focused on what I want to do at the university and afterwards.
“Growing up, Frances has always been a role model for me. People like me, we don’t see people like us often like us in the game, so it’s just very inspiring to have that role model and to believe that you can do it yourself.”
The day was about more than the fair. Lokko shaded Tiafoe during the training, followed him through the tournament and will even be present in the American’s Player Box for his opening round collision against Roberto Carballes Baena at the ATP Masters 1000 event on Saturday evening.
For Tiafoe, the moment was a reminder why giving back things. “If you get the chance, you have to grab it with two hands and use it as well as possible,” he said Lokko. “But in the end I did this because of the man you are. You stay, stand on your morality and keep striving to be great.”
[NEWSLETTER FORM]
#Tiafoe #Surprise #NJTL #Aluin #30k #grant #Cincinnati