At the Cincinnati Open, University of Louisville student-athlete Russell Lokko was handed an unexpected scholarship from Frances Tiafoe. What began as a behind-the-scenes meet-and-greet at the Lindner Family Tennis Center became a life-changing moment when Tiafoe presented Lokko with a $30,000 award spread over two years through the USTA Foundation’s Frances Tiafoe Fund.

Lokko, a rising junior and standout on the Louisville tennis team, had been opening a gift bag from player sponsors Lululemon, La Roche-Posay and Clif Bar when Tiafoe revealed the check. “I’m super excited, and I’m really blessed that Frances gave me this check,” Lokko said. “It’s going to take a lot off my parents, and it’s going to help me stay focused on what I want to do in college.

“I had no idea that he was going to give me this money… Growing up, Frances has always been a role model for me, so to get it directly from him is unbelievable.” The award will help cover a gap in scholarship funding so Lokko can continue his education at Louisville.

Lokko’s tennis journey began at the NJTL of Trenton, part of the USTA Foundation’s National Junior Tennis & Learning network, the same network connected to Tiafoe’s early training at the Junior Tennis Champions Center in College Park, Md. Tiafoe described why he created the fund and the importance of supporting players like Lokko: “To see how ecstatic he was, and being able to take care of his junior and senior year is a huge deal, man,” Tiafoe said. “The son of immigrants… I’ve been in that seat. I know how it is, and the struggle for him to be able to do that.

“If he gets a little push by me, and me being one percent of the reason why he’s gonna become the man he’s gonna be is incredible. That’s why I created this fund within the USTA Foundation, to be able to do great things like that.”

Tiafoe said he welcomed the opportunity as well. “I was super excited about (the idea from USTA), because I get to meet somebody who I know looks up to me and be able to bless him along the way,” Tiafoe said. “It was an incredible experience, and I was even nervous about it today! I wanted everything to go smoothly and in the right way.” During the visit Lokko met Tiafoe, watched his practice and shadowed him around the tournament. On Saturday night Lokko watched Tiafoe win 6-4, 6-3 against Roberto Carballes Baena courtside in the player box.

Co-founded in 1969 by Arthur Ashe, Charlie Pasarell, and Sheridan Snyder, the NJTL network now includes more than 270 organizations that combine tennis and education to support young people from under-resourced communities.

Jannik Sinner returned to action at the Cincinnati Open with an emphatic opening victory, dispatching Daniel Elahi Galan 6-1, 6-1 in 59 minutes. It was the Italian’s first match since defeating Carlos Alcaraz in the Wimbledon final and he carried that form straight onto the hard court.

Sinner dropped just two games in the contest against the World No. 144, a scoreline that leaves little doubt about the balance between the players on the day. The 23-year-old now moves into the Round of 32, where he will face either Sebastian Baez or David Goffin.

The win continues a run Sinner began at this venue a year ago. Looking to retain his title after winning here 12 months ago, he arrives in Cincinnati on the back of a remarkable stretch: his record at big tournaments since that previous victory stands at 48-2.

This match was a straightforward start to his Cincinnati title defense. The scoreline and the brief duration of the match emphasise how quickly Sinner re-established control after the Wimbledon break. With a dominant first outing completed, attention will turn to the next opponent and how Sinner manages the step up in competition as the draw narrows.

For now the facts are clear: a dominant opening performance, minimal games dropped, and a path that leads to a Round of 32 encounter with either Baez or Goffin. Sinner’s objective in Cincinnati remains to defend the crown he claimed at this venue one year earlier, and the opening result offered a timely reminder of the form that produced a 48-2 record in big tournaments since that triumph.

Jannik Sinner acknowledged the role of fortune in a pivotal Wimbledon moment and used it as motivation heading into his title defence at the Cincinnati Open.

Grigor Dimitrov was leading two sets to love in their round of 16 match at Wimbledon before a pectoral muscle injury forced him to withdraw.

“I was lucky against Grigor, but I took it as a sign,” Sinner said.

“You never know what can happen and that’s how it is in tennis. So you have to try to understand why and how certain things happen.

“And after that match, I really raised my level of play, and I played some of the best tennis I could play. It was a very emotional moment for me, and I was able to celebrate with my team.”

Sinner, the world No.1, arrives in Cincinnati seeking to retain the title he won there previously. He will face Daniel Elahi Galan in the Round of 16 and used the run from Wimbledon as a reference point for his mindset.

On the conditions in Cincinnati he offered a striking observation about the balls: “From my point of view, the tennis balls are getting smaller,” he said ahead of his Round of 16 match against Daniel Elahi Galan. “The more you play, the smaller they get.

“That is very strange because usually they open up and get slower, but here they get actually faster.

“The ball bounces much higher. We haven’t had one very windy day yet, but it’s going to be very difficult if there’s going to be wind here.

“We saw it last year, remember the match against Andrey was super difficult, so it’s very difficult and it’s going to be a mental game. I am trying to accept every situation on the court and trying to be ready.”

Sinner confirmed he will wear an arm sleeve in Cincinnati as he did at Wimbledon but insisted it was not for pain. “The elbow does not hurt, but I like the sensation that gives the sleeve,” he said. “It gives a little more stability in the impact with the ball. I had also used it at Wimbledon and I liked it.”