By Tennis Now | @Tennis_Now | Tuesday, April 29, 2025
Photograph credit score: Jennifer Pottheiser/USTA
The ATA and USTA introduced a shared mission to develop tennis particpation.
The USTA and Americn Tennis Affiliation introduced a brand new initiative reflecting their shared mission to develop participation, retention, and management alternatives amongst numerous communities in tennis.
The muse of this new initiative embody “rising Black illustration in tennis, a mentorship program growing pipelines of numerous professionals in teaching and tennis careers, and galvanizing future generations to take part within the sport,” the USTA mentioned in a press release on the partnership.
The oldest African-American sports activities group in the US, the ATA was based in 1916 by a bunch of African-American businessmen, faculty professors, and physicians in response to the exclusion of Black gamers from competing in US Garden Tennis Affiliation (precursor to the USTA) organized tennis tournaments alongside White gamers.
At this time, the ATA continues to develop and promote alternatives by tennis in numerous communities.
Via this collaboration, the USTA and ATA will create a brand new collection of occasions referred to as “The Prelude to ATA Nationals,” which goals to boost participant retention and increase aggressive alternatives for juniors all year long. The collection, which is open to all, launched final weekend in Dallas and is scheduled to proceed in Washington, D.C. (Might 23-25), Atlanta (June 6-8), and Houston (June 28-29).
Every occasion will characteristic an grownup social, neighborhood play day, match play, and culminate within the ATA Nationwide Championships. The ATA Nationwide Championships is a historic tennis match that brings tons of of gamers of all ages, backgrounds, and ethnicities to compete on a nationwide stage. The match additionally options networking occasions, academic classes, and the ACE Awards, which acknowledge people and organizations which have made important contributions to making sure that tennis is accessible to all.
The 2025 ATA Nationwide Championships might be held from July 28 to August 3 on the USTA Nationwide Campus in Orlando, Fla.