The last Grand Slam of the year brings a New York vibe to tennis as the US Open begins. USTA General Manager, Player Development Martin Blackman, discusses the chances of Americans, including former Atlanta resident Coco Gauff repeating her 2023 success. Southerners Ben Shelton, Emma Navarro and Tommy Paul join a great USA contingent including Danielle Collins, Taylor Fritz and Frances Tiafoe as they vie for America’s most coveted Grand Slam title. Martin also explains how the US Open’s bottom line directly contributes to the American grassroots, supporting underserved youth and recreational players. Do not miss this opportunity to listen in on the US Open and the stamp it’s making on players and communities nationwide. 

• In this episode of Talking Tennis Southern Style, we’re joined by Gray Smith, a Board Member of the Winston-Salem Open and the North Carolina Tennis Foundation. Gray delves into North Carolina’s rich tennis history, highlighting the legendary players who have graced its courts, including Rod Laver, Cliff Richard, Pete Sampras, Andre Agassi, Jimmy Connors, Andy Roddick and Patrick McEnroe. Gray provides unique insights into the ATP Tour's Winston-Salem Open, discussing how it came together and the crucial role volunteers played in its success. He also touches on the tournament’s commitment to giving back to the community and its impact beyond the court. Tune in to hear about the legacy of tennis in North Carolina and the ongoing efforts to support and grow the sport.

Five years ago, at the age of 10, Lex Stolle was diagnosed with high-risk acute lymphoblastic leukemia. He began a years-long series of chemotherapy treatments at Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center of Children’s in Atlanta. Now, his recovery includes tennis, a love he shares with his father. His talents in communication and inspiring hope in other cancer victims have led him to host a radio show on WSB on first Sunday of every month, 1-2 p.m., with assistance from the Children’s Health Care of Atlanta. He wants to have a career as a motivational speaker … and when you hear this podcast, you’ll see, he is definitely on his way!

No one can match Al Parker’s junior career … a national champion 25 times and ranked No. 1 in Boys’ 12s, 14s, 16s and 18s from 1981-86. He reminisces about playing at the University of Georgia, which hosted and won NCAA Championships in the 1980s. “We were definitely a force,” the four-time All-American said. He has been inducted into three Halls of Fame, including the Southern Hall of Fame in 2010. He rose to No. 261 on the ATP Tour but his career was limited by a back injury sustained in college. Listen to Al as he shares how he’s applied what he learned as a top junior and collegiate player to his daily personal and professional life.

Want to hear a behind-the-scenes perspective from a photo shoot with Frances Tiafoe and Aryna Sabalenka? Michelle Heidbrink of Tennis Warehouse talks about being on-site with the tennis stars and previewing new clothing a year in advance. She also recommends checking out the sleek designs of Naomi Osaka and Rafa Nadal shoes. Of course, the newest racquets are available and guaranteed to boost your strokes. For Father’s Day, gifts sure to please Dad include customizing a racquet, new high-performance strings or a new shirt for his next match. 

Sheryl McAlister, Senior Director of Advocacy and Community Development for USTA South Carolina, discusses their efforts in promoting tennis during National Tennis Month. She highlights their advocacy work, increased grant applications and the enthusiastic involvement of staff and volunteers. Sheryl also addresses challenges in providing quality public tennis courts and their initiatives to engage state officials and local communities.

USTA General Manager, Player Development Martin Blackman, discusses the growing crop of Americans showing their grit on the French Open’s terre battue. Among the players highlighted are Danielle Collins and Frances Tiafoe, along with Southerners Coco Gauff, Emma Navarro, Alycia Parks, Tommy Paul and Christopher Eubanks. Another hot topic is the Summer Olympics, which will be played at Roland Garros.

• In this episode, we sit down with Bill Oakes, the former tournament director of the acclaimed ATP 250 Winston-Salem Open and Senior Associate Athletic Director of Wake Forest University. Bill shares his thoughts on innovative tournament formats, the significance of college tennis, and reflects on the upcoming last year of the Atlanta Open, which he also ran.

We applaud anyone playing tennis in a driveway. But, realistically, 99% of tennis is played on courts. Paul Pittman, the long-time dominant force of tennis in Florence, S.C., is now chairing USTA Southern’s push to protect and increase the number of our tennis courts. Pittman speaks to grassroots tennis advocates who are working to ensure that new tennis courts are improved and built, and not turned into pickleball courts.

In this episode, we chat with Bobby Reynolds, Auburn Men’s tennis head coach, a former No. 1 collegiate player at Vanderbilt and a former ATP player. He shares insights from coaching in the SEC and offers advice for aspiring players aiming for college and pro success, along with tips for competitive coaching. Reflecting on his pro tour days when he topped out at No. 63 in the world, coach Reynolds also touches on the broader impact of the sport. He grew up in metro Atlanta.

Join us for an insightful episode featuring Bob Willis, President of the Louisville (Ky.) Area 10 & Under Tennis Association. Willis will host a National Tennis Month “Bring A Friend” lesson on May 25 at Charlie Vettiner Park. He recounts last year’s experience with a successful NTM event. Don't miss out on Willis’s valuable tips and strategies for drawing new players to the sport with impactful tennis celebrations in your community!

Kristie Flowers hosted a Cardio Tennis session during 2023 and plans more sessions next month during National Tennis Month (NTM). She gets people active at the Dr. Eddie Floyd Florence Tennis Center in Florence, S.C. Flowers has had as many 50 participants get their heart rates up. She cites USTA Southern Board Member Ernie James for promoting NTM events.  

USTA Southern EVP Ted Reese runs Cary Tennis Classic

Top 100 men and women are playing this week at the Cary (N.C.) Tennis Park with numerous community and charity events.

We welcome Ted Reese, who volunteers in his leadership role as USTA Southern Executive Vice President. He takes time this week to talk about his dual USTA Pro Circuit tournaments running in his hometown of Cary, N.C. As Co-tournament Director of the Cary Tennis Classic, Ted emphasizes the growth of the tournaments that attracted top male and female stars like 2014 US Open finalist Kei Nishikori, Christopher Eubanks, Olympic silver medalist Diana Shnaider and the fifth-seed from Georgia McCartney Kessler. Listen as he shares his heart in promoting the community and charity work done by the tournament and how the region’s tennis is enhanced by this week-long professional tennis event.

How do you expand tennis in your state? A strategic focus of USTA is increasing the number of providers like parks and recreation departments, coaches, teachers, tournament directors and grassroots tennis associations. Tyler Strong is using his knowledge of Junior Team Tennis to make connections with coaches and facilities. A nearly 10-year veteran of USTA Tennessee, Strong also celebrates tennis parents who assist coaches

Andrew Krasny is best known for his post-match interviews on court for Tennis Channel. This week he is the host and emcee of Credit One Charleston Open, a tournament he considers among the best in the world for featuring the brightest women’s stars in the game. Over his storied career, Krasny has been one of the faces you've seen at Indian Wells, the Miami Open and Cincinnati, connecting TV viewers with the world’s best tennis players.

Arianne Hartono, a Dutch professional tennis player ranked No. 140 in WTA singles, made history at the University of Mississippi by winning the 2018 NCAA Women's Singles Tennis Championship, the first Dutch player to do so. She also received the 2018 Honda Sports Award for top female collegiate tennis player. Hartono is engaged to her coach Jason Ontog, a former USTA Tennessee staff member and UT-Chattanooga Hall of Fame inductee known for his tennis achievements. He was the 2000 Southern Conference Freshman of the Year and rose to a national ranking of No. 67 in 2003. Together, they offer insights into the travel demands and life on the WTA Tour.

Elizabeth Henderson’s life in tennis started by being No. 1 in numerous junior age levels in USTA Southern before being recognized as an All-American at the University of Tennessee-Chattanooga. She started her collegiate coaching odyssey at the University of North Carolina, followed by her first head coaching job at William & Mary. That led to a four-year stint as women’s head tennis coach at the UT in Knoxville. She was inducted into the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame in 2011. For more than 30 years she has focused on her true passion: teaching young players at the Peninsula Club in Knoxville.

We chatted with John Cox, whose volunteer work covers many areas of tennis, including numerous posts in USTA Southern. Still, he has a soft spot for the students of Bayou Academy in Cleveland, Miss., where he began coaching the tennis team in 2017. His goal is to make tennis “cool” and get players on court and practicing. Winning two state titles and being awarded the 2023 USTA Southern No-Cut Coach Starfish and USTA Mississippi Coach of the Year awards is just an extra bonus.

We talk with the 2023 USTA Southern Local League Coordinator of the Year Anna Martin. She is a veteran of more than 23 years of promoting and organizing USTA League, providing a rich history of tennis in Wilmington, N.C. She now supports nearly 200 adult recreational teams. Martin highlights the importance of playing against players with similar skill levels for the Greater Wilmington (N.C) Tennis Association. She also serves as a teacher and director at a local church school.

Interviewed are two podcasters: Chris Godby & Chad Young of the awarding-winning “Game Set Match Kentucky!”

After more than four years of uploading a two-interview podcast every other Thursday, the new “Talking Tennis Southern Style” plans on showcasing a single interview every Tuesday or Wednesday.

Chris Godby & Chad Young produce “Game Set Match Kentucky!” Their podcast won the 2023 USTA Southern Marc Kaplan Media Excellence Award for their show which concentrates on tennis in Central Kentucky Tennis Series CTA. The duo talked about content and the technical aspects of hosting the podcast from a home studio.

George “Ged” Schwing was honored with the Slew Hester Male Player of the Year for top adult player. Schwing has been a member of Team Louisiana for the Callen Cup and served as a captain the last few years, along with competing on the winning Southern team at the 2022 Keith Donoff Cup.

Ozaki-Hastings Junior Sportsmanship Award winner Ryan Cozad was recognized at the USTA National Clay Courts Championships, as he received their Sportsmanship Award. He loves competing in team events, especially the Ozaki Cup for Team Georgia, and in the Battle of Sections for Team Southern.

With the number of tennis players growing in the last five years, more tennis courts are needed. While some courts are being converted to pickleball courts, the USTA Southern Advocacy Task Force is enabling grassroots advocates to make the case for adding, and not reducing, the number of tennis courts. Former Board Member Paul Pittman chairs the task force and explains the advocacy tools provided by USTA Southern. 

In our first episode of Black History Month, we interview Calvin Kemp of Lafayette, La. Kemp was honored with the 2023 Southern Tennis Professional of the Year and received another award, the Member Organization of the Year, for Acadiana Serves. The award citation mentioned, “As an ATP Certified GPTCA International Coach, PTR Certified Coach, and Tennis Performance Trainer, Calvin brings a wealth of expertise.”

It’s a new year and time for our Grand Slam correspondent to preview American and Southern players. USTA General Manager, Player Development Martin Blackman calls in from Down Under with high hopes for players with Georgia roots: Coco Gauff, Taylor Townsend, Ben Shelton & Christopher Eubanks. Yolanda “Yola” Ramírez Ochoa won mixed doubles and finished as a singles finalist twice at Roland Garros. The former No. 6 in the world from Mexico chats about her illustrious career with her son, Ponch, a top-flight player himself.   

Join us on the latest episode of "Talking Southern Style Tennis" as we sit down with Paul Pittman, Chair of the USTA Southern Advocacy Task Force and Chair of the Major Gifts Committee for the Southern Tennis Foundation. In this episode, Paul shares insights into how the Southern Tennis Foundation is dedicated to growing the sport of tennis across the Southern section. Discover their impactful grants that fund tennis programs and initiatives, as well as their scholarships for juniors heading to college.

• Michelle Curry of the Althea Gibson CTA
• Tennis memorabilia collector and USTA Kentucky Past President Mike Eden
• USTA Chairman of the Board and President Dr. Brian Hainline
• USTA Georgia’s Darren Potkey
• Jermaine Jenkins, practice partner of Serena and Venus Williams
• NJTL leader Belen Gomez-Jordana
• No. 1 Wheelchair Tennis player Zane Goodwin & mom Lara Polk
• Southern Hall of Famer Keith Richardson

Jane Preyer made her mark as an All-American at the University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill before succeeding in the WTA Tour. She reached No. 43 and defeated some top players including Evonne Goolagong. Later she took to coaching and led the Duke University women to four ACC championships. Keith Richardson is now inducted into his fifth hall of fame. His career began with achievement at Appalachian State and was named a “Legend” in 2012. With victories over Kevin Curren and Eliott Teltscher, he rose to No. 63 in singles and No. 146 in doubles. Richardson also was honored as a teaching pro by the US Professional Tennis Association (USPTA). We also preview our year-end highlight episode, scheduled for release on Thursday, Dec. 14.

Marshall Happer headed the Men’s Tennis Council from 1981-89, making him the only unofficial commissioner of men’s professional tennis. He draws upon his extensive tennis background – including USTA Executive Director, USTA Southern President & CEO and Southern Tennis Hall of Fame inductee – in writing “Pioneers of the Game.” The 871-page history documents the 40-year trek of men’s professional tennis from the Open Era through the advent of the ATP Tour. Happer recounts his relationships with Jack Kramer, Phillippe Chatrier, Arthur Ashe, Lamar Hunt, Donald Dell, Tony Trabert, among others.

Wheelchair tennis is booming and Zane Goodwin is riding the crest to the top of the game. The 16-year-old Birmingham, Ala., resident is the top junior wheelchair tennis player in the country and winner of the Cincinnati Wheelchair Open. Zane talks about his dedication to the sport while his mom, Lara Polk, describes how she loves traveling to tournaments nationwide. 

USTA Southern recently hosted a blind and visually impaired workshop that was conducted by the Georgia Academy for the Blind. Superintendent Dr. Cindy Gibson welcomed the opportunity to help sighted players experience the sport from the perspective of the blind and visually impaired. Using audible balls, shorter racquets and tactile lines, 25 tennis professionals were tutored with specific strategies.

Highlighted is junior Jaylon Salters, of Ladson, S.C. We preview a special episode with Marshall Happer, author of “Pioneers of the Game” and former USTA Southern President.

In a remarkable achievement, Manny Diaz, the veteran men's tennis coach at the University of Georgia, will be inducted into the prestigious Southern Tennis Hall of Fame, this January. Diaz reflects on his illustrious career, during which he achieved a remarkable SEC-record of 767 wins for the University of Georgia men's tennis team. He takes pride in his associations with renowned former American tennis star John Isner along with current NCAA champion, Ethan Quinn.

Get ready to stock up on perfect tennis gifts for your favorite player! Tennis Warehouse’s Michelle Heidbrink previews her favorite tennis merchandise, clothing, shoes, racquets, etc. As a USTA Southern partner, Tennis Warehouse offers discounts to the 166,000+ USTA Southern members.

Highlighted are juniors Houston Jacques, of Huntsville, Alabama, and Athletic Club Alabama, and 2022 USTA Mississippi Hall of Famers Nick Barone and Louis Nash.

Tennis is the sport of a lifetime and a former Atlanta Falcon wide receiver Brian Finneran is now excited about playing and watching tennis. He was wowed by the speed and athleticism of pro tennis players at the Atlanta Open. Brian can be heard on air on 680 The Fan, an Atlanta sports radio station. Andrew Walker worked four years at USTA Kentucky while rising in the ranks of tennis officiating. Now he is the Chief Umpire of the US Open. With October being LGBT History Month, Andrew recounted that when he was hired by the USTA Officiating Department, he felt secure enough to come out. In our spotlights are USTA Gold Ball champions Carrington Brown and Raegan Mulberry of Georgia and Kentucky Tennis Hall of Famers Tom McGraw and Katy Tinius.

Omar Alcaino has been at the helm of seven straight USTA Mississippi Junior Team Tennis champion teams including winning a Southern 10 & Under Intermediate title this year. Embracing his Chilean heritage, he reflects on his journey, which led him to excel as a Sun Belt singles champion at the University of Alabama at Birmingham and thrive as a dedicated tennis coach. Brenda Carter achieved the impressive distinction of being ranked No. 1 in her age division eight times when she was inducted into the Southern Tennis Hall of Fame in 2015. Her remarkable success continues as Carter currently serves as the playing captain for the United States in the 75s ITF Masters World Championships in Spain. Notably, she holds the No. 10 world ranking within her age group. Highlighted are  Remedios “Edward” Naval of Charleston, South Carolina, and USTA Louisiana Hall of Famers Lauren Cotter Wilson, Harold "Rocky" Andry and Ruthie Shoptaught Kean and family.

Talking Tennis Soutern Style promotes Hispanic Heritage Month. With almost twenty years of experience as a tennis teacher, Belén Gómez-Jordana founded the non-profit and NJTL United Tennis. In order to counter stereotypes, Gómez-Jordana created the Tennis for All program. She delivers group and individual classes at a very low cost. Gómez-Jordana volunteers on the USTA North Carolina Diversity and Inclusion Committee and is a former journalist at Telemundo Noticias Charlotte. Ponch Ochoa was an All-American at North Carolina State and cites his family background for launching his tennis career. He is the son of French Open 1958 women’s doubles and 1959 mixed doubles champion Yolanda "Yola" Ramírez Ochoa. Ponch remembers her ability, tenacity and grit as a tennis coach. His father, Alfonso Ochoa, was also a top-level pro who played on the ATP Tour. We celebrate North Carolinian juniors Siddhant Dua & Smyan Vijay and the newest inductees into the Alabama Tennis Hall of Fame: Leslie Hewett Bashinsky and Dudley Reynolds.

Leigh Torrence says tennis was his first love and dreamed of being another Arthur Ashe. He was a top-level junior out of Atlanta. Still, he’s most famous for his NFL career, playing for six teams including the New Orleans Saints and Atlanta Falcons, and coaching for the Saints and New York Jets. “I think tennis is demanding of you mentally … and great preparation for football.” He recently took the USTA Coach Level 1 Workshop to begin teaching tennis. World-renowned sports performance researcher Dr. Mark Kovacs, from Marietta, Georgia, was an All-American and NCAA doubles champion at Auburn University and earned his doctoral degree from the University of Alabama. He focuses on improving tennis service motions, along with working with NBA basketball players. Kovacs was the youngest recipient of the International Tennis Hall of Fame Educational Merit Award. Highlighted are junior Caiden Karetas, of Gulfport Mississippi, and North Carolina Tennis Hall of Famers Rebel Good, Jeff Joyce, Sam Paul and Clifford Skakle.

More than 25 years ago, Jennifer Edmonson volunteered at the Cajun Classic, a wheelchair tennis tournament in Baton Rouge. Her role expanded to the USTA Southern Wheelchair Tennis Chair and then the USTA chair. Now, she takes on the role of US Open Wheelchair Tennis Tournament Director. Talking about wheelchair tennis in collegiate tennis is Chuck McCuen, who coaches at Clemson University. He started the program at Georgia State, where he was inducted into their Hall of Fame. Our highlights include Isabella Graeber, winner of the Good Chase Sportsmanship Race, and Georgia Tennis Hall of Fame inductees Stephen Enochs and Robby Ginepri.

USA players competing in the Paris Olympics

Karen Pestaina of TennisPanorama.com discusses Tommy Paul, Emma Navarro, Taylor Townsend and other American players at the Summer Olympics.

“Playing the Olympics and playing for your country really energizes players,” says Karen Pestaina, founder and editor-in-chief of TennisPanorama.com. Karen highlights Southern players who can make a big impact in Paris. She focuses on the chances of Tommy Paul, who won a Roland Garros junior title, and South Carolina’s Emma Navarro to bring home a medal from France. She also recaps the last Atlanta Open. Listen to the insights of a veteran tennis journalist!

US Open preview: Martin Blackman on Gauff, Pegula, Fritz and Tiafoe

UNC champion Carson Tanguilig heads to US Open doubles main draw

It’s US Open time! USTA’s Martin Blackman previews the year’s last Grand Slam and breaks down the chances of Americans Jessica Pegula, Coco Gauff, Taylor Fritz and Frances Tiafoe. Alpharetta, Georgia’s Carson Tanguilig won the NCAA women’s doubles title, earning her and Fiona Crawley wild cards in the US Open doubles main draw. The duo were on the North Carolina Tar Heels national championship team which defeated NC State in the team final. We feature twins from Metairie, Louisiana: Caroline and Thomas Melius and South Carolina Tennis Hall of Famers Ann Hunt and Mary Carlisle White Gambill.

What is your pursuit in the middle years of life? Two USTA Southern volunteers decided they wanted to talk about USTA League tennis. North Carolina residents Carolyn Roach and Erin Conigliaro ­­­named their podcast "Second Serve" and connect with thousands of listeners to their weekly conversation. Everything from rules to pet peeves to etiquette questions are covered with a sense of humor and humility. This time of year is about playing in the Southern heat. We go to our top tennis health expert: USTA Chairman of the Board and President Brian Hainline. Dr. Hainline serves as NCAA Chief Medical Officer and provides an extensive round-up of how to play when the temperature is challenging. We feature two Arkansans: junior Caroline Jones and Arkansas Tennis Hall of Fame inductee Buddy Bowman.

The annual ATP Tour 250 tournament – the Atlanta Open – has the game’s breakout star Christopher Eubanks in the main draw. “Of course, he’s playing” says Tournament Director Peter Lebedevs about the Atlanta native and former Georgia Tech star who played only a few miles away from the Atlantic Station site. The Tech connection continues with the second tournament appearance by GT player Andres Martin. Kenny Thorne, the men’s coach, returns to the podcast to talk about the opportunities given to college players to compete on the ATP Tour. Our episode highlights are junior Juliana Diianni, of Marietta, Ga., USTA Southern Mickey McNulty Family of the Year winner, the Koch family of Abbeville, La., and the No-Cut Coach Starfish Award winner Jordan Johnson, of Pikeville, Ky.

With American players competing at the Big W in London, USTA Director, Player Development Martin Blackman tracks the preparation of up-and-coming pros in Florida and European warmup events. He proudly mentions four US players who now reside in the top 10: Jessica Pegula, Coco Gauff, Taylor Fritz and Frances Tiafoe. Among the Southerners he profiled include Taylor Townsend, Ben Shelton, Christopher Eubanks and Tommy Paul. USTA women’s coach Jermaine Jenkins, Ga., zeros in on how to nurture high-level players with professional potential. Along with talking about his family - including brothers Jamere and Jackie, Jr. - from College Park, Georgia, he also described being the hitting partner of Venus Williams. We highlight junior Grace Stout, of Brentwood, Tennessee, and North Carolina Wesleyan’s Albie Brice, the 2023 USA South Coach of the Year.

Sone of the most exciting – and often overlooked – tennis matches are played on college campuses. These two coaches made their women’s teams among the best in the country. As Alabama’s women’s tennis coach, Jenny Mainz was named the 2013 ITA National Coach of the Year and won two NCAA Doubles Championships in 2014 & 2015. She offers a rich history of how Alabama women’s tennis rose from barely having a team to be one of the SEC best over her 26 years at the helm. Upon his retirement this year, Jeff Wallace was the winningest college coach in the country. His Bulldogs won NCAA titles in 1994 and 2000 along with four other national titles. He was named ITA National Coach of the year four times. He discusses the NCAA hosting three division championships at the USTA National Campus. We highlight junior Evan Duggal, of Lexington Ky., and the 100th anniversary of the West Louisville (Ky.) Tennis Club!

USTA Southern presents more than 20 annual awards and we interview two in celebration of Juneteenth. Vanita Phinisey talks about her mission to promote tennis in Columbus, Miss., with the 3rd Annual Battle of the States. Hosted by Golden Triangle Tennis, the National Tennis Month tournament won the Special Tennis Event of the Year and featured inter-state competition and the ability of juniors to team with adults. The Diversity & Inclusion Champion went to Ezekiel Salama, who came from the Rising Stars NJTL of Kentucky. He is a top-level high school track and tennis athlete whose poise and hard work have made him a star on and off the court. The Shelbyville, Ky. teenager has a 4.0 GPA. We highlight junior Alex LaFrance of Little Rock, Ark. We congratulate other USTA Southern Award winners: Junior Team Tennis Coordinator of the Year Carla O’Connor, Local League Coordinator of the Year Robyn Haug, both of Charlotte, N.C.

May is National Tennis Month and it will shine brightly in the Rocket City as USTA Southern hosts a $15K Men’s and Women’s Pro Circuit event on clay in Huntsville, Ala. Tournament Director Milly Sequera Huss, known for her top-29 WTA career, is the tournament director and talks about HBCU players receiving wild cards. There are seven free local events throughout the tournament May 22-28 and USTA Southern staffer Claire Bartlett outlines activities for the young and not-so young.

Just in time for all three NCAA team championships at the USTA National Campus, Lake Nona, Fla., we interview tennis journalist Colette Lewis. She runs the renown website, ZooTennis.com, which daily covers everything in the junior and college tennis world. She reviews the DI teams who are looking to bring home championship trophies this month. Our highlights are junior Wes Noland, from Madison, Miss., and USTA Southern Marilyn Sherman Spirit Award winner Cathy Greene, of Lottie, Ala. and Gerrie Rothwell Award winner Bret Peterson, of Auburn, Ala.

We return to our roots and bring back Dr. Brian Hainline. Our first podcast guest returns now as the USTA Chairman of the Board and President. As NCAA Chief Medical Officer, lends even more credence to why he focuses on the great health benefits of tennis – 9.7 more years of life! With tennis participation skyrocketing, Brian also highlights how it has grown in Hispanic/Latino, Black/African and Asian/Pacific communities. He also supports the need for great sportsmanship and more officials to oversee the game. It’s almost May, which means it’s time for National Tennis Month! USTA Southern Marketing & Public Relations Committee Chair James McKissick talks about NTM and what Southern volunteers are doing to celebrate it. Our NTM events have jumped to 386 events, nearly double our 2022 total. Highlighted are junior Emily Baek, of Suwanee, Ga., and USTA Southern award winners: the 3rd Annual Battle of the Sexes in Columbus, Miss. and the Level 5 open Team Pilot in Ridgeland, Miss.

USTA Delivery Council Chair Greg Lappin promotes National Tennis Month, a national initiative coming in May. Lappin champions the health benefits of tennis that increases your life by 9.7 years, clearly more than any other sport. He applauds USTA volunteers who are “creating positive healthy lifestyles.” Additionally, he cites tennis participation has skyrocketed, adding 5.9 million Americans, a 33% increase since 2020 nationally. USTA Southern Board Member Ernie James, of Florence, S.C., is heading up a new initiative: Good Chase. The nomination process, starting May 1, will reward juniors who exhibit exemplary sportsmanship and contribute to a more positive and respectful tournament environment. The top award will be a trip to this year’s US Open! We highlight junior Hadley Appling, of Louisville, Ky., and Ozaki-Hastings Sportsmanship Award winner  Parker Jacques, of Huntsville, Ala. Major props go out to our “Talking Tennis Southern Style” podcast team member Darren Potkey, who was honored as the 2022 Mac MacDougal Official of the Year.

In this episode, we sit down with Patricia Jensen, mother of four former professional tennis players, including 1993 French Open men’s doubles champions Luke and Murphy Jensen. Patricia shares her unique insights and experiences from transporting four children playing junior tournaments, where she put over 100K miles on her car one summer, to watching them play on the professional tour. Once dubbed the “matriarch of Atlanta’s No. 1 tennis family” by USTA Southern, she continues to volunteer in the tennis world by organizing the ball persons for the Atlanta Open and Georgia Tech. Listen in on her stories as a mother and being the number one fan of all of her tennis playing kids.

Taking the helm of USTA’s largest section, Brett Schwartz is striving to improve NJTLs, public parks and grassroots efforts in nine states. He also chats about co-writing “Competitive Tennis” that helps players climb the USTA League NTRP ladder along with his work as Tennis Director at the Stone Creek Club & Spa. Madison Keys and her mother, Christine, established the Kindness Wins Foundation that “supports youth access to sports, education and their own desires to make a difference and create a kinder world.” With the assistance of USTA South Carolina’s April Gift, they funded improvements to the JV Morris Tennis Center in conjunction with the Credit One Charleston Open. Funding was also provided by USTA South Carolina and the WTA Charities. Our highlights include a junior from Birmingham, Ala., Tabb Tuck, and 2022 USTA Southern award winners Reid Kinlaw of the Town of Cary, N.C., and Noah Schepman, of Germantown, Tenn.

USTA’s digital presence took a major step forward with the release of its new app. USTA staffers Michael Hughes and Alanna Broderick describe its many features including listing WTN real-time status and rankings, recent tournament and USTA League results and other info all tennis players need at their fingerprints. The Apple version is available now, with the Android version set to release within the next month. Mike Eden is a former USTA Kentucky President whose passion is collecting tennis history. Among the hundreds of cans of balls, racquets, books, magazines and other historic memorabilia in his home, he calls one item the “holy grail:” the first metal tennis can from 1926, which makes him the proud owner of the only unopened can on the planet. Our highlights include junior Ellison Reynoldson, of Camden, Tenn., and 2022 USTA Southern junior award winners Riley Crowder, of Dothan, Ala., and Jelani Sarr, of Pooler, Ga.

Through its long history and current program offerings, women continue to be a driving force within USTA Southern.  We start with Jaime Kaplan, who rose to No. 91 in doubles on the WTA Tour and was inducted into the Southern Tennis Hall of Fame in 2020. She talks about her current role as Southern Tennis Foundation’s Director, Development & Operations, spreading the word about its giving back mission and raising funds. Maria Cercone heads up junior tennis for USTA Southern and discusses the new Playoff Series which provides opportunities for players of diverse backgrounds to earn a wild card for the $15K USTA Pro Circuit event in Huntsville, Alabama May 22-28. The Florida Tennis Hall of Famer explains how the series gives expanded opportunities to HBCU players. This episode spotlights the achievements of Raleigh, N.C.’s Gavin Goode, along with the 2022 Slew Hester Players of the Year Karen Rembert, of Raleigh, N.C. and Albert Lyle, from Jackson, Miss.

We celebrate Black History Month with leading voices in Black Tennis. Through the USTA Fellowship in Tennis Coaching and Leadership Powered by Athleta program, Venecca Green discovered a coaching opportunity at the HBCU and Division II Lane College. Even though she admitted she is at “retirement age”, she proudly begins her coaching career at the helm of the Dragons women’s & men’s tennis programs in Jackson, Tenn. We honor the legacy and impact of the iconic Althea Gibson, winner of the US Open, Wimbledon and French Open. Michelle Curry, estate executor & COO of Althea Gibson CTA in Orange, N.J., talks about the Silver, S.C.-born legend and her impact on the sport. Gibson was also an outstanding musician, golfer and trailblazer for all athletes who came after her. To memorialize her impact on Southern tennis, the Southern Tennis Foundation has established the Althea Gibson Scholarship. Our highlights include junior Hannah Lawrence, of Slidell, La., and USTA Southern award winners Stacie Kennington, of Statesville, N.C., (Southern Professional) and Andy Collier, of The Bolivar Bullet in Cleveland, Miss. (Media Excellence).