The Southern California-based Latin American Tennis Foundation will be among the participants in a special ceremony this week at the US Open celebrating Latin history and culture, including recognizing the significant contributions of Hispanic and Latin players to the sport of tennis.

On Tuesday, September 5th, the tournament will honor the impact of these Latin contributors with a presentation entitled: “US Open Equity Talk: Latin Influence on American Pop Culture & Sports”.

The networking event and panel discussion will take place at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center and bring together influential Latin leaders across sports, business, and entertainment to engage in a dialogue about the community’s challenges, achievements, and aspirations.

As part of the event, and in conjunction with the 2023 US Open’s celebration of the 50th anniversary of equal prize money, longtime Coachella Valley resident Rosie Casals will be recognized for her role in advocating for equal pay for both men and women in 1973.

Casals’ Love & Love Foundation has teamed with the Goodyear, Ariz.-based Richard “Pancho” Gonzalez Youth Foundation to form the Latin American Tennis Foundation (LATF), which will take part in this celebration.

This year’s tournament will also bring to life a message of equity and inclusion for all US Open attendees through the US Open Equity Experience. This immersive display aims to educate, inspire and celebrate the continued evolution of tennis to become a more inclusive and equitable sport.

Through videos, images and inspiring examples of progress, the US Open Equity Experience features key milestones in US Open history, alongside profiles and quotes of tennis players who have been instrumental in driving change throughout the years.

With the support of the LATF, the Equity Experience will feature the achievements made by legendary figures such as Pancho Gonzalez, Pancho Segura, Rafael Osuna, Alex Olmedo, Gabriella Sabatini, Mary Jo Fernandez, Gigi Fernandez and others, ensuring that their legacies continue to inspire future generations.

Already at this year’s US Open, the New York dance group Ballet Hispanico performed on the opening day of Fan Week and Hispanic and Latin tennis legends and influencers will take part in a pre-match coin toss ceremony on Tuesday night.

The LATF strives to be the leading voice for Hispanic and Latin tennis in the U.S. and Latin America, with the goal of bringing awareness to current players, honoring past legends, and igniting a movement of participation and access.

LATF founders include Casals, an icon of women’s professional tennis, and Dan and Greg Gonzales, descendants of the legendary Richard “Pancho” Gonzalez. The Honorary and Advisory Board Members of LATF comprise Billie Jean King, a former World No. 1 tennis player and advocate for gender and LGBTQ+ equality; WTA President Mickey Lawler, Dr. Alfredo Quiñones-Hinojosa, a renowned neurosurgeon; Dolores Huerta, a civil rights and labor leader; and Raul Humberto Yzaguirre, a civil rights activist and former president of the National Council of La Raza.

“The LATF remains steadfast in its commitment to celebrating Latino icons within the game, with a special focus this year on Rafael Osuna and the 60th Anniversary of his historic 1963 US Open title victory,” LATF co-founder Casals said. “We are dedicated to driving meaningful change, promoting participation, access and inclusivity, while inspiring generations to come.”

In addition, the LATF has announced that on October 7th it will host the “Rosie Casals and Pancho Gonzalez Cultural Fiesta” in Palm Desert in conjunction with Hispanic Heritage Month, which takes place annual from September 15th-October 15th.

For more information about the Latin American Tennis Foundation and its programs, please visit their website at www.latinamericantennisfoundation.org.