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HHM EVENT IN SAN DIEGO A HUGE SUCCESS
Tennis has done amazing things for the many Mexican Americans living in Southern California, and countless of other Latin Americans who call the Southland home. Take for example Hector Cota, who teaches math at Calexico High School, a small Title 1 school near the much larger border city of Mexicali, that sits approximately 125 miles east of San Diego.
BOARD MEMBER NAM JACK REMEMBERED FOR LIFE OF SERVICE TO TENNIS
The USTA Southern California Section is mourning the loss of Executive Board member Nam Jack of San Marino, who passed away on September 7th at the age of 64.
PAST USTA PRESIDENT AND SOCAL STAR FRANKLIN JOHNSON PASSES AWAY
Tennis was “his first love,” USTA President Brian Hainline shared, quoting Anne Johnson after speaking to the wife of Franklin Johnson, who recently passed away at the age of 87.
DON BLY ENJOYING LIFE PLAYING, TEACHING AT DON BLY TENNIS COMPLEX
Every time Don Bly leaves the house and tells his wife he’s headed to the tennis courts, he must get a kick out of what he’s about to say next: “Dorothy, I’m headed out to Donald Bly Tennis Complex.”
ADULT TENNIS NEWS
DAVID HOFFMAN NAMED JUNE 2023 ADULT LEAGUE CAPTAIN OF THE MONTH
USTA Southern California has named David Hoffman of Westlake Village, who captains teams out of Westlake Athletic Club, as the June 2023 Adult League Captain of the Month.
STEVE LAKOWSKE NAMED MAY 2023 ADULT LEAGUE CAPTAIN OF THE MONTH
USTA Southern California has named Steve Lakowske of Avila Beach, who captains teams out of the Central Coast, as the May 2023 Adult League Captain of the Month.
FOR HOLLYWOOD WRITER FASICK, SPORTSMANSHIP ALL PART OF THE GAME
Hannah Fasick can’t seem to get enough of USTA League tennis. She captains one mixed team, as well as playing on another, and also lends her skills to a team for this upcoming season.
ANDREA CRUM NAMED FEBRUARY 2023 LEAGUE CAPTAIN OF THE MONTH
USTA Southern California has named Los Angeles’ Downtown Aces at Vermont Canyon team captain Andrea Crum as the February 2023 Adult League Captain of the Month.
RENE CARMICHAEL NAMED JANUARY LEAGUE CAPTAIN OF THE MONTH
San Diego District Tennis Association’s 2022 Women’s Sportsmanship award-winner Rene Carmichael has been named USTA SoCal’s Adult League Captain of the Month for January.
COOK & LOVE LOVE SPREAD ROMANCE ONE ACE AFTER ANOTHER
The game of tennis has provided Adeline Arjad Cook with more than one love in her life, and she hopes to spread that love across Southern California through her tennis boutique and more.
JUNIOR TENNIS NEWS
DAVID GOODMAN NAMED AUGUST TOURNAMENT DIRECTOR OF THE MONTH
USTA Southern California has named David Goodman of La Mirada, Head Men’s and Women’s Tennis Coach at Biola University, as the August 2023 Junior Tournament Director of the Month.
BREAKING BARRIERS: USTA BJK NATIONALS HIGHLIGHTS TO AIR ON TENNIS CHANNEL
Breaking Barriers, a highlights show for USTA Billie Jean King Nationals, will air Saturday, September 9th at 8am PT on Tennis Channel. Click the link below to watch the trailer.
DANNY ECHT NAMED JULY 2023 TOURNAMENT DIRECTOR OF THE MONTH
USTA Southern California has named Danny Echt of Santa Barbara, tournament director for the Santa Barbara Tennis Patrons, as the July 2023 Junior Tournament Director of the Month.
SPORTSMANSHIP 52: ALYSSA AHN AND THE MENTALITY OF A CHAMPION
San Diego native Alyssa Ahn may be soft-spoken when first meeting her, however, it doesn’t take long to recognize how immense the depth of her character is on court.
STEVE BICKHAM NAMED JUNE 2023 TOURNAMENT DIRETOR OF THE MONTH
USTA Southern California has named Steve Bickham, the Head Coach of Men’s Tennis at Pomona-Pitzer, as the June 2023 Junior Tournament Director of the Month.
HUNTINGTON BEACH’S MIKA IKEMORI LOOKS TO FUTURE AFTER JUNIOR CAREER
Mika Ikemori has spent more than half her young life learning the game of tennis from the former WTA star Debbie Graham, who reached a career-high of No. 28 in the world rankings in 1992.
COMMUNITY TENNIS NEWS
DEEP LOVE OF TENNIS FOLLOWS JASON COLLINS WHEREVER HE GOES
Former NBA star and Northridge native Jason Collins has found a new love since he retired from professional basketball: the sport of tennis. He brings his racquets with him wherever he goes.
THREE SOCAL FACILITIES WIN USTA OUTSTANDING FACILITY AWARD
Rancho Santa Fe Tennis Club, Templeton Tennis Ranch, and the Coach Jim Verdieck Tennis Center have each been honored with the 2023 USTA Outstanding Facility award.
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIANS PARTICIPATE IN US OPEN LATIN CELEBRATION
The SoCal-based Latin American Tennis Foundation will be among the participants in a special ceremony at the US Open celebrating Latin history and culture.
JAMI YONEKURA-JONES HONORED WITH WOMEN & GIRLS WHO ACE AWARD
USTA Southern California is proud to present Jami Yonekura-Jones, the Head Women’s Tennis Coach at San Diego City College, with this year’s Women & Girls Who Ace Award.
RONNEY LOOKS TO DEVELOP THE NEXT GEN OF FEMALE LEADERS IN TENNIS
Using her years of experience in the tennis industry, Karen Ronney is hoping to empower women and provide opportunities for a new generation of female leaders.
WOMEN & GIRLS WHO ACE AIMS TO SUPPORT GROWTH OF FEMALE COACHING
USTA Southern California has named David Hoffman of Westlake Village, who captains teams out of Westlake Athletic Club, as the June 2023 Adult League Captain of the Month.
COLLEGE TENNIS NEWS
SPORTSMANSHIP 52: UC-IRVINE’S NOAH ZAMORA PAIRS TALENT AND RESPECT
Today, it has become a rarity to find athletes who pair excellent play alongside exceptional behavior. One of the few who shows both of these qualities at the highest level is Noah Zamora.
BLANDO TWINS SHOW THE ADVANTAGES OF PLAYING TENNIS WITH FAMILY
Siblings who play sports together, particularly doubles, share a unique bond that goes beyond their DNA. This connection is evident in the dynamics and intensity of playing together.
SOCAL PLAYERS WELL REPRESENTED ON ITA ALL-AMERICAN TEAMS
As is so often the case, Southern California players have filled up the 2023 ITA All-American teams across all three collegiate divisions on both the men’s and women’s side.
CAL POLY SLO REFLECT ON THEIR RUN AT TENNIS ON CAMPUS NATIONALS
All the stars had aligned, and it was looking like this was the year Cal Poly-San Luis Obispo’s club team would take the Tennis on Campus National Championship.
CLAREMONT COLLEGES GROW TENNIS ON CAMPUS THROUGH INCLUSIVITY
Claremont Colleges Club Tennis brings together five schools into one Tennis on Campus program. Through their programming, the club has made tennis accessible to students of all skill levels.
PEPPERDINE SEEKS A RETURN TO TENNIS ON CAMPUS NATIONALS IN 2023
After qualifying for TOC Nationals for the first time in seven years in 2022, Pepperdine Club Tennis is hoping their special team bond helps them return to the national stage in 2023.
PRO TENNIS NEWS
SPORTSMANSHIP 52: BRYCE PEREIRA – TENNIS, SPORTSMANSHIP & FAMILY
The path of a particular SoCal tennis star is a journey that could have easily faltered or never even begun, were it not for the profound influence of one key family member: his father.
MICHELSEN LEADS TALENTED GROUP OF SOCAL WILD CARDS INTO US OPEN
If ever there was a player more deserving of a USTA-granted US Open main draw wild card heading into the year’s final Grand Slam, it was Aliso Viejo’s Alex Michelsen.
SOCAL PRO SERIES: USC’S DOSTANIC CLINCHES RACE TO INDIAN WELLS
Stefan Dostanic saved his best tennis for last as the Irvine native won his first ITF World Tour title and capture the Race to Indian Wells after seven weeks of SoCal Pro Series play.
SOCAL PRO SERIES: FAKIH OUTLASTS MCCRAY IN FIRST ROUND AT LAKEWOOD
Pasadena’s 17-year-old rising star Kate Fakih knocked out five seed Megan McCray of Oceanside in the first round of the SoCal Pro Series finale at Lakewood Tennis Center.
SOCAL PRO SERIES: HANNA CHANG, ANDRE ILAGAN WIN IN LAKEWOOD
Fontana’s Hanna Chang and Hawaii’s Andre Ilagan take the singles titles from a dramatic first week of SoCal Pro Series action at the Lakewood Tennis Center in the South Bay.
SOCAL PRO SERIES: DOSTANIC JOINS CHANG IN LAKEWOOD SEMIS
USC’s Stefan Dostanic pulled out a three-set win to join SoCal natives Hanna Chang and Eryn Cayetano in Saturday’s singles semis at the SoCal Pro Series event in Lakewood.
TIEN KNOCKED OUT, DAUGHTERS PICKS UP FIRST WTA POINT IN LAKEWOOD
Southern California natives Katherine Hui and Eryn Cayetano both came through long three-setters on Friday to advance to Saturday’s singles semifinals at the SoCal Pro Series in Irvine.
SOCAL PRO SERIES: LEARNER TIEN GRABS FIRST ITF SINGLES TITLE IN IRVINE
Irvine’s Learner Tien and San Diego’s Haley Giavara both pulled a double by winning the singles and doubles titles at the SoCal Pro Series event at Racquet Club of Irvine.
KATHERINE HUI AN EXEMPLARY FIGURE OF SPORTSMANSHIP
As a blue-chip, top prospect recognized by many as the nation’s top recruit out of high school, Katherine Hui has begun to put the tennis world on notice at a young age.
