TENNIS HEADLINES
Racquet Sports Industry Magazine Names 2020 ‘Champions of Tennis’ Michael Dowse, the CEO and executive director of the USTA, has been named “Person of the Year” for 2020 by Racquet Sports Industry magazine in the publication’s January 2021 issue. Dowse led off the magazine’s 20th annual “Champions of Tennis Awards,” which honor people, businesses, and organizations dedicated to improving the sport and business of tennis. Shortly after starting his job with the USTA a year ago, Dowse was immediately immersed in dealing with the effects of the coronavirus pandemic, as 90 percent of tennis facilities were forced to close and 90 percent of tennis pros were unable to work. Dowse, though, acted quickly to help bring the industry together. “He spearheaded the formation of Tennis Industry United to make sure key groups were coordinated and communicating with each other,” says Racquet Sports Industry Editor Peter Francesconi, “and, among other initiatives, he helped secure USTA funds for facilities and teaching pros to weather the downturn in business, focusing on ‘relief, recover, and rebuild.’” With all of this going on, Dowse also initiated a major trans-
formation of the USTA from a program-based organization to one focused on service, looking to promote and grow the sport of tennis as a whole. The most visible achievement, though, may well be the US Open, the largest professional tennis tournament in the world. “As the pandemic started to accelerate last spring and summer, Dowse and the USTA took a measured approach that led to a successful, and safe, 2020 US Open — and the result was a major win for tennis and for tennis fans,” Francesconi says. “Mike Dowse has a solid history in this sport, from competitive player, to stringing racquets through college, to working as a sales rep and major tennis equipment manufacturer executive,” Francesconi adds. “He clearly brings this ‘tennis DNA’ to this job, and his dedication, passion, and effectiveness have earned him RSI’s 2020 Person of the Year Award.” In addition to its Person of the Year, Racquet Sports Industry also named winners in 24 other categories for its 2020 Champions of Tennis Awards:
2020 Champions of Tennis Awards
22
Municipal Tennis Facility of the Year
Richland Tennis Center
Tennis Industry Service Award
Alex Levitsky
Pro/Specialty Retailer of the Year
Mason’s Tennis
Private/Commercial Facility of the Year
Miller Tennis Center
Builder/Contractor of the Year
Cape and Island Tennis & Track
Pocasset, Mass.
Grassroots Tennis Champion of the Year
Dee Henry
La Mirada, Calif.
Community Tennis Association of the Year
Asheville Tennis Association
Tennis Sales Representative of the Year
Chris Allen, Putterman Athletics
Adaptive Tennis Champion of the Year
Marcy Hirshberg
Alpharetta, Ga.
Stringer of the Year
John Brekken
Hopkins, Minn.
Public Park of the Year
Clifton Park
Baltimore, Md.
Junior Tennis Champion of the Year
Tracy Lawson
Wheelchair Tennis Champions of the Year
Hilary Muehlberger
High School Coach of the Year
Karen Ronney
Tennis Advocate of the Year
Jim Winters
Park & Rec Agency of the Year
City of Orlando Families, Parks & Rec
Youth Tennis Provider of the Year
Kendra Becker
National Junior Tennis & Learning (NJTL) Chapter of the Year
InnerCity Tennis
Mass Merchant/Chain Store of the Year
Dick’s Sporting Goods
Adult Tennis Provider of the Year
Guillermo “Bill” Lucero
Surprise, Ariz.
Innovative Tennis Event of the Year
2020 US Open
New York, N.Y.
Professional Tennis Registry (PTR) Member of the Year
John Borden
U.S. Professional Tennis Association (USPTA) Member of the Year
Jenny Gray
U.S. Tennis Association (USTA) Section of the Year
USTA Southern
NETNEWS MARCH/APRIL 2021
Richland Hills, Texas Fair Haven, N.J. New York, N.Y. Williamsville, N.Y.
Asheville, N.C. Chicago, Ill.
Tempe, Ariz. Greenwood, Mo. San Diego, Calif. Lemon Grove, Calif. Orlando, Fla. Norwalk, Conn. Minneapolis, Minn. Pittsburgh, Pa.
Germantown, Md. Austin, Texas Atlanta, Ga.
