From left to right: Ilana Kloss, Billie Jean King, Dr. Emily Moore, Dr. Harold German
Photo credit:Christine Ashburn
USTA Eastern Inducts 2021 Hall of Fame Class
U
STA Eastern and the Junior Tennis Foundation (JTF) inducted tennis icons and trailblazers Billie Jean King and Ilana Kloss, esteemed entrepreneur Freddie Botur, tennis historian and former USTA Eastern president Dr. Dale Caldwell, former Eastern Men's No. 6 player Dr. Harold German, and youth tennis advocate and activist Dr. Emily Moore into its Tennis Hall of Fame at the 34th Annual Eastern Tennis Hall of Fame Ceremony at The River Club in New York City. Emmy-winning sports commentator and fellow Eastern Tennis Hall of Famer Mary Carillo will host the celebration. "These six inductees have dedicated much of their lives to growing the game at the grassroots level and represent the best of what our sport has to offer," said Junior Tennis Foundation CEO Mark McIntyre. "Their service has enriched our community over decades. Beyond a tennis court, these six individuals are exemplary citizens whose advocacy and activism has transformed our world. We are thrilled to formally recognize each of them for their remarkable achievements and lifetime of service with USTA Eastern's highest honor.” 50
More about the six 2021 Eastern Hall of Fame inductees: • Billie Jean King & Ilana Kloss: 39-time Grand Slam Champion King led the “Original 9” tennis players to form what would eventually become the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) in reaction to unequal pay and opportunities compared to their male counterparts. For over 40 years she has been partners with fellow former player Kloss, who captured two major doubles titles and was ranked as high as No. 1 in the world in doubles and No. 19 in singles. Together, King and Kloss have dedicated much of their lives to championing gender equality and LGBTQ rights. • Freddie Botur: Botur survived both German and Russian occupation during and after World War II. When he was 26 years old, he fled the country to escape an oppressive Communist regime, seeking refuge in Germany and Australia before eventually arriving in New York in 1952. In New York, he found work as a tennis pro and went on to live out a true American dream, establishing five facilities in New York
Long Island Tennis Magazine • November/December 2021 • LITennisMag.com
City at the height of the tennis boom in the 1960s and 1970s. • Dr. Dale Caldwell: A graduate of Princeton University, Caldwell has tirelessly promoted Black tennis history in the United States. In 2006, he conceived of and curated Breaking the Barriers–an exhibit at the International Tennis Hall of Fame– which honors the American Tennis Association and the Black pioneers of tennis. Following the success of Breaking the Barriers, Caldwell founded the Black Tennis Hall of Fame. Caldwell was elected the first Black president of USTA Eastern in 2006, and later became the first Black Section President to serve on the USTA National Board. • Dr. Harold German: A standout athlete with a top-notch forehand, German was ranked as high as No. 6 in the Eastern Men’s division. From 1963-1967, he was a major contender on the Eastern Men’s Clay Court Circuit, reaching the final stages of multiple tournaments and winning the Park Lakes Invitational. During this period, he played Arthur Ashe three times and captured wins over future Grand Slam semifinalists
