Clay Court Conversation Q&A with Paul Trupia, Mar-a-Lago director of tennis operations BY MARY THURMAN YUHAS
Paul Trupia first played tennis at 18 in Pelham Bay Park in the Bronx with a tennis racquet bought with grocery-store green stamps. “After the nets were torn down two or three times, the parks department replaced them with chain-link fencing,” recalls Trupia, the Mar-a-Lago Club director of tennis operations. “It is an irony that never escapes me. Every day when I arrive at wonderful Mar-a-Lago, I always chuckle.” During his college years at Fordham University in the Bronx, Trupia played on the college tennis team. He continued throughout his career as a fashion industry executive playing
tennis at the exclusive New York Athletic Club at Travers Island in Westchester County, New York. “I thought I had died and gone to heaven,” Trupia says. In 2013, Trupia and Elizabeth, his bride of 40 years, moved to South Florida. Trupia started his second career as a tennis assistant in 2014 at Mar-a-Lago, certain it was something he would enjoy. Turns out, the tennis professional more than enjoys it. “It’s like a family experience. A lot of the people here have worked here for 20 to 25 years. I thought the Athletic Club was great, but this is even better,” he says. “I’ve worked here for sev-
en years, and it’s a phenomenal facility. I look forward to coming to work every day.” Get to know Paul Trupia and his tennis staff, their plans for the season, and what makes the Trump Tennis Center one-of-a-kind. What makes Trump Tennis Center special? Our members make it special. They are such a diverse group and come from all over the world. Some are here for the season and some for just a couple of weeks. That makes it even more interesting. Secondly, this is a world-class facility. We
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