Hall of Fame Two New Fabulous Inductees

John Embree, USPTA CEO

Only the best of the best are considered to receive the Tim Heckler Hall of Fame Award; this year is no exception.

The USPTA Hall of Fame Task Force, chaired by Kathy Woods—an inductee in her own right—did its usual yeoman’s work to select two deserving candidates for induction into the USPTA Hall of Fame at the upcoming USPTA World Conference, here in Orlando, Sept. 24-28. We will recognize these honorees during the USPTA Awards Luncheon on Wednesday, Sept. 27.

I could not be more pleased to announce that Kirk Anderson and Chris “Chrissie” Evert are this year’s nominees. I have known both of them for close to 40 years, so it will be particularly meaningful for me to witness this ceremony. A USPTA Master Professional, Anderson has been a USPTA member for 50 years. Anderson is one of only 11 people worldwide to hold the Master Professional distinction with both the USPTA and PTR. Kirk was the director of educ - tion for the USPTA from 1995-1996. He is a graduate of the USTA High Performance Coach Program and is certified by the International Youth Conditioning Association as a Youth Fitness Specialist. He has a bachelor’s degree in physical education and a master’s degree in exercise science from Western Michigan University.

Kirk has written and co-authored 14 tennis books for coaches and tennis professionals. He’s also written several workshop scripts and dozens of articles in journals in the United States and internationally. Anderson has been a popular speaker and presenter at international, national and regional workshops. He is best known for his innovative and energetic style with players and coaches of all ages and ability levels. He has also been a featured speaker at International Tennis Federation coaches workshops held in Bath and London, England.

Anderson has received many accolades over the years. In 2003, Anderson received the International Tennis Hall of Fame Educational Merit Award. He was named Person of the Year by Racquet Sports Industry magazine in 2006 and Professional Tennis Registry Professional of the Year in 2012. In 2017, the USPTA named Kirk the Alex Gordon Professional of the Year. In 2009, Kirk received the USTA/ USPTA Community Service Award. He was inducted into the Western Michigan University Department of Human Performance and Health Education Alumni Honor Academy in 2013.

Chrissie Evert is a USPTA Elite Professional with 26 years of service. Her late father, Jimmy Evert, was inducted into the USPTA Hall of Fame in 2018. This will be the first time a father and daughter have been inducted into this institution.

Chrissie burst upon the national tennis scene at the age of 15, and a year later made the 1971 US Open semifinals in her first Grand Slam Event. She was voted the AP Female Athlete of the Year four times and in 1985 was voted the Greatest Woman Athlete of the Last 25 Years by the Women’s Sports Foundation. the best of any professional tennis player in history. She was a unanimous selection to the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 1995. She worked as an analyst for NBC for 10 years and joined ESPN in 2011, covering all four Grand Slam events.

Evert won 18 major singles championships (two Australian Open, three Wimbledon, and a record six US Open and seven French Open titles), winning at least one each year for 13 consecutive years— from 1974 to 1986. She retired in 1989 with 157 singles titles overall, and a career win-loss record of 1,309-146 (.900),

Chrissie, her brother John and their father Jimmy established the Evert Tennis Academy in 1996 in Boca Raton, Florida. The Evert Tennis Academy quickly became, and continues to be, home to countless national and international junior players, the best college players and some of the world’s finest pros. By combining the experience of a champion with worldclass coaching, cutting-edge training methods and premier facilities, the Evert Tennis Academy is able to offer unrivaled programming for players of all ages and abilities. Chrissie and John continue their father’s coaching legacy by instilling four core values in their students: excellence, resilience, integrity and leadership.

The Evert Tennis Academy campus has 23 courts, which offer two types of playing surfaces, including 12 hard courts and 11 clay courts. Evert Tennis Academy utilizes two secondary sites with more than 25 courts including a private club just minutes from the academy. Kirk and Chrissie are certainly deserving of this award. We look forward to celebrating them in September.

Please make plans to join us in Orlando for what will be an incredibly special World Conference.