Guide To Chicagoland Tennis
Making Tennis Available to All
Tennis, perhaps more than any other sport, struggles with its social identity. The game began in 12th century France where it was called “Jeu de Paume” and was adopted by European royalty who converted it into lawn tennis in Great Britain. Most people know that Wimbledon requires players to wear white and that the audience sips champagne, eats strawberries and cream, and rubs shoulders with royalty. But tennis has also given the world colorful characters such as Jimmy Connors, Ilie Nastase and John “You Cannot Be Serious” McEnroe. While the game’s roots may come from elite swaths of society, several organizations in the Chicago area work hard every day to give people from all backgrounds the opportunity to play. USTA Community Tennis Associations (CTAs) are not-for-profit, volunteer-based organizations that support programs that grow tennis. Some CTAs offer only one program, tournament or special event; some run a tennis program at a specific facility, and some simply fundraise to support the game. In 1969, the National Junior Tennis League (NJTL) was created by the USTA as a way to gain and hold the attention of young people, with the hope of teaching them the importance of character, getting an education, and becoming productive adults. Today, the NJTL network is comprised of youth development organizations that offer free or low-cost tennis and education programming to under-resourced youth.
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