[1] Each non-profit section represents various geographic locations around North America with the goal to support players and promote the growth of tennis across the United States.
[6] Southern California resident Brad Parks is largely credited with starting the sport of wheelchair tennis in the mid-1970s after suffering a skiing accident.
[8] The first men's singles champion was William Henry Young, who won both tournaments contested in 1887, one at the Casa Blanca Club in Riverside, and the other at the Casino courts in Santa Monica.
Its mission is “To advance the enjoyment, awareness, and participation of tennis to make a positive impact on communities and the lives of people of all ages, ability, ethnicity, and economic background in Southern California.”[15] In the early part of 2021, USTA Southern California announced the hiring of former Pete Sampras and Roger Federer coach Paul Annacone to help develop top junior players into future pros.
[18] In 2019, the USTA Southern California created the Signature Series consisting of eight tournaments and promoted as the “Grand Slams" of SoCal.
[20] Other notable tournaments past and present include: May Sutton Bundy was Southern California's first big international tennis star.
During the tennis boom in the 1970s, the Kramer Club in Rolling Hills Estates, Calif., was home to champions such as Tracy Austin, Pete Sampras and Lindsay Davenport.
[33] The last induction ceremony took place in 2017 and included the likes of “The Rocket” Rod Laver, Bobby Riggs and longtime executive director Henry Talbert.