Tennis fans frequently recognize professional players, past and present, for being leaders, innovators and role models in the sport. But often we forget those behind the scenes of the organizations that promote and develop the game we love. It’s important to know the people who continue to make tennis instruction, recreation and competition better for you and for future generations. This is the MyTennisLessons comprehensive guide to governing tennis organizations in the United States.
United States Tennis Association
Founded: 1881
VIP: President Katrina Adams is the first African-American and former professional player to hold the USTA’s top position. Adams was a high school state champion, two-time All-American at Northwestern University and onced ranked in the top 100.
Mission: The national governing body for tennis in the United States is a non-profit organization that aims to promote and develop the sport. With nearly 800,000 individual members and 8,000 organizational members, the USTA is the largest tennis organization in the world.
American Tennis Association
Founded: 1916
VIP: Dr. Franklyn Scott, an oral surgeon based in Philadelphia, is the president of the ATA.
Mission: The ATA is the oldest African-American sports organization in the nation and its mission is to “promote black tennis in America.” Long term goals of the organization include developing a training facility in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
United States Professional Tennis Association
Founded: 1927
VIP: CEO John Embree began his professional coaching career as a college student in Virginia. He has also served as the president of Prince Sports and Balle de Match.
Mission: The USPTA is the world’s largest trade association for certified tennis coach professionals with 15,000 members across the globe, about 13,500 of which live in work in the United States. The USPTA offers benefits to members such as educational programs, career opportunities and retirement plans.
International Tennis Hall of Fame
Founded:1954
VIP: Founder Jimmy Van Alen also invented the tennis tiebreaker. Two days after Van Alen’s death in 1991, Stefan Edberg lost to Michael Stich in the Wimbledon semifinals 6-4, 7-6(5), 7-6(5), 7-6(2). He remarked: “If [Jimmy] hadn’t lived, Michael and I might still be out there playing.”
Mission: This non-profit organization aims to preserve the history of tennis, honor those who have left their mark on the sport, and inspire current and future players.
Intercollegiate Tennis Association
Founded: 1956
VIP: Executive Director David Benjamin is the former coach of the Princeton University men’s tennis team.
Mission: The governing body of college tennis oversees teams at the NCAA Division I, II and III levels as well at the NAIA and Junior/Community College levels. The ITA administers a series of regional championships, team rankings for all levels and an awards program.
Mylan World Team Tennis
Founded: 1974
VIP: The CEO of WTT is Ilana Kloss, a native South African and former professional tennis player who achieved a world ranking of no. 19 in 1976.
Mission: Mylan World Team Tennis is set to celebrate its 40th season in 2015. There are seven teams in the league, each which consist of two men and two women. Team tennis format includes a men’s singles set, a women’s singles set, a men’s doubles set, a women’s doubles set and a mixed doubles set.
Professional Tennis Registry
Founded: 1976
VIP: Founder Dennis Van der Meer is world-renowned for his innovative teaching methods, has developed courses and manuals for wheelchair tennis, and coached Billie Jean King and Margaret Court during the Battle of the Sexes matches.
Mission: Based in Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, the PTR is an internationally recognized teaching certification program with about 15,000 members in 125 countries. Its mission is to educate and provide opportunities for tennis coaches in order to further develop and grow the game.
