United States Tennis Association

Last updated

United States Tennis Association
USTA logo.svg
Sport Tennis
Abbreviation(USTA)
Founded1881 [1]
Affiliation International Tennis Federation (ITF)
Location Purchase, New York
President Brian Hainline
CEO Lew Sherr
Secretary Gregory Metz
Official website
www.usta.com
Flag of the United States.svg

The United States Tennis Association (USTA) is the national governing body for tennis in the United States. A not-for-profit organization with more than 700,000 members, it invests 100% of its proceeds to promote and develop the growth of tennis, from the grass-roots to the professional levels. The association was created to standardize rules and regulations and to promote and develop the growth of tennis in the United States.

Contents

The USTA runs the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center which hosts the US Open every year.

The USTA has leagues in most places for adults skill levels between beginner and pro. The USTA also hosts tournaments across the country every weekend for club players or professionals.

History

The USTA was previously known as the United States National Lawn Tennis Association (USNLTA) and was established in 1881 by a small group of tennis club members in New York City and northeastern clubs, where most lawn tennis was played. [2] In 1920 the word 'National' was dropped from the organization's name, [3] making the abbreviation USLTA. In 1975, the word "Lawn" was officially dropped from the name. [4]

Organization

The USTA has 17 geographical sections with more than 700,000 individual members, 7,000 organizational members, and a professional staff. The USTA (B)team is located in White Plains, NY. The (A) team is located at the National Campus located in Orlando, FL. [1]

Geographical sections

Court 4 with Arthur Ashe Stadium in the background at The United States Tennis Association's Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. 2019 USTA NTC Court 4 and Ashe.jpg
Court 4 with Arthur Ashe Stadium in the background at The United States Tennis Association's Billie Jean King National Tennis Center.

NTRP Ratings

At the USTA National Campus in 2019. AUAD USTA 1.jpg
At the USTA National Campus in 2019.

The USTA (along with the USPTA) created the National Tennis Rating Program (NTRP) or more commonly NTRP ratings to place players into various skill levels. NTRP ratings range from the beginner 1.5 with .5 increments all the way up to 7.0 or world-class players. NTRP ratings are used in the leagues and tournaments to help provide more compatible matches. At the end of each calendar year, the USTA calculates and publishes everyone's year-end rating online (http://tennislink.usta.com). Ratings are calculated using a computer algorithm that adjusts ratings based on how actual outcomes compare to expected outcomes for each match. Expected outcomes are determined based on the difference between the ratings in hundredths of the players on the court. How many matches you've won and if it was a singles or doubles match is not a part of the calculation. New players or anyone with an expired NTRP rating go through the self-rate process to determine their entry point. Specific answers to a series of questions allow the computer to provide a suggested rating for players to start.

Programs

The USTA hosts adult tournaments in most cities with populations over 150,000 people. Leagues for adults with ratings ranging from 2.5 to 5.0 are organized in the Spring and/or Fall. In most areas, the adult seasons consist of singles, doubles, and mixed doubles leagues in the Spring. Fewer cities have Fall leagues for singles and/or alternate league types such as "combo", "mixed combo", or "tri-level".

In most states, there are between one and five tournaments each weekend. Adults with a 3.0 to 4.5 rating can usually play in these tournaments.

Leagues include: 10 and under; Juniors; Adults 18-40; and Adults 40 or older. Anyone over 40 may request placement in the 18-40 league.

Tournaments

Martina Navratilova and Arantxa Sanchez Vicario warming up at the 2019 US Open. 2019 USTA exhibition Martina Navratilova and Arantxa Sanchez Vicario warming up.jpg
Martina Navratilova and Arantxa Sánchez Vicario warming up at the 2019 US Open.

Presidents

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry sits with incoming United States Tennis Association President Katrina Adams as they watched U.S. tennis player Venus Williams play Belgian tennis player Kirsten Flipkens on August 6, 2016. Secretary Kerry Sits With U.S. Tennis Association Leadership During a Tennis Match (28736164981).jpg
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry sits with incoming United States Tennis Association President Katrina Adams as they watched U.S. tennis player Venus Williams play Belgian tennis player Kirsten Flipkens on August 6, 2016.
NamePresidency
Robert Shaw Oliver 18811882
James Dwight 18821884
T.K. Fraser 18851886
Richard Sears 18871888
Joseph Clark 18891891
Henry Slocum 18921893
James Dwight 18941911
Robert Wrenn 19121915
George Adee 19161919
Julian Myrick 19201922
Dwight F. Davis 1923
George Wightman 1924
Jones W. Mersereau 19251927
Samuel H. Colloml 19281929
Louis Dailey 1930
Louis J. Carruthers 19311932
Henry S. Know 1933
Walter Merrill Hall 19341936
Holcombe Ward 19371947
Lawrence Baker 19481950
Russell B. Kingman 19511952
James H. Bishop 19531955
Renville H. McMann 19561957
Victor Denny 19581959
George Barnes 19601961
Edward A. Turville 19621963
James B. Dickey 1964
Martin Tressel 19651966
Robert J. Kelleher 19671968
Alastair Martin 19691970
Robert B. Colwell 19711972
Walter E. Elcock 19731974
Stan Malless 19751976
William E. Hester 19771978
Joseph E. Carrico 19791980
Marvin P. Richmond 19811982
Hunter L. Delatour, Jr. 19831984
J. Randolph Gregson 19851986
Gordon D. Jorgensen 19871988
David R. Markin 19891990
Robert A. Cookson 19911992
J. Howard Frazer 19931994
Lester M. Snyder, Jr. 19951996
Harry Marmion 19971998
Judy Levering *19992000
Mervin Heller, Jr. 20012002
Alan Schwartz 20032004
Franklin Johnson 20052006
Jane Brown Grimes 20072008
Lucy S. Garvin 20092010
Jon Vegosen 20112012
David Haggerty 20132014
Katrina Adams **20152018
Patrick Galbraith 20192020
Michael J. McNulty III2021present

*First female to be elected USTA president.
**First African-American and first former professional tennis player to be elected USTA president.

Awards

At the Louis Armstrong Stadium in 2009. Flickr - chascow - packed armstrong.jpg
At the Louis Armstrong Stadium in 2009.

The award and the foundation were the dream of the late Maureen Connolly Brinker. This award is presented each year to the girl player considered by the committee to have had the most outstanding full-season performance. She must be exceptional in ability, sportsmanship and competitive spirit. The silver bowl, which is kept at the Almaden Valley Athletic Club, is inscribed with the name of each year's winner. The recipient of the award receives a small engraved silver tray.

Discontinued awards

See also

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References

  1. 1 2 "About The Organization" . Retrieved February 5, 2011.
  2. Kimball, Warren. "USTA History". USTA. Retrieved February 27, 2021.
  3. Warren Kimball. "USTA name changes: All for good grammar". USTA. Retrieved April 15, 2012.
  4. "USTA History". usta.com. Retrieved August 15, 2020.
  5. "Connecticut Open". Archived from the original on June 12, 2014.
  6. "USTA Awards History". USTA.