By E.J. Crawford, USTA.com
As the year draws to a close, USTA.com is taking a look back at the players, people and stories that dominated the headlines and stole the show in 2015. In this installment of our annual year-in-review series, here is one our Top 10 moments in American tennis for the year that was. Visit our 2015 Year in Review homepage to see all 10.
The new Home of American Tennis is one big step closer to becoming a reality.
With an eye on the long-term growth and development of tennis for the next generation of players, fans and families, the USTA in 2015 broke ground on the USTA National Campus, the 100-plus-court, state-of-the-art facility that will serve as this country’s tennis touchstone in the years and decades to come.
Built on 63 acres of land in Orlando, Fla., the facility will feature a mix of hard and clay courts as well as indoor hard courts and 36- and 60-foot courts for family tennis, and will house the USTA’s Community Tennis and Player Development divisions. It will be divided into dedicated areas that will focus on the complete tennis pathway – from the youngest players to recreational competitors of all ages and ability levels, and from collegians to future pros and professional tour-level players.
The goal of the USTA National Campus, USTA officials have said, is to enhance the sport at every level and create an unparalleled playing, training and educational experience for players, coaches and spectators.
“By housing our two divisions devoted to growing the game at all levels, and training the next generation of players and coaches, we can have a greater impact on the sport than we ever had before,” said Katrina Adams, the USTA’s Chairman, CEO and President.
“There’s really nothing like this in the world,” said USTA Executive Director and Chief Operating Officer Gordon Smith. “With the USTA National Campus, we are creating an unrivaled tennis facility that will serve as a resource and destination for tennis players of all ages and abilities, and most importantly a launching pad for the next generation of tennis players and providers.”
The USTA National Campus is slated to be completed in late 2016.