USTA KY BOARD PRESIDENT SHOUT OUT | |
USTA National's incoming CEO has a plan to focus on tennis in schools, so I did a little research on the benefits of tennis on youth development. This is what I found...
See you on the court!
Ellen Miller
| | | NATIONAL TENNIS MONTH - WEEK ONE | Week one was oh so fun! Don't miss fun on the courts in your area! | | | MONTH OF MAY TENNIS FUNDRAISER | |
Join the Raise a Racquet Foundation’s Month of May Tennis Fundraiser! A $100 donation supports youth tennis, scholarships, facility improvements, and tennis access across Kentucky.
Donors receive a free Raise a Racquet towel and raffle entry for prizes. Support Kentucky tennis this May!
| | | JULIE DITTY QUALLS MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP | Congratulations to this year’s recipients of the Julie Ditty Qualls Memorial Scholarship. Bryson Hill - Russell. Reagan Hayes - Ashland Paul Blazer. This $1000 scholarship is given by Ashland Tennis Center/Greater Ashland Tennis Association to two 16th region seniors who fill out applications and are selected by a committee. This scholarship is in honor of Julie Ditty Qualls who played at Russell High School. Julie went on to play on the WTA professional tour and played in all 4 grand slams. She returned to this area and was passionate about teaching the game she loved. | | | Providers from around the state attended a fun and informative day to positively impact tennis in Kentucky! Top Golf fun followed by instructional sessions presented by USTA National, USTA Southern and USTA Kentucky Staff. Providers are prepared to meet the growing demand for tennis programming! | | | THE KENTUCKY CLOSED IS BACK! | The biggest State Tennis Tournament is coming BACK! In memory of David Compton. Save the Date - August 14-16 at Joe Creason Park Louisville Tennis Center. More details and registration online coming SOON. Hope to see you there! | | | JIMMIE BROOKS MEMORIAL TOURNAMENT | |
This ITA summer series is a prize money event at the University of Louisville June 28 - 30, 2026. Registration deadline is Sunday June 23rd.
Prize money is available for A brackets only:
Singles
Winner - $2000
Finalist - $1000
Semifinalist - $250
Doubles
Winner - $600 (team)
Finalist - $400 (team)
Rodrigo da Silva - Tournament Director
| | | All levels are welcome to play this 3 vs 3 format! June 4, 10, 17 & 25 6-7pm at Noble Park! It's free, but you must register by stopping by or calling the parks office 270.444.8508 or below! | | | Mondays, June 22 - July 27! $15 per week or $80 for the six week session. This fun format will be help at Plainville Tennis Center! Register as a single or bring a friend! | | | |
Merchant Centre Court is hosting a huge Triples Extravaganza. Saturday, May 23rd 10am to 12:30pm. Play on all twelve outdoor courts and six indoor courts for a total of 144 players!
Triples leagues play on Mondays and Thursdays from 6pm to 7:30pm, and Saturday mornings from 9:30am to 11am
Call the club 270-240-4213 or just stop by!
| | | YOUTH TRIPLES IN PIKEVILLE | Youth Triples in Pikeville! May is underway and it's free triples tennis ages 10 & Over at Bob Amos Park on May 15, 6:30-7:30pm | | | Thanks to all who attended Winsday at Churchill Downs! Raise a Racquet Foundation was selected to participate in Winsday presented by Resolute Racing. Raise a Racquet received a portion of ticket proceeds sold through the designated link. | | | Now is the time to register and play Junior Team Tennis! Find a team in your area and save the date for 2026 JTT State Championship in Owensboro, August 7-9. | | | Tennis is booming in Kentucky! Check out the many opportunites in your community! | | | CONSIDER VOLUNTEERING AT ADULT LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIPS | Please consider volunteering at an adult league championship in your area. These events are not possible without our great team of volunteers! Join the team off the court! | | | USTA SUPPORTS TENNIS DURING NATIONAL PARKS & RECREATION MONTH | |
Coming Soon! July is National Parks & Recreation Month so what better time for fun and engaging tennis events that promote health, wellness and community connection. USTA funding is available to help support tennis programming! Host must be a Parks & Recreation department or an organization with an existing partnership with a parks agency.
Eligible events include:
· Red Ball Tennis League (2-4 weeks)
· Wheelchair Skills Challenge
· Tennis play day with music, food and fun
· Custom event tailored to your community’s needs
Applications are now open!
| | | 55 & OVER STATE CHAMPIONSHIP | USTA Kentucky's State League Championships will begin with Adult 55 & Over in Owensboro, Ky the weekend of May 29 - 31st. Get your teams registered and ready! Entry deadline is May 17. We'll see you in Owensboro soon! | | | LOUISVILLE KIDS SUMMER PROGRAMMING | SIX summer sessions offered to kids ages 6 - 10! Tennis is the perfect summer activity, so just click the link or scan the code and filter by park of choice! | | | Summer Tennis Camps are just the best! Registration is open for the Blue and White Tennis Camps at UK! | | | SPOT A GOOD SPORT ON THE COURT? | |
Let's celebrate good sportsmanship and start the Kentucky good sports movement! Nominate a worthy opponent today!
The good sport will receive this really cool bag tag.
Then Seek & Find, Earn a Prize!
If you see a player with this good sport bag tag, snap a photo of the tag and watch our Facebook page for good sports posts and comment with your pic and have a chance to win a quarterly drawing for a $100 Amazon Gift Card!
| | | JUNIOR PLAYER & PARENT RESOURSES | Below are links to some helpful resources for both players and parents provided by USTA. | | | UPCOMING JUNIOR TOURNAMENTS | |
Genesis- LTC 10U Battle GRAND PRIX (Junior Circuit- Orange & Green)
May 17, Louisville
Deadline: May 14th
REGISTER HERE
NTA Derby City Open (Junior Circuit- Orange & Green)
May 23, Louisville
Deadline: May 17th
REGISTER HERE
Jason Isaacs Memorial Doubles Championships (Level 5- Doubles Only)
September 25, Louisville
SAVE THE DATE!
Questions - Contact LJ Allara
lallara@ustaky.com
502-491-1290
| | | 2026 JUNIOR TOURNAMENT CALENDARS | The 2026 Southern Level 3, 4, and 5 & National Level 1, 2, & 3 Tournament Calendars are live! | | | 2025 USTA KENTUCKY YEARBOOK | Check out the 2025 USTA Kentucky Yearbook! It was a great year for Kentucky tennis thanks to all of the players, providers and volunteers! | | | |
Join us for a day of great golf, friendly competition, and fun — all in support of the Raise a Racquet Foundation on October 5, 2026 at the Lake Forest Country Club, Louisville.
Sponsorship opportunites are open with limited registration exclusively for sponsors.
| | | ANOTHER WAY TO SUPPORT RAR | Raise a Racquet will receive $2.00 from every internet order through Nanz and Kraft Helping Hands Program. Simply select Raise a Racquet from the “Helping Hands” pull down menu on the order form on Nanz and Kraft website or link below. | | | |
2026 RALLY CLUB MEMBERS!
THANK YOU FOR YOUR EARLY BIRD DONATION TO PROVIDE TENNIS OPPORTUNITES ACROSS THE STATE!
| |
Raise a Racquet 2026 Rally Club Grand Slam Donors $5,000+
Rick and Martha Shafferman
Raise a Racquet 2026 Rally Club Champion Donors $1,000+
Terry & Debbie Bunnell, Mike & Marsha Eden, John English, RC & Amy Scheinler
| | | |
Raise a Racquet 2026 Rally Club Ace Donors $500+
John Backer, Judy Davenport, Eric & Elizabeth Taylor
Raise a Racquet 2026 Rally Club Baseline Donors $100+
Carol Allen, Kerri Arnold, Alfie Cheng, Clinton Colliver, Jessica Cunningham, Jerry Groce, Debra Laird, Kim Lonnemann, Deena Ombres, Meg Peavy, Mel Purcell, Linda Schrecker, Mike and Amy Sheehan, E. Thirlwell, Merrick Ward
| | | RAISE A RACQUET RALLY CLUB | |
Be part of the Club - The Rally Club!
Grand Slam Donors - $5,000 & Over
Champions Donors - $1,000 & Over
Ace Donnors - $500 & Over
Baseliners Donors - $100 - $499
rarfoundation.com to join the club!
| | | If you are over age 70 1/2 you might consider making a Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD) from your IRA. This way the distribution is not taxable. Have your custodian send a check directly from your IRA to Raise A Racquet Foundation, 8900 Greeneway Commons Place #101 Louisville KY 40220 rarfoundation.com | | | REGISTER YOUR KROGER CARD | Select Raise a Racquet as your charity of choice! Help to share tennis with others just by grocery shopping! Read More | | | Get the latest news, updates and a little fun. | | | | | |
