Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month: Laura Herrera

Laura Herrera’s journey in tennis spans over two decades, but her impact goes far beyond the court. As a competitive player and leader of a growing community tennis group with over 860 members, Laura is helping shape the future of the sport in Florida. Her passion for tennis and her deep connection to Hispanic culture make her a standout figure during Hispanic Heritage Month. 

Photo credit: USTA Florida.

Born in Huntsville, Alabama, Laura moved to Florida at age six and quickly reconnected with tennis, a sport she first tried when she was two. Her parents enrolled her in lessons early, sparking a lifelong love for the game. That early start led to a successful high school college tennis career, where she won a High School State Championship and played at Norte Dame College. Now, she is dedicated to her mission of growing the sport at the grassroots level. 

“I’ve always wanted to become the best tennis player I could be,” she said. “Recently, I’ve noticed a huge need for a tennis community outside of tennis clubs and that’s the type of group I lead with hitting sessions and events.” 

Photo credit: USTA Florida.

As she remains focused on building her tennis community called “Fort Lauderdale Tennis Partners” and advocating for tennis access, she’s also passionate about keeping tennis courts available for tennis players, especially as pickleball continues to grow.  

Laura also cares about seeing everyone make a positive impact on one another and is putting her foot down against hate. “I made a petition for people to sign so [we can work toward] seeing positive change within the Tennis community all around.” 

Her cultural background has shaped her approach to tennis, especially in how she carries herself on and off the court. “My Hispanic background has shaped my tennis journey as a player by continuously focusing on sharpening my mindset yet reminding myself to keep a level of professionalism and respect on and off the court which is a blend of how I was raised in my Hispanic culture.” 

Laura’s Hispanic and Italian heritage also plays a big role in her personal identity. “My entire family bloodline consists of only Latin and Italian heritage. I speak Spanish so I relate a lot with the Latino side of my family, but I also have a lot of Italian characteristics,” she said. “It feels like a very fun blend of life, and I am able to understand a bit more than a person that is not as knowledgeable because of my own personal experiences.” 

Why Hispanic Heritage Month is Important  

For Laura, celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month is about visibility and understanding. “It’s one of the least talked about heritages and I do not think a majority of the population around the world truly understand how diverse being Hispanic really is,” she said. “We are a blend of cultures with American behaviors which is pretty rare and not very common compared to other heritages.” 

Photo credit: USTA Florida.

Showing pride in her culture means honoring her family’s journey. “Ultimately, I think to show pride in my culture means to give gratitude to God for how He particularly made me and established me in America as the first generation of my family bloodline to be born here,” she said. “My dad faced a lot of extremely heavy challenges and obstacles in order to legally not only move to America but became very successful here. It gives me hope I can do anything I really put my mind and effort into. I also have a lot of respect for an accomplishment in my family bloodline like that so I take some pride in that since not many people can do that.” 

Looking to Get Involved? 

Laura urges people to give tennis a try as it’s truly one of the best sports. Her best advice is to join a tennis community and find classes to take with others as the social aspect of tennis is amazing as well. “It’s so much more fun with others, I encourage looking into USTA Adult Leagues and tournaments to get involved with as well.” 

Photo credit: USTA Florida.

If you live in the Fort Lauderdale area and want to meet Laura and join her community, visit their Facebook Page (Fort Lauderdale Tennis Partners). You can also follow them on Instagram @ftltennispartners to learn more about how you can get started today! 

Laura Herrera’s story is one of resilience, leadership, and cultural pride. Her work on and off the court continues to inspire others and strengthen the tennis community in Florida.  

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Written by Jaret Kappelman. Top photo credit: USTA Florida.