Orlando Tennis Academy Fun Day Brings Families Together in Windermere

Children and adults filled the courts at Windermere Preparatory School on Saturday, Aug. 15, for Orlando Tennis Academy’s 2026 Fun Day, a free annual community event that combined instruction, competition and family participation.

Held from 9 to 11 a.m., the event featured beginner-friendly clinics for children and adults, games and mini-competitions, player assessments for the fall season, and Wilson racket demonstrations. 

Coaches worked with players across ages and skill levels, offering newcomers an accessible introduction to tennis while helping returning players strengthen their fundamentals.

Wilson representatives were also on site with a full range of demonstration rackets, giving participants an opportunity to test equipment and receive guidance on options suited to their age, experience and style of play.

The strong turnout reflected the event’s emphasis on making tennis accessible to the entire community. With no registration or admission fee, families could simply arrive, step onto the courts and experience the sport in a relaxed and welcoming environment.

The morning also brought together members of the local community with Windermere Prep students ranging from PreK-3 through high school, as well as some of the school’s international residential tennis players.

Fun Day also provided families with an opportunity to meet members of Orlando Tennis Academy’s experienced coaching team and headed up by:

Mandy Grunfeld Rosenfield, founder and owner of Orlando Tennis Academy, is a former professional player who reached No. 3 in Great Britain and represented her country in the Federation Cup and Wightman Cup. She also competed in Grand Slam events, including Wimbledon.

Howard Jones, director of curriculum and player development, has worked with OTA for many years and brings extensive experience in player development and tennis instruction.

Angela Vargas, director of tennis designate, was a standout collegiate player at St. Mary’s before joining the coaching profession following graduation. She later earned recognition as an Assistant Coach of the Year.

While tennis is built around competition, the relationships formed among players, coaches and families often extend far beyond the court.

That sense of community has been especially evident in recent months through the support surrounding longtime OTA coach Stella Grossi, formerly Stella Peisakhova, who was diagnosed with Stage 4 diffuse large B-cell lymphoma.

Grossi has been part of the Orlando Tennis Academy community for four years. Until recently, her husband, Chris, was also a member of the academy’s coaching staff.

Following her diagnosis, members of the OTA community quickly rallied around the Grossi family and helped coordinate a GoFundMe campaign to assist with treatment-related expenses, medical appointments and other family needs during her care.

Born in Odessa, Ukraine, Grossi went on to compete at No. 1 singles and No. 1 doubles for Niagara University’s NCAA Division I women’s tennis team before earning a degree in sports management.

Her years as both a competitive player and coach have made her a familiar and valued part of the OTA community, making the support surrounding her family especially meaningful to those who have trained, competed and worked alongside her.

Saturday’s Fun Day reflected that same spirit of connection.

Families came together to learn, compete and experience tennis in an environment designed to welcome players at every level, from children holding a racket for the first time to experienced players preparing for another season.

For one Saturday morning in Windermere, the courts offered more than tennis. They provided an opportunity to connect with the sport, with one another and with the community that surrounds it.