USTA Florida President Chuck Gill on 'tennis for all' and expanding the game

Earlier this year, Florida Tennis Magazine’s Matt Pressman caught up with Chuck Gill, the newly minted President of USTA Florida, to chat about tennis, Florida’s booming tennis culture, and what’s next for the sport. 

Before diving into his vision for USTA Florida, Gill took a moment to share his own tennis journey. “I’ve been a lifelong tennis pro, teaching pro, and I’ve been in Florida since the late '80s,” he said. His career has spanned resort businesses, private clubs like Ibis, and now, the public tennis center at the Village of Wellington. “Hopefully I’m wrapping up my career at a public tennis center, which is really a blast.”

Gill’s passion for tennis wasn’t always rooted in Florida’s sunshine. Early in his career, he taught tennis in Puerto Rico and even coached high school players in snowy Vermont. “I remember coaching a high school match in May, wearing a double warm-up and a ski jacket, and it started to snow,” Gill laughed. “I looked at the person next to me and said, ‘I gotta move to Florida.’”

Photo credit: USTA Florida

Reflecting on USTA Florida’s 75th anniversary last year, Gill explained how they shook things up. “The whole premise of the 75th anniversary was... make it a year-long celebration of Florida tennis,” he said. Instead of hosting one big annual meeting, the team took the celebration on the road, honoring the Florida Tennis Trail across the state with special events featuring names like Mary Joe Fernandez and Mardy Fish. “It was pretty cool,” Gill said. “It’s always good to kind of look back at your history and what you’ve done.”

Florida Tennis Magazine played a key role in highlighting USTA Florida’s big milestone with a stand-alone special issue dedicated to its 75th Anniversary, something Gill was quick to acknowledge. “It was really important that we recognize Florida Tennis, because the magazine has always been a very important part of what we do,” he said. At the same time, the magazine paid tribute to the late Jim Martz, a beloved figure in Florida tennis, with the media award named in his honor.

Looking ahead, Gill’s focus is crystal clear: growing the game at the grassroots level. “Our mission is to grow tennis,” he said. One key area? Public parks. “We want tennis to be a big umbrella,” Gill emphasized. “We want everybody to know that tennis is a great game that’s healthy, not just in terms of physical health but mental health.”

Gill believes public tennis centers play a crucial role in the sport’s future. “We’re going to try to make sure that public tennis centers get funded properly,” he said. Many of these centers were built decades ago and need upgrades to stay appealing to new players. “[There] needs to be a competent coach that’s welcoming to beginners, [with] great pathway programs, and a really nice public tennis center where the courts are nice.”

Photo credit: USTA Florida

One major initiative Gill highlighted is boosting entry-level coaching. “Entry-level coaching is going to be really important to us going forward,” he said. USTA Florida plans to focus more on community coaches, making sure beginners have welcoming, knowledgeable instructors from day one. “We want everybody to be able to play. We want to break down all the barriers that might exist.”

Gill also emphasized that growing tennis isn’t just about kids—it’s about seniors, too. “Sometimes seniors are forgotten,” he said. With millions retiring to Florida each year, Gill sees a huge opportunity. “Let’s find a good coach and get you on a play pathway so that you can become a frequent player.” In his view, tennis offers a lifelong way to stay active, make friends, and have fun.

As the conversation wrapped up, Gill made it clear that USTA Florida is a team effort. “Our board and our staff are really committed to trying to grow tennis,” he said. And he encouraged everyone to learn more and get involved: “Go on our website, ustaflorida.com, and just about anything you want to know about us you can find there.”

In Chuck Gill’s hands, the future of tennis in Florida looks bright.

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Written by Florida Tennis Associate Editor Osvaldo Godoy.