USTA commits additional $10 million to construction of tennis facilities

The USTA recently announced its most significant financial pledge for tennis courts and facilities nationwide, committing an additional $10 million in grants to help build, refurbish and extend playable hours on courts across the United States. Recently, the USTA shared the most recent third party research that showed a new high of 25.7 million players played tennis in America in 2024 following five consecutive years of growth. The grants will ensure there are ample spaces to support continued player demand, especially in underserved communities. A commitment to courts and facilities is one of three strategic focus areas of the USTA’s ambitious plan to grow broad-based tennis participation to 35 million players by 2035.

“We are committed to supporting the enhancement and construction of tennis facilities in communities across the country,” said Brian Vahaly, Chairman of the Board President of the USTA. “In partnership with our sections, investing in the development of tennis facilities nationwide helps support the USTA’s mission of growing tennis to inspire healthier people and communities everywhere.”

The $10 million in incremental funding is a four-fold increase in the USTA’s TVS existing grant program. The new pledge follows more than two decades of support for local courts and tennis infrastructure. Since 2005, the USTA’s TVS grant program has awarded more than $19 million in TVS grants, including $1.2 million in 2024 that impacted more than 500 courts in more than 60 communities. Facilities must be open to the public to qualify for TVS grant funding.

Source: USTA

"We're immensely grateful for the generous support from the USTA," said Fernando Velasco, who is the executive director of the Capital Area Tennis Association in Austin, Texas. His organization, which has been promoting and delivering tennis to the Austin community for more than 50 years, received two TVS grants over the past year to resurface courts at two public tennis facilities. "These facilities are well used by the community for league play, tournaments, social events and NJTL programs. The completion of these projects will help us continue to serve our community through tennis and it would not be possible without the funding from the USTA and all of our community partners."

In order to ensure that communities have access to safe, accessible and functional tennis environments, grant recipients also receive start-to-finish project management assistance from the USTA’s TVS team. It provides industry-leading experience in tennis court and facility design, as well as technical assistance, including construction document review and business development insight, to ensure the facilities can deliver tennis at a high-level. The expanded grant program also includes a streamlined application and review process.

As part of the overall TVS grant program, the USTA launched the US Open Legacy Initiative in celebration of Coco Gauff’s 2023 US Open women’s singles title. The initiative was aimed at reinvigorating courts at parks, schools and other public facilities across the U.S. in Gauff’s honor, particularly fitting as Gauff herself first held a racquet at a public tennis facility. As a part of the initiative, the USTA pledged $3 million towards projects around the country—matching the total prize money won by the US Open women’s singles champion that year. The initiative was kicked off in 2024 as the USTA, along with Gauff and local leaders, unveiled refurbished tennis courts in Gauff’s hometown of Delray Beach, Fla.

Source: USTA

Additionally, in 2024 the USTA Foundation funded nearly $1 million in court refurbishment projects, impacting approximately 100 courts utilized by the Foundation's National Junior Tennis & Learning network, which deliver tennis and education programming to underserved communities.

USTA Sections also support local infrastructure development through supplemental grant programs in conjunction with the TVS team.

To learn more about the TVS grant program, please visit USTA.com/facilities.

===

Source: USTA