Diversity

Arthur Ashe

The USTA is committed to growing the game through outreach and inclusion, as defined by our USTA Board of Directors Approved Diversity Statement:

We, the United States Tennis Association recognize diversity as essential to achieving our mission, “To Promote and Develop the Growth of Tennis.”

For us, diversity refers to differences of culture, ethnicity, race, gender, age, beliefs, religion, social economic status, sexual orientation, family status, physical ability, appearance and ideas. We are committed to achieving greater diversity throughout the sport and fostering a tennis environment that is more inclusive.

USTA Diversity Initiative

The USTA Multicultural Participation Initiative is made up of a national and sectional volunteer Multicultural Participation Committee and full-time staff members at the national and sectional level. The volunteer committees and the staff work in a coordinated effort to achieve greater multicultural participation all areas of the USTA.

The Multicultural Participation Committee is part of the United States Tennis Association (USTA), a volunteer-based, not-for profit membership organization that works year-round to promote and develop the growth of tennis. The Multicultural Participation Committee (MPC) was formed by the USTA to increase minority participation-particularly in the African-American, Asian, Latino, Hispanic, and Native American communities. 

The USTA has made multicultural participation a Level I Strategic Priority and approved a Diversity Plan to make the priority a reality.

For more information, please contact Ronnie Goodall, Mid-Atlantic Community Tennis Manager, at goodall@mas.usta.com or 703-556-6120 ext 12.

Grants

Financial disparity is consistently identified as a significant barrier that prevents multicultural players from getting into the sport. To help boost tennis participation among aspiring multicultural players, the USTA has created the Multicultural Grants Program, which offers grants to programs, community tennis associations and individual players.

National Grants

1. Multicultural Excellence Program Grant
2. Multicultural Individual Player Grant for National Competition and Training
3. Okechi Womeodu Scholar Athlete Grant
4. Recreational Tennis Grant
5. Althea Gibson Leadership Award