Chicago Awards
The Chicago District is recognizing a number of people/organizations that have made contributions to the tennis community in the Chicagoland area. Please continue reading to find out this year’s recipients! We will be celebrating in May which is National Tennis Month! Keep an eye on our social media channels to find out where and when!
CDTA Volunteer of the Year
This award recognizes an outstanding volunteer contributing to the success of CDTA’s work and/or the growth of tennis in the District.
Megaphone Award
This communications award recognizes a person or organization who has demonstrated interest in promoting tennis through covering events, reporting on activities, posting on social media, and/or other communications efforts.
Tournament Director of the Year
This award recognizes a Chicago District tournament director who has demonstrated commitment to providing competitive play opportunities for players of all types. The recipient of this award will follow USTA principles and policies for running outstanding tournaments.
Champion of the Game
This award recognizes a person, business, or community organization in the Chicago District that has gone above and beyond to help promote tennis within its own organization and the broader community.
Organization of the Year
Growth of tennis in the Chicago District is dependent on partnership with and leadership of providers, clubs and facilities (public and private). This award recognizes an organization that has demonstrated an outstanding commitment to growing participation in tennis through one or more of the following activities: providing and investing in a high-quality space; expanding programs to grow the game and reach new audiences; promoting tennis to new audiences; maintaining a commitment to high-quality management of its programs/facilities. Eligible organizations include, but are not limited to, Community Tennis Organizations (CTAs), National Junior Tennis and Learning (NJTL) chapters, clubs, facilities, etc.
Wheelchair/Adaptive Performance Award
This award recognizes a volunteer, adaptive/wheelchair player, teaching professional, or coach who has made outstanding contributions and has demonstrated excellence in the sport of adaptive/wheelchair tennis. The recipient has shown evidence of dedication to improving, advancing, and promoting tennis in their community.
Teaching Professional of the Year
Recognizes the tennis teaching professional who contributes to tennis in his or her community beyond his livelihood. This person gives freely in promoting involvement in tennis for players of all levels and ages and assists in developing tennis programs and promoting participation.
Umpire of the Year
Recognizes an individual who has displayed outstanding attributes as a tennis official in the District for at least five years.
Junior Female Player of the Year
Recognizes an outstanding 16 or 18-and-under age division female player from the District for the highest standards of tennis accomplishments, character, conduct, sportsmanship and amateurism. Candidates must be 18 year of age or younger when considered for this award.
Junior Male Player of the Year
Recognizes an outstanding 16 or 18-and-under age division male player from the District for the highest standards of tennis accomplishments, character, conduct, sportsmanship and amateurism. Candidates must be 18 year of age or younger when considered for this award.
League Volunteer of the Year
This award recognizes a USTA League volunteer that has provided leadership and has made a significant contribution to the growth and enhancement of USTA League play within the Chicago District and the Midwest Section. Eligible nominees for this award include both team Captains, committee volunteers, and/or event organizers/help.
Family of the Year
This award is presented to a family in the Chicago District that has contributed the most toward tennis through the years. The family members are all involved in tennis serving their local area in promoting and perpetuating the development of tennis on all levels.
Chicago District Volunteer of the Year
This award recognizes an outstanding volunteer who contributes to the success of USTA Chicago's work and the growth of tennis in the district, including USTA adult and junior league play.
2024 Recipient: Ann Taylor
Ann Taylor has been playing tennis since she was 10 years old in Northern California. She has been part of the Chicago District since the late 1990s, where she captained several 5.0 and 9.0 USTA League teams.
Since 2020, she has served on USTA Chicago's Adult Play Committee. Taylor has also volunteered on the National Women’s Tennis Organization’s Philanthropy Committee, where she contributes to projects aimed at increasing participation in Level 1-4 tournaments.
From 2003 to 2017, Taylor served as the executive director of the Chicagoland Indoor Tennis Association.
Coach of the Year
This award recognizes a tennis teaching professional who contributes to the sport in their community beyond their livelihood. This individual gives freely to promote tennis for players of all levels and ages and assists in developing programs and encouraging participation.
2024 Recipient: Basit Syed
Basit Syed is the director of tennis at HealthTrack Sports Wellness and the owner of Baseline Racquet Sports, a local tennis store serving the Chicago area’s racquet sports community. From 2016 to 2021, he coached the boys and girls college teams, leading them to three national appearances.
As the director of tennis at HealthTrack Sports Wellness, Syed oversees programming that develops players of all levels.
Since 2022, he has coached the team that represents the USTA Chicago District at the District Team Cup. His team placed third in 2022 and won first place in 2023 and 2024. He also leads Junior Team Tennis programming at HealthTrack, with his teams reaching the JTT Midwest Championships for three consecutive years.
Mary Seelig Tournament Management Award
This award recognizes a person, business, or community organization in the Chicago District that has gone above and beyond to help promote tennis within its own organization and the broader community.
2024 Recipient: Fely Ong
This award recognizes a Chicago District tournament director or official who has demonstrated outstanding qualities in providing competitive play opportunities for players of all types. The recipient follows USTA principles and policies in running exceptional tournaments.
Since 2021, Fely Ong has organized and directed 57 sanctioned junior tournaments at the H-F Racquet & Fitness Club in the Homewood-Flossmoor Park District.
For the past three years, she has also served as the tournament director for USTA Chicago's Junior Championships.
Beyond her work as a tournament director, Ong has volunteered in the Chicago District for 25 years, serving on the board from 2014 to 2022.
She has also organized Sets in the City, Special Olympics and Adaptive Tennis Unified Doubles tournaments. Her adaptive tennis efforts also include opportunities for play at Marquette Park. Additionally, she has organized American Veterans Tennis programs at McKinley Park.
Ong is also active with the iCan Dream Center, where she leads an eight-week summer tennis program each year. This nonprofit organization offers high-quality programming for youth with intellectual disabilities, autism and various learning difficulties.
LaMont Bryant Champion of the Game Award
The growth of tennis in the Chicago District depends on the partnership and leadership of providers, clubs and facilities, both public and private. This award recognizes a person, business or community organization in the Chicago District that has gone above and beyond to promote tennis within its own organization and/or the broader community. Eligible nominees include, but are not limited to, Community Tennis Associations (CTAs), National Junior Tennis and Learning (NJTL) chapters, clubs, facilities and more.
2024 Recipient: Second City Tennis
Second City Tennis (SCT) runs a summer singles league and a winter doubles league. They also host the Second City Classic, part of the Gay and Lesbian Tennis Alliance (GLTA) World Tour. Each year, the tournament brings approximately 100 players from around the world to Chicago. SCT organizes tennis programs and social activities serving Chicago’s LGBTQ+ community and has been offering programs since 1987.
A creative and collaborative partner with USTA, SCT regularly participates in community events such as USTA Chicago’s Opening Day and National Tennis Month celebrations, all designed to help more people begin their tennis journeys.
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