Awards

Welcome to the USTA Awards program. We are very proud to honor individuals and organizations for their outstanding contributions to the sport of tennis, including competitive accomplishments, sportsmanship-like conduct, and volunteerism at the grass-roots level delivering the game to people of all ages and abilities.

 

Click here to learn more about national awards timelines for the fall and spring cycles.

 

The Junior Awards honor those individuals 18 and under for their sportsmanship and accomplishments.

 

Click on the links below for a comprehensive description and history of each award.

  • This award recognizes, high school juniors or seniors, nationally ranked in the top 100 with an un-weighted GPA of 3.75 on a 4.0 scale, who demonstrate that tennis is the Sport of Opportunity for "education and advancement and character development." Read More
  • Awarded each year at the USTA Girls’ 16 National Championships to the girl who, in the opinion of the committee of judges, exemplifies outstanding sportsmanship, conduct and character. Read More
  • The USTA Girls’ 18 National Championship Sportsmanship Award is awarded each year at the USTA Girls’ 18 National Championships to the girl who, in the opinion of the committee of judges, exemplifies outstanding sportsmanship, conduct and character. Read More
  • The Bill Talbert Sportsmanship Awards are presented each year by the USTA and the International Tennis Hall of Fame. Recipients are selected from nominations received from the 17 USTA sections. Read More
  • Presented annually at the USTA Boys’ 16 National Championships, the Bobby Kaplan Sportsmanship Award is awarded to that boy who best combines sportsmanship and outstanding tennis ability. Read More
  • Presented annually to the junior boys’ 18s player who, in the opinion of the National Junior and Boys’ Championships Committee, best combines the qualities of outstanding sportsmanship and outstanding tennis ability. Read More
  • This award is presented each year at the USTA National Girls’ 18 Championships in San Jose, Calif., at the Almaden Valley Athletic Club. Read More

Organization Awards honor those organizations that promote and develop the growth of tennis through clubs, CTAs, parks and recreation programs and other tennis-related affiliates with excellence.

 

Click on the links below for a comprehensive description and history of each award.

  • The USTA NJTL Chapter of the Year Award is designed to honor an outstanding USTA NJTL chapter or chapters that have demonstrated continued excellence in recreational tennis. Read More
  • Each year, the USTA recognizes facilities throughout the country to encourage increasingly high standards for construction and/or renovation. Read More
  • The Community Tennis Association of the Year award is given out at the USTA Semi-Annual meeting each year. Read More
  • This award is given to the USTA organization that best exemplifies service to the community, service to its members through junior and adult programs and service to the game of tennis. Read More
  • Recognition for a Community Tennis Association (CTA), Park and Recreation Agency or tennis club celebrating 100 years or more. Read More
  • The Brad Parks Award was established in 2002. It recognizes outstanding contributions to the game of wheelchair tennis and was named after Brad Parks, a pioneer of wheelchair tennis and the first wheelchair tournament champion, who has been instrumental in the development of wheelchair tennis around the world.  Read More
  • This award recognizes the program or program leader that has demonstrated continued excellence, dedication and service in tennis for special populations. Read More

Officiating Awards honor those individual(s) who serve the game of tennis with distinction in their capacity as officials and/or chair umpires.

 

Click on the links below for a comprehensive description and history of each award.

  • The Jack Stahr Award is presented annually to an umpire, age 21 or over, who in one of his or her first three years at the US Open, is recognized for hard work, professionalism, technical ability, and cooperative attitude both on and off the court. Read More
  • In 1949 John T. (Terry) McGovern presented a beautiful gold-plated trophy for an annual award to that umpire or linesman who contributed most to the cause of tennis officiating during the previous year. Read More
  • With qualifications similar to the John T. McGovern Award, the Jr. McGovern Award recognizes service and excellence by younger officials showing promise as a chair umpire. Read More
  • Given each year to a sectional chair or line umpire, the Nicholas E. Powel Award recognizes the importance of officiating at the local level. Read More
  • This award is given to a tennis official who has made a difference in the sport of tennis, given back in a variety of ways, cares about the quality of the game and has earned the respect of other officials beyond on-court ability. Read More

Volunteer awards honor individuals for serving the game on a volunteer basis in every aspect of tennis.

 

Click on the links below for a comprehensive description and history of each award.

  • The Barbara Williams Service Award honors the late Barbara Williams by recognizing a female volunteer who through her leadership and by her example has encouraged and inspired others to become volunteers and assume leadership roles at the community, section and/or national levels of the United States Tennis Association. Read More
  • Established in 2015 to recognize the many volunteers who have provided leadership and have made significant contributions to the growth and enhancement of USTA Leagues, both in their Section and Nationally. Read More
  • The USTA Community Service Award was established in 1974 to honor persons for outstanding field work in recreational tennis. It was renamed the Eve Kraft USTA Community Service Award in 2001. The award is given for significant contributions by individuals actively involved in tennis development through community tennis associations, parks and recreation departments, schools or community centers. Read More
  • The Volunteer Exceptional Service Award recognizes national committee members who have made exceptional contributions above and beyond expected committee work. Read More
  • The USTA Volunteer Service Award recognizes USTA volunteers for their years of national service to the association. Read More
  • Established in 1999, the President’s Award annually honors an individual who has given unusual and extraordinary service to tennis and generally will be a person not considered for other USTA awards. Read More
  • The Brad Parks Award was established in 2002. It recognizes outstanding contributions to the game of wheelchair tennis and was named after Brad Parks, a pioneer of wheelchair tennis and the first wheelchair tournament champion, who has been instrumental in the development of wheelchair tennis around the world.  Read More
  • Awarded on the basis of the recipient’s willingness, cooperation, and participation, either in play or organizational work for the betterment and furtherance of senior competition. Read More
  • This award recognizes the program or program leader that has demonstrated continued excellence, dedication and service in tennis for special populations. Read More
  • The NJTL Founders Award was established to honor an individual who has promoted the principles of Arthur Ashe and who has made an outstanding contribution to the development and / or sustainability of NJTL. Read More

The USTA is proud to recognize individuals who have been honored by the International Tennis Hall of Fame.

 

Click on the links below for a comprehensive description and history of each award.

  • The International Tennis Hall of Fame annually presents the Samuel Hardy Award to a USTA volunteer in recognition of long and outstanding service to the sport of tennis.  Read More
  • The International Tennis Hall of Fame annually presents an award to a man and woman who has made notable contributions in the tennis education field. Read More

The following awards include adult competitive as well as professional awards. 

 

Click on the links below for a comprehensive description and history of each award.

  • The Gold Slam Award recognizes adult and senior competitive players who have won all of the national championships played in the same division throughout the year. Read More
  • This award recognizes one male and one female professional tennis player who best demonstrate excellence in sportsmanship throughout the Emirates Airline US Open Series and the US Open Championships. Read More

Over the years, the USTA has occasionally discontinued certain awards for various reasons. For a historical listing, see below.

 

  • The USTA Tennis Teachers Conference Faculty Emeritus Award was established in 2005 to recognize an individual who has made a significant and long term contribution as a speaker at the annual USTA Tennis Teachers Conference. Read More
  • The USTA Workshop Faculty Member of the Year Award recognizes a trainer that goes above and beyond to train coaches  and to promote tennis through on-court workshops. Read More
  • The Super Senior Service Award is given annually to the person who, in the opinion of the Super Senior Tennis board of directors, has made a notable contribution to the promotion of tennis for the 55-and-over USTA-recognized age divisions. Read More
  • The award honors individual college student leaders for significant contributions made to the USTA Tennis On Campus program on their respective campus. Read More
  • This award honors Tennis On Campus programs/college club tennis teams for significant contributions made to the USTA Tennis On Campus program on their respective campus. Read More

See Local Awards

USTA National Awards Information and Timeline

Click here to print the USTA National Awards timeline.

 

*Recognition awards, known as the Volunteer Service Award (VSA), are presented to those volunteers achieving five years of service and for each five years of service thereafter.