Bernadette Walker is Helping PG County to Get Out & Play

Despite 2020 being pretty unusual - to say the least - tennis is going strong in the Mid-Atlantic Section since coming out of the suspension of play. We had more than 30,000 league matches played over the summer. A testament to that success is a great partnership between USTA Mid-Atlantic and our Local League Ambassadors (LLAs). Our LLAs ensure that USTA Leagues run smoothly in local areas of the Mid-Atlantic and in 2020 have been true partners in prioritizing safety so everyone can enjoy getting out on the tennis courts responsibly. 

One such LLA helping to make tennis possible in Maryland and getting people out to play,  is Bernadette Walker, a new LLA for Prince George’s County and the Prince George’s County Community Tennis Association.   

A native Washingtonian, Bernadette has been playing tennis for seven years.  She has a strong background in event planning and currently works as a commercial real estate and property manager. 

With the pandemic, a successful tennis season in Prince George’s this summer and for the fall included getting back to playing tennis but ensuring that players feel comfortable and safe on the court. To achieve this, Bernadette communicated the latest information from USTA Mid-Atlantic as well as shared the Return to Play safety guidelines. She says, “with USTA Mid-Atlantic’s help, we are safely back to playing league tennis.”

This fall, Bernadette is helping players get into tennis in four different league offerings including: 

• Adult 40 & Over; 

• Singles; 

• Tri-Level; and 

• Flexible Mixed 

While Bernadette acknowledges that playing tennis is a bit different these days, she insists that it is still enjoyable. Her philosophy is “when given lemons, you have to make lemonade!”  She says one example of safely having a good time on the court is using “our racquets to high five and that’s fun all by itself.”

When it comes to getting back out on the court, Bernadette offers these words of encouragement to tennis players:  

“I know that this is a tough time for everyone but I am hopeful that we will get through this by taking the necessary precautions when playing, so get out and play because tennis allows you to stay active in a safe manner.” 

USTA Mid-Atlantic is actively working with Local League Ambassadors like Bernadette, all across the Section to offer an exciting variety of fall tennis leagues that you can register and play in right away.  You can find more information on the leagues being offered in your local area and how to register here. 

New to USTA Leagues or need help finding a team? We’ve got your back! Use our Tennis Connect form and we’ll be in touch to help you out!