2023 IndyTennis Classic: Pride, Community & Competitive Tennis

Lloyd Continued: Last year I won the D Division men's singles and the C Division mixed doubles! IndyTennis and IndyGo (the company I work for) were also represented at the Indy Pride Parade and Festival this year which was also a great celebration time."

USTA Midwest: Share a little bit about your tennis journey!

Dan: "I grew up watching my older brother and sister play. I attended a summer camp in middle school, immediately understood topspin and won the tournament at the end so I stuck with it. I played for four years in high school and had a few college scholarship offers but decided to focus on academics. I moved to Indy and around 2012 I wanted to get back into tennis. I found IndyTennis... and I fell in love with the camaraderie of the group. From 2015-2018 I was president, and during that time, the group grew from about 35 members to close to 90. I was also the tournament director for the 2015 and 2016 IndyTennis Classic tournaments. I eventually took a break because I felt we needed fresh, new ideas. But in 2021, I agreed to help with the tournament again and this year I am co-director of it."

Lloyd: "I was eight years old when I fell in love with the Williams sisters and watching tennis. I started playing tennis during my sophomore year of college in 2006 at The Ohio State University and played for fun off and on with my friends until 2021 when I started to take lessons and compete. I never really saw other Black folx in my environment playing tennis so it never occurred to me that I should play until going to college. The college environment allowed me to understand more about myself and who I wanted to be. While on my journey to embrace tennis more, I also embraced my sexual identity more and came out."

USTA Midwest: What do you love about the game?

Dan: "The individuality of the sport. There’s not always a coach to tell you what you’re doing wrong or what strategy you should use. You’re on your own to figure it out. I’ve won four matches in my lifetime after losing the first set 6-0.  I’m most proud of these moments because I made the adjustments myself."

Lloyd: "There's so much I love about tennis! I adore Serena Williams and what she and Venus have done for the game. I love watching WTA tennis because the women are, by far, much more entertaining to watch for me. I love the feeling of playing tennis and making my shots (nailing shots on the run is exhilarating!). I also appreciate the relationships I've developed and the representation I bring to my experiences. The outfits are pretty fly too!"

USTA Midwest: What message would you like to share with future tennis players, particularly LGBTQ+ athletes?

Dan: "Check to see if your city has an LGBT tennis club or hosts a tournament on the GLTA World Tour. They give you a sense of belonging and community. I have made so many friends from all over the world because of IndyTennis and the GLTA. Friends who honestly have become family to me."

Lloyd: "There is no wrong way to be you. You are so many things! You're smart, beautiful, unsure, petty, brave, radical, confident, scared, willing, resilient and so much more. Never be ashamed of all that you are, but if that time comes, just tell yourself, 'Of everything that I am, I know, I am loved.' So be you. Nobody can do it better."

Tuan Ngo: "Don’t be afraid to show up as your whole self, even in a competitive sport."

 
USTA Midwest: Do you have any fun Pride Month stories you'd like to share?

Tuan: "Many of our Second City Tennis members in Chicago who are now partnered or married actually met each other through the game of tennis."

Lloyd: "My husband and I were blessed to get married fall of last year at the Indiana History Center... In the months leading up to the wedding, I played so much tennis to tone up (to look good in my white, floral suit) that my now husband started referring to himself as a 'tennis widow' because I was gone playing all the time!"

Tim Ross: "Tennis is our passion. It's what we love. The competition is tough at all levels. These are social tournaments... I've got friendships from around the world because so many people travel to these tournaments. These are lifelong friends."

So what are you waiting for? Cheer on your friends at a GLTA tournament near you! Find the IndyTennis Classic tournament schedule here, and for more quotes from our interviewees and upcoming events check out our USTA Midwest Facebook Page.