USTA Awards Bill Duo - Sportsmanship Award

 The USTA today announced that Bill Duo of Portage, Mich., was named the winner of the 2018 USTA Bill Talbert Junior Sportsmanship Award. He was honored at the USTA Semi-Annual Meeting in New York City.

Duo, 18, committed to playing at his dream college, Princeton University, this fall and graduated from Portage Central High School. He earned a 3.9 GPA and an ACT score of 31. He has received various awards for sportsmanship including the 2017 USTA National Spring Championships Sportsmanship Recipient of the Day for Boys’ 18, and the 2018 USTA/Midwest Section Wallace R. Holzman Sr. Sportsmanship Award. Duo was ranked No. 1 for several junior divisions in the USTA/Midwest Section and remains ranked in the Top 15 for Boys’ 18.

He plays at Grand Rapids Racquet and Fitness and his local YMCA where he helps mentor and teach younger players. His character exemplifies all of the positives that can be achieved through junior tennis with his academic, athletic and personal achievements. Duo’s strong character shines through his kindness, encouragement, drive and dedication.

“Both of these student-athletes are incredible individuals on and off the tennis court,” said Craig Morris, USTA Chief Executive, USTA. “They give back to their community, mentor younger athletes and are great role models. Both Andrew and Timothy epitomize what great sportsmanship is all about and we look forward to seeing what the future holds for both of them.”

Each award winner must be a junior player who exemplifies the finest qualities of sportsmanship in tournament play as well as one who maintains the finest traditions of the great sportsmen/women of tennis, past and present. The award is given in honor of 1967 Hall of Famer Bill Talbert, who was highly regarded for his high standards of sportsmanship.