A look back at Midwest Tennis in 2023

Tennis is good for you—physically, socially, mentally—and there was no better year to demonstrate these facts than in 2023; starting with the announcement that Dr. Brian Hainline of the USTA Midwest Section was elected to serve as USTA Chairman of the Board and President for the 2023-24 term. He was Chief Medical Officer of the US Open Tennis Championships for 16 years and held the same title for the USTA for four years. Currently, Hainline is the NCAA's Chief Medical Officer, the first ever to hold that title in the history of the NCAA.

In 2023 we celebrated the health and wellness benefits of tennis and used the year to ensure that those attributes could be felt by everyone. Our section boosted its grassroots efforts and leaned on local tennis legends and leaders to help us make sure that tennis is more accessible to people. During National Tennis Month, our districts served more than 3,300 players—kids and adults of all ages, abilities and backgrounds. Participation shot up 74% when compared to similar events held the year before.

These triumphs would not be possible without our passionate volunteers, staff, organizers, coaches, officials, and of course, the players.

Catch more highlights from 2023 in our video! From the USTA/Midwest Tennis & Education Foundation being awarded $150,000 from Laureus Sport for Good USA, to Rajeev Ram's historic three-peat at the US Open men's doubles championship. Speaking of the pros, Taylor Townsend made it to the USO women's doubles quarter-finals and the mixed doubles semi-finals. She was one of three Midwest women—Taylor, Caty McNally and Peyton Stearns—chosen to represent the United States at the Billie Jean King Cup, and she won the Western & Southern Open women's doubles title. One of our favorite declarations from 2023: The Cincinnati pro tournament is staying in the Midwest. All of this with Chad Docktor as our Section's new CEO.