Play Tennis Carmel
When school is almost out and your parents take you to an open lawn to run around before they order loaded french fries... That feels like absolute summer. What could be better? You see a sign that says: Receive a FREE tennis racquet!
The lawn at Midtown Plaza in Carmel, Ind. looked a little bit different on May 17, 2025. For starters, mini tennis nets divided the green space, separating kids who swung smaller-than-usual tennis racquets at red and yellow tennis balls. They were rallying back and forth with seemingly no rules. Was this tennis?
The lady at the registration desk said, "Absolutely," and handed over a tennis passport; kids (and adults) were given a chance to learn Red Ball Tennis and eventually take home a free, new tennis racquet.
On the passport were four stations to complete, allowing participants to experience small, skill-based wins. Once you powered your way through the activities, it was your time to shine on the short courts; somehow, the modified equipment turns you into a superstar.
That was the start of another fun day that led up to summer, which also featured renowned Rubik's Cube artist, @thecollegecuber_.
The College Cuber played a key role in the tennis festivities, solving 560 Rubik's cubes with help from the kids, to build a giant portrait of Rajeev Ram.
You're probably wondering what this was all for. It was a culmination of party planning from staff at the United States Tennis Association's (USTA) Midwest office, who wanted to celebrate the month of May being National Tennis Month, and the city of Carmel, which was also championing a Move with the Mayor initiative; both designed to get people active. Tennis just so happens to be connected to longer lifespans—like 10 years longer, and USTA Midwest wanted to come up with an event to celebrate tennis, spark interest in anyone passing by and deliver a memorable experience for the community.
During the month of May, USTA also shines a spotlight on the rich cultures and contributions of the Asian American and Pacific Islander community in tennis and beyond, which is exactly why USTA Midwest commissioned the artwork of Rajeev Ram, six-time Grand Slam winner, two-time Olympian... and Hoosier.
"Rajeev asked to be a collaborator," Dylan Sadiq said, AKA The College Cuber, who created an Instagram reel detailing the tennis event. In the reel, Sadiq narrated how he got hundreds of tennis fans to do his job for him. "USTA Midwest invited me out for National Tennis Month, and I knew the perfect way to celebrate. At first, I planned to finish the artwork all by myself, but I thought it'd be a whole lot more fun if all the fans helped me put it together. So I found some people from the area and pitched them this idea... If you help me create this piece, I'll hook you up with a free mini cube, but more importantly, I'll let you sign the artwork so you get credit for your work."
Ram, who was competing in Europe during the event, couldn't miss the opportunity to show the art to his loved ones. Sushma Ram, Rajeev Ram's mother, was proud to attend the event and see the portrait for herself.
Ram promoted the event, saying, "Just wanted to let you know May is National Tennis Month. So get out and play. There's tons of events going on, even in my hometown [Carmel]."
Some know Carmel, Ind. as SwimCity for its 14 swimmers who raced to the U.S. Olympic trials last summer, but you may also want to call it Tennis Town. Ram isn't the only pro on tour who attended Carmel High School. He's also a mentor of Nishesh Basavareddy, the 20 year old who went to Carmel before graduating to play at Stanford University.
Basavareddy and fellow Midwesterner, Ozan Baris from Michigan, won boys' doubles at the US Open in 2022. That same year, Rajeev Ram won the Grand Slam in men's doubles—for the second year in a row, in what would become a three-peat.
"While Nishesh has earned everything he has on his own," Ram once said, "It has been a privilege to offer any assistance and mentorship to him on and off the court.”
The Carmel event was formally titled "Play Tennis Carmel." A call to action and free to the public from start to finish. From its t-shirts, to its water bottles, to the play and the age-appropriate racquet prizes.
Without the USTA Midwest staff and volunteers, those from the Rajeev Ram Foundation and the Hamilton County Community Tennis Association—the family fun day would not have been possible. Red Ball Tennis on full display. Demonstrating some of the best aspects of the game: Play without pressure for newbies and long-timers who want to bounce around, get to every ball and laugh between points with friends across the net.
Want to try tennis in its many forms? Find play opportunities near you and have fun!
Follow USTA Midwest on social media as we share event photos. Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
If you attended our Play Tennis Carmel event and you have a special story to share, reach out to us! Send an email to molly@midwest.usta.com.
Related Articles
-
![Visit the Jr. Competition News 2026 page]()
Jr. Competition News 2026January 09, 2026Welcome to the 2026 edition of Net News! Stay up-to-date with the latest information to help juniors succeed on and off the court. Read More -
![Visit the Jr. Comp Award Winners page]( "Emma Dalmonte and Vincent Krause")
Jr. Comp Award WinnersDecember 12, 2025Congratulations to our players who demonstrated excellent sportsmanship during their participation in a USTA Junior Competition! Read More -
![Visit the Jr. Competition News: Dec page]( "Net News Green")
Jr. Competition News: DecDecember 11, 2025Welcome to the December 2025 edition of Net News! Stay up-to-date with the latest information to help juniors succeed on and off the court. Read More
Sign up for our Newsletter
Download the USTA App
