Pride Spotlight: Tim Ross

Tim Ross has lived and breathed tennis ever since he first saw Chris Evert take the court as a kid. Influenced by a generation of greats, Ross pursued the sport throughout his childhood into his college days at Western Michigan University, where he joined the intramural team.

But after college, Ross fell away from the sport as he was discovering who he was and the course he wanted his life to take. Nearly 12 years later, Ross was working as an apartment manager and heard a new athletic club was being built in Novi, Mich. by one of his contractors. Ross decided revisit the sport he so loved by joining the club. Immediately, he was welcomed like family and asked to join League teams and even start captaining. Ross was back where he belonged.

As he became more and more involved in the tennis community, Ross found his calling when he moved to Detroit in the late 90s. Ross was in search of a new tennis group when he met the members of the Motor City Tennis Alliance (MCTA), a tennis league for Gay, Lesbian, Transgender and Gay Friendly tennis enthusiasts in Detroit. Ross believed that through this group, not only had he found a welcoming group of friends, but he could make a real difference through their mission of inclusion.

“I thought here is a great opportunity to get to know some of the LGBTQ+ people,” said Ross. “We weren’t really welcome back then…but we’ve held on because we have friends in other cities where we’ve been able to play other GLTA (Gay & Lesbian Tennis Alliance) tournaments.”

Ross threw himself into doing whatever he could for the MCTA, and in 2004, served as one of the key individuals in making their first international Motor City tennis event a success.

The tournament has been running every year since. In 2019, Ross and his other volunteers had the huge honor of being voted Best Large Tournament Team by the GLTA. This award is voted on by players among over 80 other tournaments across the world. For Ross, receiving this award means everything, knowing that he and his team in Detroit are doing their part for the LGBTQ+ tennis community.

“To win this award, it means a lot for us, because we do try hard,” said Ross. “It’s all volunteer-run, and none of us have ever made a penny doing any of this work.

“Our big focus has always been raising money for charity.”

Though the tournament will not be held this year due to COVID-19 restrictions, Ross says the pride and support of Midwest tournament directors remains.

In addition to the massive amount of service Ross provides for his LGBTQ+ tennis friends, the Michigan native is also involved at a Section level, serving as a USTA/Midwest volunteer, committee chair, and Tennis Ambassador. What matters the most, though, to Ross with every title he holds is growing the game of tennis wherever he can, starting with the GLTA.

“Just like the USTA, we’re going to have to try to navigate it safely,” said Ross. “There is definitely a demand to play tennis, and our members in the GLTA have grown, and our tournament numbers have grown…we love the game so much, we’ll figure out a way to be safe.”

As tennis begins to reopen its doors to eager players, Ross looks forward to the prospect of hosting socials once again and reconnecting with players from every walk of life. Ross has learned over the years that tennis is more than just a game, it is his heart and soul.

“Tennis is for everyone, every age, ethnicity, gender…it just uses so many parts of your mind and your body that it’s just such a good remedy for any issue,” said Ross.

From a kid growing up in Michigan watching his idols to a valued volunteer, Ross will continue to promote the sport of tennis and create a space of inclusion for all.

“The friends I have met through tennis are like family to me,” said Ross. “Volunteering at a Section level and through the GLTA, I have family all around the world.”