A Look Back on 2022 and a Glimpse at 2023

The end of a year is always filled with fond memories, as well as great anticipation for the future. As USTA Heart of America looks back on the action-packed year that was 2022, one common theme is how engaged our tennis community is. From awards and tournaments to community programs and initiatives, here are some highlights of the past year.

Inaugural Men’s Open League

The all-new Men’s Open Level League kicked off in April at the Plaza Tennis Center in Kansas City to much fanfare. Tennis pros from across our district participated in this competitive league, and the fans loved every second of it. Read about it here.

Tom O’Brien of The Barstow School Wins National Coach of the Year Award

Tom O’Brien, head coach of the boys’ and girls’ varsity tennis teams at Kansas City’s The Barstow School, was named the National Federation of State High School Associations’ National Coach of the Year for 2022. We spoke with him about the award and what it means to him–check it out here.

Pembroke Hill Players Meet ATP Pro

Players from Kansas City’s Pembroke Hill School joined their coach for the tennis trip of a lifetime, traveling to the U.S. Open in September. While there, the group was able to meet Pembroke Hill alum–and recently retired ATP Tour pro–Nick Monroe after his hard-fought doubles match. Read our interview with Nick about this special interaction here.

MoKanNeb Tournament Series

Each year, the MoKanNeb Tournament Series brings intense competition to four tournaments across Missouri, Kansas, and Nebraska. Players compete to earn points–winning gets the most–and the players with the most points at the end of the series win a $500 cash prize. USTA Heart of America hosted the Kansas City Open in June at Plaza Tennis Center in Kansas City as the third tournament in the series. Learn more here.

Looking Ahead to 2023

The year ahead looks like the best yet for USTA Heart of America. With tournaments, junior and community tennis programs, leagues, and plenty of fun-filled events being planned, we have no doubt you’re going to have no problem filling your planner with all things tennis! Watch out for our monthly newsletter for the latest USTA Heart of America updates.

Thank you for being a member of our tennis community. USTA Heart of America staff wishes you a happy and healthy New Year. See you on the courts!