John Xu Gives Back, Finds Fulfillment in Officiating

Tennis On Campus — the USTA-run program for college club tennis teams — has made a significant impact on John Xu professionally and personally. Xu participated in five years of Tennis On Campus as a member of the Missouri State University Tennis Club, making several friends and connections while enjoying competitively playing the sport.

At one TOC tournament Xu chatted with officials working the event, which prompted him to give tennis officiating a shot. Xu loved the work and the opportunity to give back to the sport, and he’s now fully engrossed as an official working USTA, ITA and UTR events scattered throughout the year. For the third consecutive time Xu will officiate the USTA Missouri Valley TOC Section Championship, which takes place March 2-3 at Cooper Tennis Complex in Springfield.

“Tennis On Campus is where I really picked up tennis overall in my current career in the industry,” Xu said. “That’s why I always take time out of my schedule and do Tennis On Campus as much as I can, especially the section championship.

“If we want to get more officials, we want former players who enjoy the game and know the game pretty well. Who are able to carry on the tradition and give back to the community as officials and USTA did for us and my generation. Get it from the younger side and let them carry on the tradition and influence younger officials to come through the ranks.”

Xu officiates as many events as he can for the USTA Missouri District, and he typically travels to St. Louis during the summer to umpire the adult section championships. He estimated he officiates eight or nine USTA tournaments annually. Within USTA Missouri Valley, Xu has made the trek to Kansas, Nebraska, Oklahoma and Kansas City to work junior tournaments.

“If the Valley calls and needs me — if I have time — I will go,” Xu said. “Having an official presence at a tournament brings better structure and flow, and less issues and conflicts come up later. Thus allowing a better and more enjoyable experience for both the parents and players.”

Xu is booked to work as an official nearly every weekend from January to May for the Intercollegiate Tennis Association. In the fall, Xu works a handful of UTR professional events. He next has his sights set on becoming certified to officiate at International Tennis Federation tournaments.

Xu began coaching tennis around his senior year at Missouri State when a couple friends asked if he’d like to manage a Junior Team Tennis squad. Xu had a blast, and he realized he likes helping young players learn tennis and hopefully fall in love with the sport. Xu is now in his eighth year as a tennis teaching professional at Cooper Complex. Coaching the sport and officiating has made for a great combination for Xu.

“I enjoy seeing the players enjoy themselves — no matter if they are winning or losing — and seeing the growth,” Xu said. “Not tennis-level wise, but more of their maturity level — behaving more properly as they advance in their ages. I enjoy seeing the players I have officiated in their junior years in their college years. I enjoy seeing them continue to play tennis.”

Xu — who was born in China and speaks both Mandarin and English — immigrated with his family to the United States as a 9-year-old. Xu’s family ended up in St. Louis where he played tennis for Parkway Central High School. Xu’s family didn’t have the resources for him to play much tennis prior to that, which prompted him to play as much as he could in high school and beyond.

That included the five-year stint for the Missouri State University Tennis Club, with Xu serving as treasurer, acting president and then president during his junior year. Upon graduating from Missouri State in 2016 and later becoming naturalized as a U.S. citizen in 2018, Xu competed in several USTA tournaments and leagues. He most recently participated in USTA Missouri mixed leagues a couple seasons ago.

When Xu was younger he played quite a bit of badminton and was a self-described “rule stickler.” He has tried to take what he’s learned as a badminton and tennis player and apply it to his officiating style where he seeks to act as more of a guide. He said alarming statistics detailing the percent of junior players who have a negative tournament experience — and ultimately get burned out — because of poor parent and opponent behavior have caused him to stay motivated as an official.

“You want to be more of a mentor to the players and parents, which brings a better image across the board for us as officials to educate the players and parents how they should have proper etiquette,” Xu said. “The current climate of junior sports is the parents are too invested in a good way and a bad way because they’re trying to feel their younger days through their children — putting too much pressure on them to win and making their own kids have a bad time.

“My idea is let’s change that image and educate both the parents and the player. The players sometimes behave more than the parent does. In my current role, I want to educate the parents more. A lot of coaches these days are educating the players to behave better, but the parents are not.”

Xu credited mentor Paul Nahon — Springfield Lasers general manager — for getting Xu more involved in tennis and teaching him to give back in whatever role he takes on. While Xu said he might have started in officiating to make a little extra cash on the side, that quickly evolved into him finding purpose and fulfillment through his work. Xu has paid it forward by encouraging his friends to give officiating a try.

“I got involved in tennis and my life changed,” Xu said. “I get to carry on that tradition to inspire more players or parents in the tennis community. Not just playing tennis, but maybe giving back to the community. USTA helps bring people together into tennis.”

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