Potter Family Opens Its Home to the Tennis World

Chad and Wendy Potter have four kids. But their family is much bigger than that thanks to their involvement in tennis.

The Potters were named 2019 Tennis Family of the Year for USTA Missouri's for more than on-court accomplishments. Chad, Wendy and their four children have opened their home and served as hosts for many guests.

“We’ve hosted international college kids and JL de Jager, the coach for the Springfield Lasers,” Wendy said. “Hosting has been a blessing in many ways. Personally, I enjoy learning about other world cultures.”

In turn, the Potters get to teach their guests about different aspects of American culture.

“I think the funniest moment we had was when Lila, from Poland, called me and was frantic because our cat had caught a squirrel and she wanted me to take the squirrel to the vet,” Potter said. “Each person has contributed to our knowledge of tennis in different ways. I feel we all have grown more understanding of others from different backgrounds and perspectives, and have also become better ‘tennis parents.’”

Chad and Wendy both played in high school, but didn’t really have much instruction in the sport. Living in Springfield has given them access to great facilities and opportunities to learn the game.

“To start, we just wanted to introduce our kids to tennis and get a little exercise,” Wendy said. “Cooper Tennis Complex was a great resource for us. Now, we play there, and there are many different leagues available for adults, as well as group and private lessons for all ages.”

They’ve gotten a lot more than a little exercise out of it.

“Sports teach many life lessons, so tennis has definitely played a part in developing those hard lessons,” Wendy said. “It is a sport that will be a lifetime in the making, so patience and perseverance are definitely developed if you want to continue in tennis.”

Their daughter Courtney, 19, played in USTA tournaments and has played a couple of seasons of college tennis at Missouri State University. Ethan, 16, just graduated from high school and has also played in USTA events, as well as high-school tennis. Alana, 14, plays tennis recreationally, while Austin, 11, has developed a big passion for the sport, aided in part by his family’s tennis guests.

“(He) is the biggest tennis lover I know and plays any chance he gets,” Wendy said. “He loves having tennis players stay and hit with him.”

The Potters have also been fortunate enough to enjoy tennis away from Springfield, including trips to the Cincinnati Open. They also bumped into a tennis superstar while at the La Quinta Inn and Resort in Palm Springs, California.

“Courtney and I were just walking by and saw him practicing on one of the courts there,” Wendy said. “It was a fun surprise.”

But it’s hard to beat bonding with the stars they see watching the Lasers in World TeamTennis competition at Cooper Tennis Complex.

“The kids look forward to that every year. There's no better way to interact with the players and many times they let their personalities shine through, so that's always fun to see.”

The Potters won’t get to see the Lasers at Cooper in 2020. World TeamTennis will play its entire season in West Virginia. But they’ve got plenty of memories to tide them over until next season.

“Probably what has surprised me are the life long friends we've made along the way,” Wendy said. “Tennis has helped forge friendships among so many different people with different backgrounds and we really love all the connections we've made throughout the years.”