USTA League Helps Simpson Grow Her Family

Tennis is a family affair for Karol Simpson. That includes family she’s made on the courts.

Simpson, one of the many USTA league players in Missouri, has been playing tennis for more than 50 years now. She didn’t get started in the sport until she was 30.

“After chasing the ball over the fence a thousand times I decided I needed lessons — which I might say made a huge improvement,” she said. “As time went by I encouraged my family to join me. It was a family affair. Many hours on the court. It was so enjoyable, we decided to build a court in our backyard. We had many tennis parties, dinner included.”

You can find Simpson on the courts at Cooper Tennis Complex in Springfield, where she has a membership. She plays in leagues three times a week and enjoys taking part in USTA programming.

“The flex program for 3.0 rated players was extra play for me on Sunday evenings,” she said. “It gave me a chance to play with players I hadn’t played with before. Meeting new people is a plus. We become a family.”

Those relationships — with her biological family as well as her tennis family — are a big part of what makes tennis so enjoyable for Simpson.

“Friendships are made and that means a lot to me,” she said. “My professional tennis instructor and I have been longtime friends. Now my family thank me for dragging and pushing them onto the court. We’ll say love-love.”