Tulsa standout Krishna Bhadriraju directs award-winning tournament fundraiser

As Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month in May highlights the rich diversity of AAPI communities, which include approximately 50 distinct ethnic groups speaking more than 100 languages, Tulsa’s Krishna Bhadriraju stands out as a leader both on and off the tennis court.

Bhadriraju, a national-level tennis player and rising senior at Jenks High School, earned recognition as a 2025 Outstanding Diversity Achievement award winner for both USTA Oklahoma and USTA Missouri Valley. A high-performance junior player, he is a two-time Oklahoma high school state champion and a two-time Tulsa World All-World Boys Tennis Player of the Year, in addition to receiving numerous USTA sportsmanship awards.

Beyond competition, Bhadriraju has used tennis as a platform for service. As part of his Eagle Scout project with Boy Scout Troop 1 in Tulsa, where he holds the rank of Life Scout, he organized a one-day doubles tournament titled Serve for First Serve to raise awareness and funds for First Serve Tulsa. The nonprofit organization provides no-cost tennis and educational opportunities to a diverse and inclusive group of participants.

After receiving approval from the Eagle Board of Review, Bhadriraju raised funds through GoFundMe and coordinated with community leaders, donors and local tennis organizations.

He obtained permission from the USTA Oklahoma executive director, David Minihan, to serve as tournament director for the non-sanctioned event. He worked closely with the Tulsa tennis community to ensure strong participation.

The tournament was held Aug. 9, 2025 at Case Tennis Center at LaFortune Park, a USTA Premier Facility. Bhadriraju managed all aspects of the event, from organizing draws to overseeing volunteers who served as referees.

He also used the event to educate participants and spectators about the mission of First Serve Tulsa, distributing informational pamphlets and speaking about the importance of diversity and inclusion in tennis.