USTA Oklahoma 2024 Year in Review

Tennis is alive and thriving in Oklahoma! With growing participation, expanded programming and outstanding performances on and off the court, 2024 has been another remarkable year for USTA Oklahoma. Here’s a comprehensive look at the year’s achievements and milestones.

Adult Leagues

Participation hit new highs this year in adult leagues, highlighting the sport’s continued appeal.

• Total Number of Teams: 685 (5.71% increase from 2023)
• Tulsa Teams: 466
• Oklahoma City Teams: 219 

2.5 Teams

• Tulsa: 71 (43 without Tri-Level)
• Oklahoma City: 22 (including four non-advancing teams)
• Unique Players Statewide: 3,189 (3.98% increase)
• League Registrations: 9,870 (6.73% increase)
• Tulsa: 6,687
• Oklahoma City: 3,183

These numbers reflect a thriving community of players embracing tennis as a sport for health, camaraderie and competition.

Additionally, Henry’s Heroes captured the USTA League 55 & Over 9.0 Men’s National Championships held in Scottsdale, Ariz., from Nov. 1-3. The team was captained by Stan Swyden and James Billingsley.

Officials

The backbone of organized tennis lies with its officials, and Oklahoma continued to strengthen its pool of certified professionals. There were 25 total certified officials in 2024—17 recertified, eight newly certified and three prospective officials completing training.

Some notable contributions were 68 USTA-sanctioned tournaments and league competitions were officiated. Supported unsanctioned events included boys/girls state championships, NCAA dual matches and the OTF Open 25K. Officials represented Oklahoma at prestigious events such as the US Open and NCAA National Championships.

New officials, including Mallory Van Horn and Paxton Crawford, have brought fresh energy while ongoing recruitment efforts aim to grow this vital group. Click here to learn more about becoming a tennis official.

Diversity & Inclusion

North American Indian Tennis Association (NAITA) National Championships

Held over Memorial weekend at Edmond Center Court, this event featured 112 players from 20 Native American tribes, showcasing Oklahoma’s commitment to inclusivity in tennis.

Play It Forward Tennis Foundation

The foundation hosted more adaptive athlete competitions this year and is set to host two major events in 2025: Fred Johnson ALL Stars and the Adaptive Tennis National Qualifier.

First Serve Tulsa

Offered year-round programming that included winter fitness, spring drills, spring break camp, summer drills and fall drills. This year, First Serve Tulsa also introduced “community drills” aimed at expanding its reach by hosting tennis sessions in different neighborhoods across Tulsa. Through these efforts, First Serve Tulsa had the privilege of serving more than 150 youth in the Tulsa community and looks forward to continuing to grow its impact in the year ahead.

First Serve OKC

The annual fundraising event “Raise your Racquet” earned more than $200,000 this year. Its featured guest was Bob Bryan of the Bryan brothers. These funds will help First Serve with its many outreach programs in OKC Public Schools and the Parks and Recreation Department.

Special Olympics

Tennis was part of the Oklahoma Special Olympics for the first time this past summer.

Junior Standouts

Ian Wu won the National NJTL Essay Contest, receiving his award at the US Open on Arthur Ashe Stadium. JohnPaul Huston and Taytum Jones represented Oklahoma at the Amex Cup in New York.

Collegiate Tennis

Oklahoma State University hosted the NCAA Championships on May 16-24. Both OU and OSU club tennis teams remained active, with more than 40 members each practicing regularly. They competed in the USTA Missouri Valley Tennis On Campus Fall Invite, with OSU reaching the semifinals. Both schools aim to qualify for nationals in 2025, highlighting strong leadership and community support.

Oklahoma Tennis Foundation

The OKTF’s 2024 Impact Report highlights a transformative year for tennis in the state. Through seven outreach clinics the foundation reached more than 700 children, introducing them to the lifelong benefits of tennis. Additionally, 15 grants totaling more than $100,000 were awarded to support tennis programs and initiatives. The foundation also provided 17 scholarships worth $50,000, empowering young players to pursue their passion for the sport.