Sam Fotopoulos: A champion in character and in every chapter

Throughout his lifelong tennis journey spanning over 55 years, Sam Fotopoulos has collected his fair share of signature wins. A Sugar Bowl title. An undefeated high school state championship season. A Big Eight Conference title. Victories as a Greece Davis Cup member. A 21 & Under national championship.

According to Fotopoulos, though, the best tennis accomplishment on his resume came decades after those feats when he teamed with his daughter, Mimi, to win a national championship. The duo—the No. 1-ranked father-daughter tandem in the U.S. in 2018— earned several USTA Silver Balls and USTA Bronze Balls together in addition to the national title.

“We always knew we wanted to do it, but it was hard because she was still competing,” Fotopoulos said. “She was playing in college, and she played a few years on the tour. She was in Europe playing quite a bit. We were starting to run out of time because I was getting at the end. We played the open division and won it.

“Very special moment. I’m able to be a national champion with my daughter. That was the best thing ever."

In total, Fotopoulos accumulated 12 USTA Balls during his tournament career. Already a USTA Heart of America Hall of Famer, Fotopoulos will be enshrined in the USTA Missouri Valley Hall of Fame on Dec. 6. The induction ceremony is part of the USTA Missouri Valley Annual Conference, which takes place Dec. 4-6 at the Olathe Conference Center.

Generational Passion

The Fotopoulos family’s tennis roots run deep. Fotopoulos’ dad, John—a former top USTA competitor in his own right and national champion basketball player at the University of Kansas—got his son started in tennis at the age of 5. Fotopoulos’ older sister, Carrie, went 71-0 in high school and became the first female athlete to receive a full athletic scholarship to the University of Kansas.

Fotopoulos met his wife of 40 years, Angie, when he was playing tennis at the University of Oklahoma and she was on the OU pompom squad. Angie was also a top-level USTA Missouri Valley junior competitor. And Fotopoulos’ two children, Chris and Mimi, continued the OU tradition by competing for the Sooners. Chris was a tennis club director in California, and Mimi is Tennis Channel’s director of talent and production operations.

“It’s just such a lifelong deal with our kids and my wife,” Fotopoulos said. “We just feel very blessed that we were able to ride a sport like this for as many years as we have. And still enjoy it.”

When he wasn’t winning USTA Balls with Mimi, Fotopoulos played doubles alongside Kevin Lehr, his partner for nearly 15 years. Fotopoulos and Lehr paired up to capture several national titles. Fotopoulos won a national championship on grass, clay and hard-court surfaces. Lehr noted Fotopoulos’ flat one-handed backhand was particularly lethal. But win or lose, Fotopoulos was gracious throughout.

“He’s a great husband, father, brother, all of those things,” Lehr said. “He just has such good integrity. He’s very polite—super polite. … He’s just such a good person. I never had to question his motives or integrity. He was always very honest and, you know, very loyal to his family but also his doubles partners.”