In their own words: David Crossland on celebrating LGBTQ+ visibility in tennis

My “tennis DNA” came from my mom. Growing up in Washington, D.C., we played tennis as a family and brought our racquets everywhere. I remember bringing my Prince Woodie on my first trip to France when I was 16.

As a teenager, I worked summers taking care of the courts on the grounds of the Washington National Cathedral, and later worked the US Open during the 1990s as a volunteer with USTA Communications. I was assigned to escort Archbishop Desmond Tutu around the tennis center when he was there to bless the opening of Arthur Ashe Stadium in 1997, and I was in the President’s Suite when Whitney Houston sang “One Moment in Time” that night. That was pretty cool.

Off the court, I’m the principal of David Crossland Group with Compass and sell residential real estate in D.C., Maryland and Virginia. I love what I do—and it allows me to support my addiction to tennis.

I was fortunate to be inducted into the USTA Mid-Atlantic Tennis Hall of Fame in 2023, and it was a huge honor for me. It was especially awesome, though, because I was able to share that with my mom, Page. We were the first mother and son to ever be inducted together in the USTA Mid-Atlantic Hall of Fame.

Recently, I was notified that I’ll be receiving USTA President Brian Vahaly's 35 x 35 Award at this year’s Open. Brian created this to recognize people making an impact with his initiatives to grow U.S. tennis participation to 35 million players by 2035, and I’m thrilled to be a part of this growth for this sport.

Brian Vahaly is one of my heroes. When I think of young kids living in unaccepting communities, being afraid of who they are, I am so grateful for Brian’s diversity, equity and inclusion framework that includes sexual orientation and gender identity. USTA has powerful ways to influence thousands of local clubs and leagues—where inclusion has the biggest day-to-day impact. The visibility of Pride that Brian represents at the US Open, the largest sporting event in the U.S., has enormous cultural reach. I am so proud to be serving the USTA under his presidency, and am grateful to be a part of this incredible association.

Tennis was the first major professional sport where openly gay athletes not only competed, but became champions. Coming of age in the 1980s, I really didn’t have access to a gay community or role models. I was bullied and teased, and I was afraid to come out. The visibility of Billie Jean King and Martina Navratilova helped me normalize being gay. Tennis is a global sport, but Pride is not universal. Tennis is played worldwide, including in countries where gay rights are limited or criminalized. By celebrating Pride Month, USTA signals solidarity across borders and affirms that belonging in tennis is not conditional.

If tennis is my religion, USTA is my church, which has always connected me with an extraordinary community. My life is rich because of this sport. I have dear, lifelong friends I might not have ever met, if not through tennis. 

In fact, it was in Paris at Roland Garros in June 2017 that I met Leo, who was sitting next to me at the French Open. That day turned into another, and another. I went back to Europe the following month for Wimbledon, and spent every day with Leo. We married in 2020, and have a beautiful life with our magical dog, Bourbon, here in D.C.