National

In their own words: Otis Smith on Arthur Ashe's impact

Edited by Peter Francesconi | February 29, 2024

As we celebrate Black History Month throughout February, we look toward leaders in tennis who are working to spread this sport far and wide, reaching deep into communities to impact youth on many levels. This month, you'll meet volunteer leaders who are telling their first-person stories and who recognize the influences family, friends, teachers and coaches have had on the direction their lives and careers have taken—and how that direction is positively impacting the newest generations. Today, meet Otis Smith.

 

My first tennis lesson was at the Los Angeles Tennis Club. I loved the sport so much that I hung around the courts all the time.

 

But when a club member complained that I was spending too much time at the club, the tennis director at that time, Larry Tubelle, wrote a letter to Arthur Ashe, who was an honorary member of the LATC. Ashe wrote a letter to the club and said that if young Otis Smith wasn't made a member of the club, he would withdraw his own membership.

So, with Ashe’s help, I’m happy to say that I became the first Black member of the Los Angeles Tennis Club. And that’s continued to foster a love for the game that has never wavered. In fact, in 2022 I was honored to be inducted into the Black Tennis Hall of Fame.

 

I played tennis as a junior in Southern California and was coached by some of the best coaches in the world, including Robert Lansdorp, Nick Bollettieri and Glenn Bassett. I was also fortunate to have modeled for legendary coach Vic Braden in his book, “Teaching Children Tennis.”

 

I attended UCLA, where I played No. 1 singles and doubles, then I then played on the ATP Tour for six years, reaching a high of No. 290 in singles and No. 200 in doubles, including playing at Wimbledon, the US Open and the ATP World Tour Masters.

Photo courtesy of Otis Smith.

Currently, I live in Santa Barbara, where I’m the Tennis Director at the Santa Barbara Tennis Club. (Previously, I was Tennis Director at the Ritz-Carlton Bacara, also here in Santa Barbara.) As a volunteer, I’m on the Board of Directors for the Southern California Tennis Association and also serve in my second term as a member of the USTA National Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee. I’ve also served on the USTA National NJTL Committee.

 

I’m forever grateful to the amazing experiences I’ve had in this sport, and what’s so wonderful to see is that when I attend junior tournaments here in California, there are more and more young Black players and other minorities on the court. I love the fact that NJTLs continue to get racquets into kids’ hands who normally would not have the opportunity to play this incredible sport.

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