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MASSACHUSETTS RESIDENT CHRIS HOLMES SELECTED FOR USTA NEW ENGLAND TENNIS HALL OF FAME 

 

HARVARD, MA - The United States Tennis Association (USTA) of New England has announced that former No. 1 ranked player Chris Holmes, of Harvard, MA, has been selected for induction into the Hall of Fame Class of 2017. 

The ceremony will take place on Saturday, June 10 at the International Tennis Hall of Fame in Newport, RI.

“It is a tremendous honor and a bit overwhelming to be joining the many great New England players and contributors in the Hall of Fame,” Holmes said. "Being recognized in this way is an amazing bonus to the fun I have had playing and being involved with the great game of tennis in New England.”

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Holmes has had remarkable success competing in New England tennis, but he didn’t get his start on the court until relatively late. He didn’t start playing competitive tennis until his junior year of high school, where he barely played matches due to a flooded senior class. Senior year provided him with the opportunity not just to play, but excel to the point where he was offered a spot to play collegiately at Bates.

Holmes saw improvements in his game each year in college, and upon graduation, was more motivated than ever to perfect his skill.

In 1990, he achieved his first New England No. 1 ranking, as he climbed atop the 25 and over division. By 2011, he reached the top of the 45 and overs, and in 2015, he was No. 1 in the 55s.

“In team sports, you can only do so much and have to rely on your team to win, so I like being out there alone and knowing it’s all on you to win. It’s what motivates me to keep getting better in tennis,” Holmes said. “If I was a huge junior player, these things might not be as exciting to me, but I’m having fun, enjoying myself and trying to get better every day.”

In addition to his singles success, Holmes has shined in the doubles realm for years. With partner and Class of 2016 inductee, Wade Frame, he achieved a No. 1 New England ranking in the 35 and over, 45 and over, 50 and over and 55 and over divisions. The duo also recorded a No. 5 national ranking in 2014.

Holmes will be presented in Newport by Frame, whom he presented last year.

“He’s a great player to partner up with and he’s been directly involved in most of my tennis success. He was an obvious choice to have there,” Holmes said.

In addition, Holmes contributed to New England’s first Atlantic Coast Cup title in 2005 and reached the semifinals of the Father/Daughter National Grass Courts in 2008. He is also the proud founder of the senior tournament, the Thurston Cup.

Holmes has coached the Bromfield School girls tennis program since 2006 and reached the Massachusetts Division III finals in 2012. He previously served as the president of the Acton Indoor Tennis Association.

“It’s truly an honor to be inducted. It’s humbling that I’m in the same class as some of the greats, although I’m not sure I feel like I’m at the level they are,” Holmes said. “I’ve always driven to be better, but the focus has always been fun first. It still hasn’t quite registered yet for me, but knowing I’ll be in the Hall of Fame is pretty cool.”

 

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USTA New England Hall of Fame
The USTA New England Hall of Fame exists to recognize those tennis players and non-players in New England whose achievements as sportsmen or sportswomen are worthy of the highest commendation and recognition, or whose contributions as officials or individuals in a tennis-related activity have been so outstanding over a significant period of time as to justify the highest commendation and recognition.

About USTA New England
USTA New England, one of 17 regional sections across the country that comprise the United States Tennis Association (USTA), is a not-for-profit organization committed to promoting and developing the growth of tennis and increasing participation in the sport in New England by offering quality recreational and competitive programs for people of all ages and abilities. For more information, visit www.ustanewengland.com.