Argentine succeeds in goal of working in and advancing in tennis officiating

Daniela Mónaco’s first objective once she obtained her green card in the United States isn’t one often cited by new permanent residents. Mónaco wanted to become a tennis official.

Mónaco moved to the US from Argentina in 2012 on an Exchange Visitor J-1 visa to work at Emory University in Atlanta, researching HIV and immunology. Having given up tennis as a child, Mónaco started playing again once she arrived in Georgia.

“I met a former official who was on my tennis team and she told me about officiating. I always was curious about it, but I had no idea how to do that or if it was even possible,” Mónaco said. “She explained everything to me, but I couldn't really do anything because I didn't have a green card. So, I waited four years before I could pursue becoming an official.”

Mónaco, 42, completed her paperwork for the green card at the end of 2021. By January of 2022, she was working her first tournament as an official. She began as a roving umpire at junior tournaments before advancing to chairing matches. Mónaco graduated from the USTA’s Officiating Center of Excellence Program and was assigned to a development course, which led to the opportunity to work at USTA Pro Circuit events.

“Over the past few years, Daniela has grown both on and off the court and has performed very well,” said Neal Kitson, USTA Senior Manager, Professional Pathway, Development & Assignments, Officiating. “Of course, there have been learning moments, as with anyone, but she used those moments to grow as an official. She has continued to perform at a high level, working professional events across the country, learning and developing as a chair umpire.”

Mónaco’s first chairing opportunity came three years ago at the USTA Boys’ 16 & 18 National Championships in Kalamazoo, Mich., where Chief Umpire Doug Rice allowed her to gain experience.

“At the beginning, that was a little bit tricky because I had never done a chair, so it was hard to get that very first chair. It took me nine months to get somebody to say, ‘Okay, you can do a chair in my tournament,’” she said. “But it was nice because Doug helped me out and took care of teaching me and giving me feedback. It was a great first experience.”

Rice has been happy to play a role in Mónaco’s officiating journey and is proud of how far she’s come in a short time.

“Daniela is a focused and determined official. She strives for excellence and has an equal desire to learn,” Rice said. “I was once in her shoes and invited her to work at my event to give her an opportunity. She has taken off by working professional events as a line umpire and now regularly as a chair umpire.”

Launching a new career

Mónaco left her job at Emory University as an associate scientist in 2022 when her husband launched his own biotech startup company. She began helping him with the company, which allowed her more flexibility to travel for officiating and work more professional tournaments as a chair.

“I really find it fascinating, because with my science background, everything in that area is so mental with academia, research and teaching–everything is planning and everything is slow, and takes a lot of steps,” she said. “Officiating is much more about your reaction, and you need a whole different set of skills for it. I love the challenge and learning to do something different.”

Mónaco has been able to work several major junior events, including the ITF J300 Indian Wells, and always loves returning to Kalamazoo each year.

“It's hard work and long hours and grueling sometimes, but they always have such a good, supportive environment,” she said. “Everybody wants to help you. Everybody wants to help each other. Everybody wants to learn. Everybody's excited to be there. So, it's always such a great atmosphere that I love.”

Mentorship matters

Along with Rice, Mónaco considers ATP Tour umpire Greg Allensworth and ITF gold badge official James Keothavong as mentors.

“Getting the opportunity to meet James in person and getting advice and feedback from him has been so important and such a source of inspiration,” she said. 

Mónaco is attempting to obtain her white badge certification and has been accepted to an ITF White Badge school in Brazil, where she will take her exam at the end of October. She’s working to improve her officiating skills every day, trying to get any edge possible to elevate to the highest level of the profession.

“If it were up to me, I would take it all the way,” she said. “But it depends on a lot of things, and at some point it's not going to be up to me. It's going to be up to the people who make the decision of whether you continue. But I'm going to give it my best effort and do the best that I can to be prepared.”

USTA Southern commemorates National Hispanic Heritage Month, which runs from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15.