From love to Düs: Kevin Perkins’ journey includes community and culture

For Kevin Perkins, tennis has never been confined to the court. From representing the Philippines as a junior player to building community through coaching, running and fashion, the sport has shaped his identity both on and off the court.

Born in an immigrant family, Perkins learned the importance of resilience and hard work early in life. Moving from Manila, Philippines, to Athens, Ga., was a difficult transition, but it opened the door to life-changing opportunities. Perkins went on to represent the Philippines in USTA junior tournaments from the age of nine before earning a scholarship to the HBCU (Historically Black College & University), Alabama State University, where he was awarded SWAC Freshman of the Year in 2011. 

“Being able to represent the Philippines was huge. To honor your heritage and play for people who come from a background similar to yours is incredible.

“Tennis has given me so much outside of tennis itself; it has given me multiple degrees, an unbelievable outlook on life in a way that a tennis player knows how a match can play out. It has given me incredible friendships and the court will always be a place of peace and solitude to get away for a couple of hours, whether it's playing or coaching the next generation.” 

Academy of Art University interim head tennis coach
Perkins naturally transitioned into coaching. He went on to be a graduate assistant at Texas A&M-Kingsville before becoming the interim head tennis coach at the Academy of Art University in San Francisco, leading his team to an ITA West Regional title and a quarterfinal finish at nationals after upsetting the No. 3 seed. As his journey continued, Perkins founded the Peach State Running Club (PSRC). What started as a way to build endurance as a collegiate tennis player has now become a community of people who aspire to improve their health.

“We do track workouts on Monday, and group runs on Wednesday in downtown Duluth. It has been a beautiful thing to see the growth of PSRC, but more so the impact it has on the community. The fact that people look forward to these runs tells you a lot about the people who want to improve their health and reach their goals.”

Streetwear brand Düs
Perkins also created the tennis streetwear brand Düs.

“I came up with things that inspired me as a kid and into adulthood, and came up with Düs, a simple play on the word Deuce. At ‘deuce,’ you have a chance to gain the advantage to win the game, but if it doesn't go your way, you have a chance to bring it back to deuce as well. Such is life.”

Tennis is an impactful teacher. For Perkins, one of the greatest lessons tennis has taught him is adaptability. “I think you have to learn how to adapt. I think we have to realize the realities of being where we are in life, the things that we are passionate about and how we can incorporate those into things where we are now. Being able to know how to pivot is essential to staying fresh on ideas, but also leaves you room to still learn new things.”

Approach to life on and off court

As Perkins continues to build community through tennis, running, and culture, one thing remains constant: the sport continues to shape how he approaches life, both on and off the court.

Perkins will serve as a panelist for the USTA Southern AANHPI Tennis Festival at Hudlow Tennis Center, Norcross, Ga, on May 30. Registration for the event is available through Eventbrite.