Southern

Interns connect with Special Population Unified Doubles tournament

Cana Brooks & Ashley Cooke / USTA Southern | July 30, 2026
USTA Southern interns Cana Brooks (left) and Ashley Cooke with the Chick-fil-A mascot.

Two summer interns working on the USTA Southern Diversity, Equity & Inclusion team reflected on the highlight of their summer, working at the Special Population Unified Doubles tournament, played annually in Belton, S.C.

Cana Brooks, a rising senior at Howard University, who lives in Normal, Ill.

This past weekend, I had the opportunity to attend my first Special Populations Unified Doubles (SPUD) tournament. Going into the event, I did not know what to expect, but I was excited to be there and learn more about the program. The first day began with player check-in, where I had the chance to meet many of the participants. It was inspiring to see players from different backgrounds and abilities come together because of their shared love for tennis.

 

Throughout the day, I watched three rounds of matches, observed the players and even had the opportunity to be a ball girl. During lunch, everyone enjoyed Chick-fil-A, and the surprise appearance of the Chick-fil-A Cow brought smiles and excitement to the event. That evening, we held a pizza party where the Combo Kings performed. I enjoyed getting to know the players and seeing how much fun they were having.

USTA Southern interns, Cana Brooks (left) and Ashley Cooke.

On the final day, I helped set up prizes around the tennis courts for a fun activity where players who successfully hit the ball over the net could run over and choose a prize. The tournament concluded with group photos and players running through a spirit tunnel to receive their awards. Watching everyone celebrate their accomplishments was incredibly rewarding. Overall, this weekend filled me with happiness as I witnessed the community come together to create such an inclusive and supportive environment. The experience reinforced the importance of diversity, equity and inclusion in sports and showed me how meaningful it is to create opportunities where everyone feels welcomed, valued and able to participate.

Ashley Cooke, a rising junior at Livingstone College, who lives in Jonesboro, Ga.

My first SPUD experience was a great opportunity to learn more about the many roles that help make an inclusive tennis event successful. SPUD is an annual tournament that pairs athletes with intellectual disabilities with unified partners to compete in doubles, promoting inclusion, teamwork and sportsmanship. During the event, I assisted with player registration, ensuring that participants were checked in and prepared for competition.

 

I also had the opportunity to serve as a ball girl, helping keep the timed matches running smoothly. This experience gave me greater appreciation for the teamwork and organization required behind the scenes to create a welcoming and inclusive environment for all participants.

 

One of the highlights of the event was watching unified tennis for the first time. Seeing athletes of all abilities compete together was inspiring and gave me a new perspective on how tennis creates opportunities for everyone to participate and succeed. It was amazing to witness the positive energy, encouragement and sense of community throughout the tournament. Overall, my first SPUD experience helped me develop new skills, gain a greater appreciation for the work that goes into hosting inclusive tennis events and strengthened my passion for growing the game and making it accessible to all.

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