Tennis is big business in Georgia’s Rome for Doug Walker

Rome, Ga., is growing up. Its population was listed as 38,111 in 2023.

But that’s not the big thing about Rome. It’s best known for its massive Rome Tennis Center at Berry College and its 57 courts.

Even now in the middle of the winter, tennis is a big deal. Georgia’s Rome Open is a fascinating 32-player main draw women’s of 75 $60K USTA Pro Circuit event that is now being held at the Rome Tennis Center. 

“It’s been a lot of fun watching and getting to know a lot of the younger players as they work their way up the ladder,” said Doug Walker, Rome’s Public Information Officer.

“It’s at tournaments like this where you actually get a chance to interact with the players, though I learned really quickly that you don’t try to talk with the players before the match.

Veteran journalist in print and on the radio

“I’ve really enjoyed meeting a lot of players and getting to know some of them who have played here multiple times.”

Walker arrived in Rome in 1984, after graduating from Auburn University in 1975. He landed a job as news director at WRGA/WGTU radio through 2009, then became Rome News-Tribune Associate Editor until 2021 when he took over the public information job.

He still does a two-hour radio show every morning. “I talk about everything,” he said.

Tennis is the main focus. He obviously loves the game. One of his favorite tasks was when he interviewed young ATP star Ben Shelton, an Atlanta native.

 “I’ve been covering events at the center since it opened in the fall of 2016. My role has been to provide media outlets around the world with pictures of the athletes. I also do some video work for local social media and our local access cable change,” he said.

Walker is very proud of the role he plays in the development of tennis in the Rome area.

“I became involved right from the start of talks to build a new tennis center in Rome as an economic development drive,” he said.

“Rome had been a tennis town for years, thanks to men like George Wallis, Bernard Neal and Bill Thornton. Jaleel Riaz, another longtime fixture in Rome and one-time Pakistan Davis Cup coach was also a good friend through the YMCA.

Other top tennis talents who grew up in Rome include two Southern Tennis Hall of Famers: Gordon Smith, who was the USTA CEO, and Eddie Gonzalez, who was the Atlanta Open tournament director for many years.

Massive tennis complex draws tournaments and tourist dollars

“This facility was built specifically for tournament tennis, bringing players and families into Rome,” added Walker,” who does a little of everything in Rome.

“Local leagues and high schools as well as Berry College play out there, but big tournaments are our bread and butter,” added Walker, a two-time winner of the USTA Georgia Marc Kaplan Media Excellent Award.

“Since the center opened, we can track well over $40 million in direct economic impact, largely hotel rooms. Our Convention and Visitors Bureau does not use economic multipliers, only figures we can put a finger on.”

The Virginia native played some tennis when he was younger, but became re-attracted to the sport in 2013 when the University of Virginia men won their first national championship.

His favorite event is the ITF International Wheelchair Week, set for March 5-9 this year.

“I never ceased to be amazed at the skill and dogged determination of the wheelchair athletes,” he said. “For me, it’s not necessarily a tennis tournament, but a huge story about the triumph of the human will over physical obstacles that life has thrown at the athletes.”

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James Beck was the 2003 winner of the USTA National Media Award for print media. A 1995 MBA graduate of The Citadel, he can be reached at Jamesbecktennis@gmail.com.