Jesse Ruiz: Breaking Barriers in Texas Tennis Officiating

Jesse Ruiz grew up in Uruapan, Michoacan, Mexico. It is the second largest city in the state. He enjoyed playing and watching soccer where soccer wasn’t just a sport, but a lifeline. From a young age, he would play pickup games with his neighbors in the streets until the sun went down. His family, who cherished education and hard work, always encouraged him to pursue his passions. Through sports, Jesse discovered a way to connect not only with his heritage but also with the world around him.

As a young boy, Jesse stood out—not only for his athletic ability but for his unyielding determination. He excelled in a variety of sports, including football, track, basketball, and tennis. But it wasn’t until he was introduced to tennis by his best friend, Kirk Patel that something clicked. Tennis wasn’t just another sport for Jesse—it became a part of him. Without the luxury of social media or internet access, Jesse would spend hours each day during the summer practicing on the courts. He modeled his game after legends like Jimmy Connors and Ivan Lendl, fueled by a quiet, inner drive to master the sport.

High school competitions brought out the best in Jesse, but they also revealed a gap—there were no Certified Tennis Officials to oversee the matches in district or regional tournaments. Without trained officials, the integrity of the game could sometimes waver, and Jesse felt that deeply. It planted a seed in his mind: the value of fairness and the importance of having someone ensure the game was played right.

Fast forward to years later, after the world was beginning to emerge from the shadows of the COVID-19 pandemic, Jesse attended a sanctioned USTA tournament in Corpus Christi, Texas. As he watched a local tennis professional officiate a match, a thought sparked: “This is where I belong.” Inspired, he took the leap to become a Certified Tennis Official. Over the course of a month, Jesse immersed himself in online training, learning the intricacies of officiating from roving umpire to chair umpire, from line umpire to referee. By the end of it, he was certified.

But the road ahead was not without its bumps. With each hurdle, his determination only grew stronger. He found mentors, attended every officiating workshop he could, and studied the “Friend at Court” rulebook religiously. Officiating became more than a role—it was his way of giving back, a way to make sure that fairness and integrity were always present in the sport he loved.