The Big Serve
Take Heart. Take Part. Take Action.

With the support of tennis lovers like you, the USTA is working to expand the role of tennis in communities across the country.

Welcome to The Big Serve!

This site is the USTA's online advocacy resource. The USTA's advocacy agenda is motivated by the conviction that the sport of tennis can be an important part of improving communities, schools and the quality of life for all. As members of the USTA family, we know how tennis can make a difference, but our charge as advocates is to convince decision-makers in the public, private and non-profit sectors of this in order to gain their support. Across the country, there are millions of players and thousands of tennis organizations that are passionate about tennis. You are our most underused resource, but our most valuable asset.

Hillsborough Community College Tennis Complex in Tampa Stays Open to Public

The 28-court Hillsborough Community College tennis complex will remain open to the public under new management, school officials say.

The HCC tennis facility had been slated to close on March 3, when a 20-year operating lease with the City of Tampa expires.

Instead of closing, however, the 16 hard courts and 12 soft courts at HCC will be operated by Keystone Ventures LLC under a 60- to 90-day deal now being finalized. During those two or three months, HCC will work toward signing a longer-term deal, officials said.

"This is great news for area tennis players," said Hillsborough County Tennis Association President Sharon Belmudez. "HCC is the largest public tennis facility in the Tampa Bay region, so we are very grateful to the school for finding a solution." (read more...)

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Becoming an Advocate for Tennis

Taking up the cause for tennis is not a small commitment. Having tennis courts constructed in your local public park, for instance, can involve wading through levels of bureaucracy and take years from start-up to completion. The rewards, however, are immense. If you believe in tennis and all the benefits it brings to your community, then your efforts will be richly rewarded. This site can help you take the first steps toward putting together a comprehensive campaign.

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Advocacy 101: How to Conceive Your Project

We realize that if you have never launched or work on a advoacy campaign before, getting started can be daunting. To ease your transition into advocacy, this post outlines a step-by-step process that you can use to see your project through from conception to completion, with helpful hints and tips to follow along the way. We welcome your feedback and suggestions via the comment section of this post.

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