Bob Zoller has no intention of stopping his generous giving to the proud people of India. In fact, the former Southern California junior tennis standout is stepping up in his efforts to help one of the poorest countries in the world. Zoller, a former UC Irvine and Cal Poly tennis player who has been working…

  While the Girls 16s/18s battle it out for top billing in San Diego, #TeamSoCal looks poised for a race to the finish line in Kalamazoo as the USTA Boys Nationals reach the quarterfinals. In this round of eight remaining competitors, three SoCal players remain in the hunt for a Boys 18s national title. The…

Junior tennis executives from the USTA were no doubt watching when tennis promoter Lornie Kuhle first acquired the Adidas Easter Bowl seven years ago, and promptly moved it to tennis mecca Indian Wells Tennis Garden. Kuhle – who has been a fixture in Southern California tennis for more the 50 years – wasn’t done there.…

  Southern California may lose some of its 18-year olds to the collegiate circuit (if not the pro ranks!) this fall, but not before they take one more shot at USTA National titles across the country this week. With Girls Nationals underway in San Diego (www.ustagirlsnationals.com) and the Boys competition in Kalamazoo (www.ustaboys.com), #TeamSoCal is…

Katie Codd manages a little giggle when asked if she’s ever played fellow 15-year-old Coco Gauff, Florida’s tennis phenom who shocked the tennis world last month by qualifying for Wimbledon and beating former champion and world No. 1 Venus Williams on Centre Court at the All-England Club. “Nope. Never played her, never been in the…

  The future of American tennis will capture the spotlight in San Diego next week as the nation’s top 16- and 18-year old players compete at the 2019 USTA Billie Jean King Girls 16s/18s National Championships, presented by adidas. Top seed Hailey Baptiste, of Washington, D.C., headlines the 18s division. Baptiste stunned former US Open…

The USC Trojans will head into the new Men’s Tennis season without a familiar face at the helm. On Friday, the school announced the resignation of legendary head coach Peter Smith, effective August 1. Smith, a five-time PAC-12 Coach of the Year, was expected to return for his 18th season at USC this fall, in…

Nicole Gibbs is spending next week in Newport Beach, but there won’t be much time for relaxing and tanning on the beach. Instead, the longtime Santa Monica resident Gibbs will be on the tennis court continuing her comeback season playing for the World TeamTennis Orange County Breakers. There’s no place the 26-year-old Gibbs would rather…

  The highest honor bestowed upon a USTA official is a coveted invitation to the US Open, and this year seventeen Southern California officials will head to New York and oversee the courts at the final Grand Slam of 2019. The opportunity represents a most prestigious honor for those dedicated to the USTA professional pathway.…

  Back from three weeks of traveling the south of France as chaperone/coach with five Southern California teen-age playing tennis players, Warren Wood is ready to swing back into action on the hard courts of the Lakewood Tennis Center once play continues this week at the 132nd Annual Southern California Open Sectionals. “I’m really looking…