Tennis in Richmond – A Tradition of Innovation and Success
From the 1940’s to the present, Richmond tennis players have been trailblazers as well as at the top of the state and at times, the national tennis rankings. (view past champions list) Prior to the mid-1950’s most tennis in Richmond was played at Byrd Park, Battery Park, area High Schools or at the three area country clubs; Hermitage Country Club, Country Club of Virginia (CCV), Jefferson-Lakeside Country Club (now Lakeside Park Club). CCV hosted many tournaments in the 40’s, 50’s and 60’s that attracted the top players on the East Coast. CCV was also the site for city and state championships through the early years.
As the real estate development business of the 60’s and 70’s grew and the suburbs were created, so were a number of tennis facilities. Of the 40+ facilities that exist today, some 30+ were built before 1980. With the increased number of places to play came the idea of friendly competition, which led to the founding of the Richmond Racquet League (Saturday morning men) and the Richmond Ladies Suburban Tennis League (weekday morning ladies). 50 years later, these leagues still provide a fun, friendly and competitive outlet for 2,000 RVA tennis players each week.
Richmond Fidelity Tennis Tournament
In 1966 Richmond held the First Annual Fidelity Bankers Invitational Tennis Tournament, (Fidelity a Richmond based Insurance Co.) which featured the best amateur players in the U.S. led by Wimbledon champ Chuck McKinley (winner). According to Hall of Fame tennis writer, Bud Collins, The Fidelity Bankers event became the first tournament ever to have the sponsor’s name as the title of the event. This signaled the start of corporate support for tennis. By 1968, the money started to flow into tennis and the “OPEN’ era began. Richmond was chosen to host a DAVIS CUP tie in 1968 featuring Richmond native Arthur Ashe who had won the 1968 Fidelity Bankers event. Later that year, the US would win the DAVIS CUP and Arthur Ashe won the first U.S. OPEN.
Note: Arthur won the 1965 NCAA singles and doubles title while at UCLA.
The men’s pro event would continue under the outstanding leadership of Tournament director Lou Eniwick for 19 years bringing all the greats, including Laver, Ashe, Borg, Connors, Nastase , McEnroe, Rosewall and doubles teams Lutz & Smith, McMillian & Hewitt, McNair & Stewart. Every February, Richmonder’s were treated to the very best singles and doubles tennis in the world !
In 1970 the second ever Women’s Pro event, The VIRGINIA SLIMS was held at the Westwood Club featuring many future Hall of Famers, including Billie Jean King. The women’s Pro tour would bring the best players in the world to Richmond 8 times thru 1984.
In 1987 Richmond played host to the National College Indoor Men’s and Women’s Singles and Doubles Championships. (First college national championship in any sport hosted in RVA) In later years RVA hosted National Championships for men’s soccer, women’s basketball and field hockey. Several of the participants played on future U.S. Davis Cup and Fed Cup teams and 6 of them are current college coaches.
In 1994, the idea of a team event among RVA tennis clubs involving players at the various skill levels, men, women and mixed came to life under the direction of Tom Volzenlick. The Club Challenge featuring the !2 largest clubs with 66+ players per club and hundreds of spectators gathering the last weekend in September for the past 26 years to determine which club would have bragging rights to “Best Tennis Club” for the year.
The event became so popular that a second event, The Autumn Cup was started in 2010 featuring 6 recreation Associations featuring teams of 52+ players battling for the honor of “Best Rec. Tennis Club”. The number of teams has increased to 8 for the Fall of 2021.
In 2010, the USTA ran a promotion to determine “The Best Tennis Town in America” … In short, each city put together their tennis resume, number of players, courts, various programs for the community, events held to promote tennis, etc. When the winners were announced, RICHMOND was #3, trailing only #1 Atlanta, #2 Charleston, SC.
Richmonders on top of the NATIONAL tennis scene:
1965 – Arthur Ashe NCAA singles and doubles champion (Ian Crookenden) UCLA
1980 – Rodney Harmon NCAA doubles champion (Mel Purcell) Tennessee
1982 – U.of Richmond women’s team won the AIAW National Team Championship, they were led by Richmonders Martha Beddingfield and Sharon Dunsing.
1992 – David Caldwell is ranked #1 in the nation USTA Boys 18 & under
1992 & 1993 – Wade McGuire is the NCAA singles runner-up – Georgia
2000 & 2001 – USTA Men’s 4.5 Team from RVA wins back-to-back National titles,no other team has ever done that. Team was Captained by Bill Barnes.
2007 – Washington & Lee wins the NCAA DIII Women’s Team Championship led by Richmonder Ginny Wortham.
2012 – City & State champion, Richmond native Mark Vines wins the World 55+ Singles Championship
2016 – Spencer Whitaker is ranked #1 in the nation USTA Boys 14 & under
2016 – Julie Ogborne wins her 15th. USTA Age Group Championship (Gold Ball)
To Be Continued ! !