The United States Tennis Association (USTA) partnered with Delray Beach city officials and Coco Gauff to reveal the newly refurbished tennis courts at Pompey Park, where the reigning US Open champion grew up playing tennis.
This marks the completion of the inaugural project under the US Open Legacy Initiative, a $3 million commitment from the USTA to upgrade tennis courts nationwide, established in recognition of Gauff’s triumph at the 2023 US Open.
Having grown up in Delray Beach, Florida, Gauff has a deep personal connection to Pompey Park, where she honed her skills as a young player. Her family’s roots in the park and the local community run deep, spanning generations.
Dr. Brian Hainline, Chairman of the Board and President of the USTA, emphasized the initiative’s goal of enhancing access to tennis, stating, “All of us involved in tennis are aware of our sport’s life-enhancing benefits, and we are committed to protecting courts and partnering with others to spur new facility development which will ensure more access for more people in more communities.”
Gauff echoed this sentiment, expressing her belief in tennis’ potential to become more accessible. She thanked the USTA for its ongoing commitment to this cause, emphasizing the importance of investing in public parks and youth development. “I had a huge dream and this city, my family, my community supported that, and now I’m in the position to help maybe spark that dream in another kid,” said the world No.3.
“Coco Gauff is a true Delray Beach success story,” remarked City of Delray Beach Mayor Shelly Petrolia. “Coco has captured the hearts of tennis enthusiasts worldwide with her remarkable talent, determination, and sportsmanship, and we here at home could not be more proud.”
The US Open Legacy Initiative is part of the USTA’s broader efforts to bolster tennis infrastructure through facility enhancements and construction, overseen by the USTA’s Tennis Venue Services (TVS) department. Since 2005, the USTA has allocated over $17 million in TVS grants, benefiting more than 43,000 tennis courts and facilitating over $610 million in infrastructure development.
In addition to specific projects selected by Gauff, such as Pompey Park, the US Open Legacy Initiative will support any project that involves resurfacing courts at a public facility that meets the TVS grant criteria. Each completed project will be commemorated with a sign acknowledging that the courts were refurbished in honor of Gauff’s US Open victory.
