The Power of Tennis

I was 11 years old when my sister and I packed a single bag and left everything we knew behind. We were moving to a new country to reunite with our father, unsure of what awaited us. My dad was the hardest-working man I knew. He worked two jobs, cooking and washing dishes, doing whatever it took to create opportunity for our family. Eventually, he applied for a groundskeeper position at a private tennis club. That decision changed the course of my life.

At first, I wasn’t there to play. I wasn’t part of the club community. I was there to help my dad. I didn’t speak the language fluently, and culturally, I felt like an outsider. But over time, I picked up a racket and joined the drills. On that court, something powerful happened. The barriers I felt off the court began to disappear. Tennis became my refuge. It gave me structure during uncertainty. It gave me a sense of belonging. It gave me confidence before I fully had the words to claim it.

That sense of belonging pushed me forward. I went on to play Division I tennis, becoming the first person in my family to attend college. The sport shaped far more than my athletic ability. It built resilience, discipline and the belief that I could compete and succeed in places where I didn’t always see people who looked like me.

After college, I chose to become a teaching professional through the Racquet Sports Professionals Association for the past 14 years and I have been proud to grow within an association that invests in excellence. Through its certifications, workshops and national conferences, RSPA has strengthened my skills and expanded my leadership capacity. I also value its commitment to growing the game in ways that reflect the communities we serve.

As a Mexican immigrant and a proud member of the LGBTQ+ community, I understand firsthand the importance of visibility and access. Tennis has not always been perceived as inclusive. For many, it can feel financially, culturally or socially out of reach. When young athletes walk into a program and do not see themselves represented, it sends a message, even if unintended.

At a time when conversations around diversity and inclusion are taking place across the nation, sports organizations have a unique opportunity to lead by example. That is why diversity in coaching matters.

When instructors took a chance on me, mentored me and welcomed me into this profession, they did more than teach me technique. They expanded what I believed was possible. Representation is not symbolic. It is transformational. It tells a child, “You belong here.” It tells a family, “This space is for you.” It strengthens our sport by widening its doors. My journey in tennis created opportunities that changed the trajectory of my life. It gave me an education. It gave me a profession. It gave me a platform to lead and to teach and connect with my clients. I often think about how different my path might have been without that access, and how many talented young people are still waiting for someone to extend that same opportunity.

Sports, and tennis in particular, have the power to develop more than athletes. They build resilient thinkers, confident leaders and community connectors. When we intentionally create inclusive environments, we do not just grow participation. We grow potential.

I am proud to be part of an association that recognizes this responsibility and works to elevate diverse voices within our profession. Growing the game means growing it for everyone. That is the mission I bring to the court every day. If one child can see themselves in me and believe they belong in this sport, then I am not just teaching tennis. I am helping build a future that is bigger, stronger and more inclusive than the one I inherited.