Tennis Great Talks Serena Williams and the Young Guns in Houston
Serving it up for the Next Generation
By Shelby Hodge //
Photography Daniel Ortiz
What: The Houston Tennis Association “Game, Set, Match” gala & tennis fashion show
Where: Royal Sonesta Hotel
PC Moment: International Tennis Hall of Fame member Tracy Austin wowed the gathering with her insights on professional tennis such as the challenge that the “old guard” (think 37-year-olds Serena Williams and Roger Federer) faces with the up and coming stable of talented 19- and 20-year-olds.
Austin allowed that of her three sons, the middle one, age 20, plays tennis for USC and recently won a futures pro tournament. In fact, throughout the dinner she checked her smartphone for the score on the USC match game against UCLA. Her eldest, 22, played in high school and her youngest, 15, plays casually.
“With this in mind, a program like NJTL is of utmost importance,” she said. “Because it allows our youth opportunities to learn tennis along with after-school programs for learning. This helps raise leaders of tomorrow.”
The event included a fashion show from Tennis Express.
Proceeds from the evening are earmarked for the Houston Tennis Association National Junior Tennis & Learning Program. Channel 13 ABC news ace Miya Shay served as emcee. Her 6-year-old son, Winston, participates in the HTA NJTL program.
PC Seen: Chair Laura Lehmann, honorary chairs Lilly and Thurmon Andress, Gwen and Ed Emmett (who played tennis for Rice), Mike McSpadden, Victoria and Kendall Jaeger, Shelley Taylor Ludwick and daughter Karson, Dayna and Ted Erck, Sara and Randy Ortwein, Lois Canady, Lera Wong, Armida and Armen Allahverdian, Ashlee and Allan Keel, Amy and John Aubrey, Jim Mavity, Niclas and Lisa Kroon, and Merrill and William Niclas.
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