Coco Gauff helps unveil refurbished Delray Beach tennis courts, the first project of the US Open Legacy Initiative

“I strongly believe that tennis can continue to become a more accessible sport, and I would like to thank the USTA for continuing to commit to do so,” Gauff said. “Investing in public parks and our youth is very important. 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.

“Tennis has grown to be a little bit more accessible, but … I think we have to continue to make it accessible because you don't know what dream one kid has, and I don't want lack of resources to diminish or be the demise of somebody’s dream, so I think it's very important that we have public courts. I grew up, I learned how to play tennis on public courts, I still sometimes practice on public courts. Now, my focus is to continue the growth and also the quality of public tennis courts.”

The Pompey Park courts were one of three projects hand-picked by Gauff—the others, in Boston and New Orleans, are in the pipeline—for the initiative, which is part of the USTA’s overall efforts to support tennis infrastructure through facility enhancements and construction. These efforts are led by the USTA’s Tennis Venue Services department, and since 2005, the USTA has awarded more than $17 million in TVS grants. This funding is estimated to have impacted more than 43,000 tennis courts and more than $610 million of infrastructure development. Sherr noted that 70% of tennis in the U.S. is played on public courts, and that one of the USTA's "foundational principles is making sure that anyone who might be interested in playing the sport can have access to tennis."

"The parks and schools are where that happens," he said. "We need to continue to reinvest into giving back to park facilities, public facilities, to make sure people have a place to play."

"Growing the game happens at the grassroots level. Coco is a perfect example of that," Danielle Gooding, USTA Florida's director of community tennis, said. "We have wonderful academies, tennis programming, and tennis facilities throughout the state, but she is an example of how you don't necessarily need to go to an academy to improve your skills. She had a wonderful support system, and I think the combination of the two created a wonderful person, and of course, a champion."

Pompey Park is the first completed project of the inaugural US Open Legacy Initiative, and, to date, it has awarded 15 projects for a total of $424,655 in grants, with an additional 17 projects already moving through the pipeline in over 20 states. Completed projects will receive a sign commemorating that the courts were refurbished in honor of Gauff’s US Open victory.

“There were a lot of things that came with winning the title, but this one is very special,” Gauff added. “It’s also very special to have an organization that’s given me so much support in my life, but also support other people’s lives; for [the USTA] to do this … means a lot to me.”

In future years, in the case of an American US Open men’s or women’s singles champion, the USTA will make a similar commitment to fostering the development of healthy communities through tennis, which could range from equipment donations to coaching grants and beyond.

For more information on the US Open Legacy Initiative, visit usta.com/facilities.