ORLANDO, FLA., SEPTEMBER 3, 2026 – The United States Tennis Association (USTA) today announced that it has awarded a $37,500 Tennis Venue Services grant to the UCF Athletics Association.
The grant was used for the resurfacing of all eight tennis courts at the UCF Recreation & Wellness Center, helping restore the facility with safe, welcoming, and functional playing surfaces for students, student-athletes, and the broader Central Florida community.
The resurfaced courts will benefit the UCF student body by providing enhanced opportunities for recreation and engagement through the sport of tennis, while also supporting the UCF Men’s and Women’s Tennis programs with improved facilities for student-athlete training and performance. Beyond campus, the project will help UCF continue expanding tennis programming through clinics, lessons, camps, and other opportunities that engage the general community, including youth and adult players, contributing to growing participation and inspiring the next generation of players.
UCF Athletics is grateful to the USTA for this investment and partnership. The grant will have a meaningful impact not only on UCF’s tennis facilities, but also on the students, student-athletes, and community members who use and benefit from them.
“We are grateful to the USTA for its generous investment in UCF and its continued commitment to growing the sport of tennis,” UCF Vice President and Director of Athletics Terry Mohajir said. “These improvements will benefit our student-athletes and students while creating more opportunities for members of the Central Florida community to enjoy the game.”
The USTA’s Tennis Venue Services grant program is designed to enhance existing tennis venues and construct new ones in order to provide increased playing opportunities in communities across the country. The significant funding was made possible by the expansion of the grant program in 2025 in order to meet the increasing demand for tennis courts as tennis participation continues to rise nationwide.
Since 2005, the USTA’s TVS grant program has awarded more than $34 million in TVS grants, including more than $16 million in 2025, which supported nearly 300 projects impacting more than 2,500 courts.
“We are committed to supporting the enhancement and construction of tennis facilities in communities across the country,” said Theodore Loehrke, Managing Director, Section Partnerships, USTA. “Investing in the development of tennis facilities nationwide helps support the USTA’s mission of growing tennis to inspire healthier people and communities everywhere.”
In order to ensure communities have access to safe, appealing and functional tennis environments, grant recipients also receive start-to-finish project management assistance from the USTA’s Tennis Venue Services team which provides industry-leading experience in tennis court and facility design, as well as technical assistance, including construction document review and business development insight to ensure the facilities can deliver tennis at a high-level.
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About USTA Florida: Established in 1949, USTA Florida is a not-for-profit section of the United States Tennis Association and the official governing body of tennis in Florida. With over 60 staff members operating from its executive office in Orlando and more than 700 volunteers throughout the state, USTA Florida is driving the future of the sport through three Big Bold Moves: investing in best-in-class public facilities and providers, leveraging data and insights to fuel smarter growth, and empowering volunteer leaders at every level. Together, these efforts advance the organization’s mission to promote and develop tennis for all in Florida. To learn more, visit www.USTAFlorida.com.
About UCF Athletics: UCF is a proud member of the Big 12 Conference. Our mission is to positively transform the lives of our students academically, athletically, and personally through a nationally competitive intercollegiate athletics program that enhances the reputation and visibility of the University. We strive to be Florida’s preeminent athletic program, representing UCF and our community with distinction on the national stage as “Orlando’s Hometown Team”. To learn more about UCF and Athletics, please visit our websites at www.ucf.edu and www.ucfknights.com.
For more information, contact: Jaret Kappelman, Manager of Public Relations & Communications, USTA Florida: communications@ustaflorida.com.
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