USTA Florida is saddened by the recent passing of Robert C. “Bob” Davis, a coach, mentor, friend, and tennis legend.
Bob was known by many within the tennis community, especially in Florida. While he was an exceptional tennis player, winning a few ATA National Championships, many in Florida felt his impact after his playing career.
He worked closely with Nick Bollettieri, the founder of IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida, as well as Arthur Ashe. He helped Ashe and Bollettieri create and served as the CEO of what is now known as the Arthur Ashe Safe Passage Foundation, which helps young Black people from low-income communities develop life skills on and off the tennis courts.
Following Ashe’s death, the foundation fizzled out, but Bob was quick to create Black Dynamics, which provided scholarships to youth players at IMG Academy. He also founded The Panda Foundation, which provided free tennis to tons of children.
Bob did a great job representing not just the Black community, but all youth that aspired to make tennis a part of their life. In 2014, Bob was inducted into the Black Tennis Hall of Fame.
Sadly, on January 15, 2025, Bob Davis passed away. Many people had the honor to work beside him, learn from him, and be friends with him.
Bob Davis Impacted so Many Lives
Play Tennis Gainesville Tennis Pro, Ken Collins, said his life was heavily impacted by Davis when he showed up to hit the ball with a friend. “After the first tryout, Bob came up to me and asked if I would like to work at the club. That was the day that my life changed forever,” Collins said. “That is the type of person Bob Davis was, helping others is what his life was all about. Thanks to Bob’s tutelage I reached a level to allow me to play tennis for Grambling State University. Years later I was playing Professional tennis, yet I was finding it hard to stay out.” As he struggled with the financials of professional tennis, a phone call from Bob helped keep his dreams alive. “Bob said ‘I know you are trying to follow your dreams, and I may have something that might help.’ He went on to say there is a need for a Junior National Coach and Davis Cup coach in the Country of Côte d’Ivoire in Africa.” This gave ken the chance to still chase his dreams and help a few kids at the same time. Ken is forever grateful for Bob as he helped him in ways that shaped his life. “Bob Davis will always be a friend, a big brother, and a hero to me.”
Katrina M. Adams, former Tennis Professional, Global Speaker, and Author, Katrina M. Adams was close with Bob and praised his passion for Black tennis. “I have always admired Bob Davis. He was a huge supporter of Black tennis and the sport in general,” she said. “Bob was a true trailblazer and hero for black tennis players. He was a champion in his own right both on and off the court, as he always championed opportunistic pathways for Black players. Bob continued to share his wisdom through various platforms to the end, and he often reached out. I was fortunate to know and learn from him, as he was a true historian of our sport. He will be missed.”
Director of Tennis at Play Tennis Gainesville, George Henry, met Bob years ago and saw their relationship grow in the recent years after he started working with USTA Florida. “HE was really excited with what we were doing with AMPLIFY, diversity, and other efforts,” Henry said. “He was a legend who I looked up to. He had paid a lot of dues for Black tennis, and he represented Black tennis in a positive and classy way. I know all of us looked up to him and idolized him.”
Glenn Gilliam, Executive Director Strategic Partnerships of the “ALTHEA” National Screening Tour & Educational Outreach, has played a major role in sharing the history of Black tennis, Althea Gibson, and the ATA. Back in 2016, Glenn and his team screened the “ALTHEA” documentary to the ATA for the first time. This documentary teaches about the origins of the ATA, Black tennis history, and much more. Glenn said that one person, Bob Davis, was a key figure in shaping black tennis to what it is today, and he was truly an inspiring person to be around.
“Bob Davis has been a light and source of inspiration in doing the thankless work of preserving the African American legacy of contribution to a sport that has spent a great deal of time denying or dismissing it,” Gilliam said. “A person of class and integrity that always had time to support our film screening events or the Harlem Street Co-Naming for Althea Gibson or an interview regarding new inductees in the Black Tennis Hall of Fame, he was there and thank goodness, Rex Miller’s film has preserved his testimony for future generations to learn from. I’m forever grateful for his service and friendship, may he rest in peace and condolences to the family.”
Former Tennis Professional, President and CEO of Win4Life, Leslie Allen talked about Bob’s impact on her career and others. “He was an important figure in tennis, as a kid he bravely integrated southern junior tennis tournaments and went on to become a legendary tennis coach. He willingly shared his wisdom and love of tennis,” she said. “As I looked into the crowd, he was always a supportive and comforting face. I would marvel as he recalled his family’s role in Althea Gibson’s debut at Forest Hills 75 years ago. He and his brother were hitting partners to warm up Althea and his family captured her historic debut on film. Tennis will miss this legend.”
USTA Florida sends their condolences to Bob’s family and friends, his legacy will live on forever in the tennis community.