Universal tennis

Foundation

The mission of the Universal Tennis Foundation is to enrich lives through increased education and knowledge of tennis, and make the sport inclusive and accessible to everyone through programs that support youth and wheelchair tennis, bring tennis to underserved individuals and communities, and increase access to the sport by promoting its benefits and maximizing the athletic potential of talent.

2023 universal tennis hurd award recipients announced

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Hurd award

Overview

One female and one male American player will be awarded $100,000 each (up to $50,000 each year for two consecutive years). College seniors and recent college players are eligible. Selection is based on application submission and evaluation by the award's council. Applicants must be U.S. citizens and represent the U.S. in competition and must have demonstrated a commitment to playing tennis at the highest levels of competition. Award winners were announced and presented at the 2023 BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells.

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HISTORY OF THE HURD AWARDS
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HISTORY OF THE HURD AWARDS

In 2017, Mark Hurd, as co-CEO of Oracle Company launched the Oracle U.S. Tennis Awards: a pair of $100,000 grants given to two American college players who are continuing their professional development. The first recipients, UCLA Bruin Mackenzie McDonald and Virginia Cavalier Danielle Collins, each used the award funding to make substantial inroads in their first year on tour. In addition to the Oracle U.S. Tennis awards, Mark Hurd helped upgrade American players' developmental opportunities by creating an invaluable network of Challenger events in the U.S. and also was a huge proponent of the game-changing UTR Rating system.

    PAST AWARD RECIPIENTS
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    PAST AWARD RECIPIENTS

    The complete list of award winners, their alma maters, and their career-high ATP/WTA singles rankings:

    • 2017: Mackenzie McDonald (UCLA, No. 48); Danielle Collins (above) (University of Virginia, No. 7);
    • 2018: Christopher Eubanks (Georgia Tech, No. 129); Francesca di Lorenzo (Ohio State University, No. 118);
    • 2019: J.C. Aragone (University of Virginia, No. 224); Jamie Loeb (University of North Carolina, No. 132)
    • 2020: JJ Wolf (Ohio State, No. 56); Sophie Whittle (Gonzaga, No. 399).

      Universal tennis foundation

      Hurd Awards Council

      Award recipients will be evaluated by Paula Hurd: Chairperson, Universal Tennis Foundation and Member, Board of Regents, Baylor University; Lindsay Davenport: former world No. 1; three-time Grand Slam singles champion (image right); Tracy Austin: former world No. 1; two-time Grand Slam singles champion (image right; Mary Joe Fernandez: former world #4; two-time Olympic doubles gold medalist; Peggy Michel: three-time Grand Slam doubles champion, Assistant Tournament Director, BNP Paribas Open; Todd Martin: former world No. 4; two-time Grand Slam singles finalist, Head of Tennis for Beemok Sports, former collegiate tennis player at Northwestern University; Gordon Uehling: former ATP player; coaching advisor to Novak Djokovic; Stephen Amritraj: former ATP player and coach; Chief Tennis Officer at Universal Tennis.

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      TESTIMONIALS

      How the foundation changes lives...

      I am very pleased to continue this transition started by my late husband Mark and to partner with Universal Tennis for these awards.

      Paula Hurd
      Chairperson, Universal Tennis Foundation

      Mark Hurd was incredibly passionate about everything and did a tremendous job in tennis. He had a day job at Oracle, but his family and tennis were his passions. He gave so much back to college tennis.

      Mark Leschly