High School

Tennis Grants

The Universal Tennis Foundation proudly announces the successful launch of its Scholars & Scores Count! High School Grants program, aimed at supporting tennis programs in schools with socioeconomic needs nationwide. This program extends crucial financial assistance to 26 eligible high school tennis programs across 21 different states. Each school will receive a generous $1,250 grant through the High School Grants program.

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2024 application opens january 4

Hurd awards

Overview

Continuing in the tradition started by Mark Hurd and Oracle, the Universal Tennis Foundation Hurd Awards are player grants made possible by a gift from the Hurd family and will be awarded annually to assist young American players transitioning from college to elite international competition. One female and one male American player are awarded $100,000 each. Candidates must have played at least one season of college tennis and have either completed collegiate eligibility in 2023, announced the intention of leaving college to focus on playing tennis full time in 2023, or will complete collegiate eligibility in May 2024 after the conclusion of the 2024 NCAA collegiate season and tournament. Application will be available here on January 4, 2024. Application deadline: February 4, 2024.

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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.

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Learn more about the hurd awards

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2023 hurd award recipients announced

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HISTORY OF THE HURD AWARDS

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

    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 are evaluated by Paula Hurd (Chairperson of Universal Tennis Foundation & Member of Baylor's Board of Regents); Lindsay Davenport (former world No. 1 & 3-time Grand Slam singles champion); Tracy Austin (former world No. 1 & 2-time Grand Slam singles champion; Mary Joe Fernandez (former world No. 1 & 2-time Olympic doubles gold medalist); Peggy Michel (3-time Grand Slam doubles champion & Assistant Tournament Director of the BNP Paribas Open); Todd Martin (former world No. 4 & 2-time Grand Slam singles finalist); Gordon Uehling (former ATP pro & coaching advisor to Novak Djokovic), and Stephen Amritraj (former ATP pro/coach & Chief Tennis Officer at UTR Sports).

      TESTIMONIALS

      How the foundation changes lives...

      I am very pleased to continue this transition started by my late husband Mark and to partner with UTR Sports 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
      Chairman & CEO, UTR Sports