The first of four events in the Taube Tennis Series supported by Taube Philanthropies, Arthur Ashe Champions Day honored the legacy of tennis great Arthur Ashe and his commitment to diversity and inclusion. The July 30, 2022 event at the Cuesta Park courts in Mountain View brought together nearly 300 Bay Area youth from different backgrounds, age groups and skill levels for a free introduction to the wonderful world of tennis.
Top ranked WTA Tour player and grand slam finalist Madison Keys addressed the kids and parents about her experiences on and off the court, played an inspiring doubles exhibition match with Stanford tennis team members and then joined 30+ Bay Area tennis pros on the courts to help develop the next generation of tennis stars.
Event organizer and retired tennis pro Erik van Dillen noted that the difference between winners and champions is that winners collect titles and trophies, while champions like Ashe and Keys (whose initiative, Kindness Wins, combats online bullying) use their platforms to do big things. “All of you young kids,” said van Dillen, “can be champions.”
Taube Philanthropies Chairman Tad Taube shared how he’d played tennis for most of his life and how heartwarming it was to see so many come out to play a sport that teaches so much and creates so many friendships. He wisely noted, “It’s the young people who will be advancing the game.”
