JOURNAL STAFF

When the United States Tennis Association named the 33 facilities to receive the USTA’s 2022 Outstanding Facility Award earlier this week, the only recipients from Louisiana just happened to be from the same city – Shreveport.

And no other city in the country boasted two award winners.

Querbes Tennis Center received an award for Large Public Tennis Centers (11 or more courts) while Pierremont Oaks Tennis Center was named a winner in the Private Facilities category.

“These awards are the result of lots of people who love the Shreveport tennis community and support each other,” said Querbes Tennis Director Chris Dudley. “Special thanks to the Northwest Louisiana Community Tennis Association and the Querbes Park Foundation for their continued support.”

According to the USTA, facilities are judged on the following criteria: overall layout and adaptation to site; excellence of court surface and lights; ease of maintenance; accommodations for players, spectators, and press/officials; aesthetics; graphics; amenities such as casual seating for spectators, food services and social areas; and the facilities’ participation in USTA programs.

The awards were presented during a ceremony in conjunction with the Western and Southern Open in Cincinnati. Dudley and wife Amy traveled to Cincinnati to accept the award, along with Pierremont Oaks representatives Judit Castillo (tennis pro) and Grady Wilson (general manager and director of tennis).

“We are beyond honored to receive USTA’s 2022 Outstanding Tennis Facility Award,” said Wilson.

All the 2022 award winners will receive a wall plaque and an all-weather sign. One of the 33 recipients will earn the prestigious “Featured Facility of the Year” designation and be honored at next year’s USTA Annual Meeting & Conference.