Arthur Ashe Kids Day was held on September 26, 2021 as part of the KPSF Open at the Lisa & Douglas Goldman Tennis Center.
A free event for youth 12 & under, the kids had a blast on the court and off. The Giants mascot Lou Seal displayed his mad tennis skills, a DJ spun groovy tunes, and artists painted faces, drew caricatures, and made balloon animals. Volunteers from SF Rec & Park, Youth Tennis Advantage, and the Academy of Art tennis team made sure players at all levels enjoyed the day.
The event was the brainchild of Erik Van Dillen, whose friendship with Arthur Ashe when they were both on the pro circuit sparked his interest in creating tennis opportunities for youth, especially those from underserved communities. Dozens of students from SF Rec & Park's Tennis & Learning Center program and from the Youth Tennis Advantage program at McLaren Park came out for the event.
Thank you to the Patel family for sponsoring the event and to USTA NorCal for organizing it!