In their own words: Damita Curry on making tennis an inclusive, joyful space for all

As we celebrate Black History Month throughout February, we look toward leaders in tennis who are working to spread this sport far and wide, reaching deep into communities to impact youth and adults on many levels. This month, you'll meet USTA national volunteer leaders who are telling their first-person stories and who recognize the influences family, friends, teachers and coaches have had on the direction their lives and careers have taken—and how that direction is positively impacting the newest generations. Today, meet Damita Curry.

For more than four decades, tennis has been a source of joy, grounding and connection in my life. I grew up in Cleveland Heights, Ohio, where my father introduced me to the sport on public courts. Those early days of father-daughter bonding sparked a love for the game that has stayed with me ever since.

One of my most defining childhood memories came when my parents took me to the home of Robert Binns, Jr., a respected Cleveland tennis pioneer and leader of the Forest Hills Tennis Club, an all-Black club that played on the Rockefeller Park courts. I remember “auditioning” in front of him as a young girl, hoping to be accepted. Being welcomed into a space where Black players were encouraged and supported shaped how I saw myself in the sport and helped me understand that I belonged.

Today, I live in Queen Creek, Ariz., where I serve as the first-ever Executive Director of the Southwest Tennis Foundation (SWTF) and as Executive Director of E3 Africa. SWTF focuses on expanding access to tennis through programs, grants and scholarships. Through my role with E3 Africa, I work to raise funds for orphaned students in Uganda—and this summer, when I travel there in July, I plan to introduce tennis to them, sharing the same joy and confidence the sport gave me as a child.

Tennis is also a beloved tradition in our family. My husband and I, along with our three sons, play together on family vacations and during the holidays. We are an extremely competitive family, and I take great joy in showing them that I am still the queen of the Curry household. Those matches—full of teasing, bragging rights and laughter—have become some of our most cherished memories.

My passion for the sport deepened after I survived breast cancer. I now know what tennis can do. I’m living proof. Tennis became a sanctuary—a place to rebuild strength, reconnect with joy and reclaim my sense of self. I’ve experienced how the sport can strengthen mental well-being, support healthier outcomes and meet you exactly where you are. It adapts to your body, your season of life and your abilities. It helped me find my way back to myself.

Yet even today, I often find myself as the only Black woman on the court where I live. That reality fuels my commitment to creating spaces where more women of color feel welcomed and encouraged to play.

Last fall, SWTF partnered with the Phoenix Black Tennis Club to launch Courts & Culture, a program created specifically for Black and Brown women. More than half of the participants picked up a racquet for the first time, and many have already committed to continuing their tennis journey. Seeing their excitement and strength brings me so much joy.

I also serve on the USTA National Advocacy Committee, bringing my experience in philanthropy and community engagement to national efforts that expand tennis access and highlight its health benefits.

Black History Month holds deep meaning for me. It is a time to honor pioneers like Arthur Ashe and Althea Gibson, as well as local heroes like Robert Binns, Jr., who created spaces for Black players long before the sport opened its doors. Representation matters. When people see themselves reflected on the court, they feel invited into the game.

For me, tennis will always be a source of joy, resilience and connection. I am committed to sharing those feelings with communities in Arizona, the Southwest region and soon with students in Uganda.

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