Roddick family, residents celebrate ribbon-cutting at Granite Shoals tennis center
Members of the tennis community, the city of Granite Shoals staff and citizens, and the Roddick Youth Tennis Foundation enjoyed a ribbon-cutting at the new Roddick Tennis Center in Granite Shoals on Jan. 7. Staff photo by Jennifer Fierro
JENNIFER FIERRO • PICAYUNE STAFF
GRANITE SHOALS — Community members and city leaders held court Jan. 7 with the grand opening of two regulation-size courts at the Roddick Tennis Center.
The ribbon-cutting took place at the facility, 2221 N. Phillips Ranch Road.
Attendees also saw a drawing of where the next 14 courts will be located in the future and reminisced about the journey.
READ MORE ABOUT THE TENNIS CENTER HERE AND HERE
“It’s certainly a sense of accomplishment,” said Lawrence Roddick of the Roddick Youth Tennis Foundation. “It started off as discussions six or seven years ago. It wasn’t easy, but, certainly, it’s the beginning.”
Roddick is the brother of former professional tennis player Andy Roddick.
John Arthur Martinez, who served on the Roddick Tennis Center committee and is an avid player, said he’s heard people on television covering or playing in tennis tournament across the world talk about the Roddick Tennis Center.
“It’s not small,” he said. “It’s something that draws interest.”
Roddick travels to various United States Tennis Association tournaments with his son, J.C. People at those events ask him the steps of building tennis centers, including how to raise money, build partnerships and recruit people who share the same views.
“It’s nice to be able to do things you envision,” he said. “There’s a lot of trial and error. It shows what people working together can accomplish. (The center) is being talked about (around the country). Everyone should have a sense of pride.”
jfierro@thepicayune.com