Above: The exterior sign to the George E. Barnes Family Junior Tennis Center. The Center is dedicated to the youth of San Diego.

Dick Gould, Sam Querrey to Headline Local Tennis Gala:

Youth Tennis San Diego (YTSD) will hold its Annual MatchPoint Ball on Friday evening, November 13, 2009 at the Barnes Tennis Center in Point Loma. Dick Gould, past coach of the Men’s tennis team at Stanford University, will be the featured speaker and Master of Ceremonies. Top-ranked American pro Sam Querrey also will participate in the evening’s events.

The Gala will celebrate the 20th anniversary of YTSD’s After School Tennis Program, which is located at over 100 school and park and recreation sites throughout San Diego County, and serves over 10,000 children annually during critical after school hours. Ninety-three percent of the students enrolled in the After School Tennis Program are on school ”free lunch” programs and participate on scholarship.

YTSD is especially pleased to host Dick Gould and Sam Querrey as special guests. Dick coached Men’s tennis for 38 years and during that time his Stanford teams won 17 NCAA championships. He is now the Director of Tennis at the John L. Hinds Tennis Center at Stanford. Dick also has been involved in tennis and education programs with youngsters in the East Palo Alto area, who face many of the same challenges as the children in YTSD’s After School Tennis Program.

Twenty-two year old Sam Querrey is from Southern California, and played several tournaments at the Barnes Tennis Center as he ascended in the junior ranks. He has a career high ranking of #26 on the ATP World Singles Tour, which makes him the fourth highest ranked American behind Andy Roddick, James Blake and Mardy Fish, and the youngest ranked player in the top 50.

The evening will include on-court activities showcasing players from all YTSD programs, followed by a silent auction, dinner and live auction. The celebration will help raise funds for students enrolled in YTSD’s county-wide system of programs, as well as a college scholarship fund, tournament play from beginner to national level, and the upkeep of the organization’s 12.5 acre, 25 court tennis facility.

Location: Barnes Tennis Center, 4490 W. Point Loma Blvd. San Diego, CA 92107. Get Directions