Q&A With Gustavo Loza, USTA Eastern
The sport of tennis here in the USTA Eastern Section is in an incredibly healthy position, as we have seen the general growth of tennis in terms of increased participation, and also the success of the junior and adult players across all competitions. This continues to showcase Eastern as a top tennis destination.
In order to break down what was done in Eastern in 2024 and looking ahead to 2025, New York Tennis Magazine spoke to Gustavo Loza, the Manager of Youth Programs and Competition for the Metro Region of USTA Eastern about that growth, the impact of the success of American players, and what the USTA’s plans and goals are as we head into the new year.
NYTM: The USTA recently changed its mission statement. What is the new mission, and what goals does it aim to achieve?
Loza: The USTA has recently updated its mission statement to “grow tennis and inspire healthier people and communities everywhere” – and we are fully committed to realizing that vision. We are creating and expanding access at all levels and ages so anyone that wants to play tennis has exciting opportunities to do so, with the goal of transforming those initial play opportunities into memorable experiences, hopefully sparking a lifelong connection to the sport.
NYTM: What factors have contributed to the consistent growth of tennis participation?
Loza: Tennis has experienced consistent growth in participation for the past 5 years in multiple age groups in the section. This trend is driven by the many dedicated industry professionals that facilitate opportunities to learn and play at all levels, combined with other factors like the exposure and success of the US Open and even the growth of health focused initiatives and athleisure trends that motivate people to get active. We need to capitalize on this organic momentum to attract and bring new people into the tennis community and continue creating exciting events to turn today’s players into lifelong enthusiasts.
NYTM: How does the USTA view competition with other racquet sports and what strategies are being considered?
Loza: Competition is always positive, welcomed and essential as it pushes innovation. Tennis is the king of racquet sports, but can’t rest on its laurels, particularly when other racquet sports grow. Tennis not only competes with other sports and recreational activities but it also does now with digital entertainment. There are many people that start playing tennis in the warmer months but don’t continue in the winter due to the cost. We need to explore creative ways to offer more affordable options and form strategic partnerships that make year round tennis more accessible.
NYTM: What are USTA Eastern’s key initiatives for 2025?
Loza: Two of the big areas of focus for 2025 and beyond are increasing our court inventory and enhancing coach education. The first initiative entails identifying abandoned courts to refurbish, explore installing bubbles in existing courts to turn them into year-long sites or even building new ones. This project is a collaboration with multiple internal and external stakeholders, government agencies and the private sector with the support and guidance of the USTA Foundation and USTA Venue Services. We believe there is significant potential in underutilized public courts, particularly in parks, that could help us accommodate more players and programs. On the coaching side, the USTA plans to become a more prominent force in the coaching education space. Coaches play a pivotal role in igniting that initial passion for tennis and we aim to empower them with the necessary resources to elevate the sport’s quality delivery.
NYTM: In what ways does the success of American and Eastern players inspire youth participation in tennis?
Loza: The biggest motivator for kids to play tennis will always be the success and inspiration of their idols and peers. Currently, U.S. tennis is enjoying a strong moment, with multiple players reaching Grand Slam finals. Women’s tennis and doubles teams have achieved remarkable success over the last two decades and in the post-Big 3 Era, it is a matter of time before men’s tennis catches up. In the Eastern section, we have recently had junior slam champions, multiple ITF top-ranked players, winners of prestigious events like Les Petit As, and NCAA champions and finalists. The high level of competition and success not only showcases the potential in the section but also serves as a powerful source of motivation for young players. I firmly believe that many of these talented Eastern juniors have the potential to continue their success from junior and college levels at the professional level.
NYTM: How does USTA Eastern support competitive players in their training and development?
Loza: We are committed to create relevant training and learning opportunities for our competitive players. Tennis today has evolved into a team effort, requiring players to work with various coaches, including fitness coaches, trainers, mental coaches and analytics. Managing all these aspects is overwhelming for a single coach or parent, which is why we aim to provide support to alleviate that burden. We have created a dedicated pathway of training camps designed to bring the best players together within specific age groups for specific targeted training with specialized coaches and topics. These training camp environment foster competitiveness and camaraderie, enhancing the support network among players. We believe these experiences are positive and can help players and coaches in their journey while simultaneously strengthening our community as a whole.
