Former AAYTE Player and NJTL Instructor Reaches Goal at Wimbledon

This summer the tennis courts at more than 60 parks and playgrounds around Philadelphia, Camden and Norristown are abuzz with young tennis players. What the future holds for those young players is anyone's guess.

Twenty years ago one of those players was ESPN Sportscenter Anchor and host of this year's ESPN-2 show “Complete Wimbledon” Chris McKendry. McKendry began playing in Arthur Ashe Youth Tennis and Education's National Junior Tennis League program after her family moved to Somerton in Northeast Philadelphia when she was in 5th grade. She became hooked and went on to become a NJTL Instructor at Picareillo Playground. McKendry also participated in year round programming at Arthur Ashe Youth Tennis Center where she was exposed to top level competition and college coaches. She went on to play at Drexel University with another player from AAYTE, Tania Sawchak, with whom she remains best friends to this day.

McKendry reports that she has heard rave reviews of our new facility from co-worker Patrick McEnroe and as for her recent duty hosting ESPN-2's “Complete Wimbledon” McKendry says, “It had always been both a professional and personal goal for me. It lived up to every expectation!”

Next time you see a young person proudly wearing their AAYTE shirt, say hello. You never know who they might become!