XS TENNIS’S CEO KAMAU MURRAY HOST CHICAGO TENNIS FESTIVAL

Kamau Murray is the CEO and founder of XS Tennis and Education Foundation. XS Tennis, located at 5336 S. State St., is the site of the Chicago Tennis Festival. Photos provided by Vanessa Abron
Kamau Murray is the CEO and founder of XS Tennis and Education Foundation. XS Tennis, located at 5336 S. State St., is the site of the Chicago Tennis Festival. Photos provided by Vanessa Abron

 XS Tennis’s CEO Kamau Murray host Chicago Tennis Festival

BY TIA CAROL JONES

The Chicago Tennis Festival is in full swing with events that range from a college tennis recruiting combine to the Women’s Tennis Association tournaments.

Kamau Murray, CEO and founder of XS Tennis and the Education Foundation, served as the host. XS Tennis, located at 5336 S. State St., is the site of the Chicago Tennis Festival. Tennis Legend Zina Garrison serves as the tournament’s director. The Chicago Tennis Festival is the first professional tournament to be promoted and directed by African Americans.

Murray understands the significance of the festival having a Black host and a Black director. When given the contribution of
Black people to tennis and the rich historical relationship Black people have with the sport, noting tennis players like Venus and Serena Williams and Arthur Ashe.

 “I think bringing an event like this to XSTEF shows the kids, who are served by our non-profit organization exactly how much they’re capable of,” he said. “They’ll also be given a direct line to see and interact with tennis greats firsthand when the festival kicks into gear.”

Murray also mentioned that the festival will help bridge the gap for players from communities of color who are often left out of tennis due to cost and lack of neighborhood facilities.

On Saturday, Aug. 14, 23 players participated in the college tennis recruiting combine, with coaches from Historically Black Colleges and Universities and small colleges. Several of those players were offered scholarships. Murray enjoyed seeing the players and coaches interact throughout the day and said it seemed as though they made meaningful relationships. After
seeing the scholarships offers from the combine, Murray believes it was one of the most important dates of the festival.

The pro-level tournaments during the Chicago Tennis Festival impact participating players’ career, making the festival not just an exposition event. Murray was able to get players to participate because they saw the value of his vision of the festival. WTA Chicago 125 took place Monday-Sunday, Aug. 16-22; WTA Chicago Women’s Open took place from Sunday-Saturday, Aug. 22-28; and Chicago Fall Tennis Classic will take place on Monday- Sunday, Sept. 27-Oct.3.

“I think deep down most people are more drawn to doing things that make a tangible difference, rather than flocking to
big name event after big name event. I think my offer for them to do the Chicago Tennis Festival really spoke to them,” he said.

Murray said Garrison shares a lot of his values, as well as the mission of XS Tennis. Garrison’s goals and ambitions aligned
closely with Murray’s, which is why he thinks they have been such a great team throughout the festival. Garrison is the founder of the Zina Garrison Foundation for the Homeless and Zina Garrison All- Court Tennis Program, which supports inner city tennis in Houston.

Murray hopes that by hosting the Chicago Tennis Festival, more African American women will get involved in tennis and
encourage the Black girls in their lives to get involved in the sport.

“Tennis is a sport that has the most opportunity for Black girls to get scholarships and to become successful athletes. I
think there’s still a lot of work to be done in terms of representation in all fields and walks of life, even in tennis, where some of the biggest names are greats like Venus and
Serena and Naomi Osaka,” he said.

For more information about Chicago Tennis Festival, visit www.chicagotennisfestival. com. For more information on XS
Tennis and Education Foundation, visit xstennis.org.

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