Austin resident Andy Roddick, the fifth-ranked men’s tennis player in the world, has joined forces with Our Lady of the Lake University and others to start the Andy Roddick Youth Tennis Program in San Antonio.
With about 500 supporters in attendance, Roddick attended ribbon-cutting ceremonies Wednesday afternoon at the OLLU tennis courts.
?I’m really humbled by everybody that turned out today,? Roddick said. ?I didn’t expect this at all.?
Boosted by financial support from the Ren? Lacoste Foundation, the program came to life with an idea hatched at the 2006 U.S. Open.
It was launched in San Antonio last month, with pupils from nearby Rodriguez Elementary participating.
Currently, about 100 children from ages 5-10 receive lessons in tennis, as well as lessons in nutrition and life skills, on the college campus.
All fifth-grade pupils from Rodriguez participate for one semester as part of their physical education class. Others from kindergarten through fifth grade are also able to participate in after-school sessions.
Pupils at St. Anthony Catholic Elementary and members of the Boys and Girls Clubs of San Antonio, Calderon Branch, also participate.
Roddick, 25, is currently playing some of his best tennis of the year. He recently helped the U.S. Davis Cup team beat Sweden on the road in the semifinals.
Returning to the United States from a trip to Thailand last week, he practiced with some of the neighborhood kids at OLLU under a hot sun and signed autographs for about a half hour.
Afterward, he engaged in a question and answer session.
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