Tennis
Beginning in 2018, the inaugural Annual Riviera Tennis Classic, a series of clinics and exhibition matches featuring Tennis Greats Venus Williams, Maria Sharapova, Andy Roddick, and James Blake in an exhibition that raised over $50,000 for the Los Angeles County Firefighter’s Relief Fund to aid the victims of the devastating fires that struck the Malibu area that summer. The 2019 event featured John McEnroe, Michael Chang, and other legends of tennis. The initial event was planned and executed in only 7 weeks and was a resounding success. In order to make the event a reality, sponsors had to be secured, and I successfully worked with Porsche of Beverly Hills, Evian, Southern-Glazer Wine and Spirits, and Hendricks Gin to guarantee a great event.
The WAATC (Women’s All-American Tennis Championship) was held at The Riviera Tennis Club for 32 years, showcasing the highest quality women’s amateur collegiate tennis in the United States. Over 100 players from colleges and universities across the country competed for the championship in this ITA/NCAA-sanctioned event.
The Riviera Tennis Club is one of the oldest and largest tennis clubs in the Western United States.
Formerly a polo ground and site of the 1932 Olympic polo competitions, it was re-purposed in 1963 for racquet sports and today features a total of 24 courts - 22 hard courts, 2 clay courts, and 2 ball machine courts. Riviera has one of the largest tennis teaching programs of any tennis club in the region and was a leader in bringing pickleball to Southern California. There are 30 teaching pros and 3 hitters available exclusively to members and their families to provide tennis lessons.
The Riviera Reach Out Foundation was formed to assist low-income and underprivileged youth in discovering the sport of tennis. The Williams sisters were welcomed to the Foundation, which has served thousands of kids over the years.