Bethanie Mattek-Sands to keynote Colorado Tennis Hall of Fame Gala

Join us for the Colorado tennis community’s biggest and brightest night of the year – the Colorado Tennis Hall of Fame Gala and USTA Colorado Annual Awards Celebration! World No. 1 doubles player and seven-time grand champ, Bethanie Mattek-Sands, will speak at the 18th Annual event, and help the Colorado Tennis Hall of Fame welcome its new members to its ranks, and celebrate the 2017 recipients of USTA Colorado’s Annual Awards. High school state champions and USTA League Teams that advanced to 2017 national championships will also be recognized.

The date for the Colorado Tennis Hall of Fame Gala and USTA Colorado Annual Awards Celebration is February 2, 2018, at the Marriott Denver Tech Center, and dollars raised on event night benefit the Colorado Youth Tennis Foundation.

Colorado Tennis Hall of Fame Class of 2017

Kellen Damico
Holder of one of the most impressive junior tennis resumes in Colorado history, Kellen captured the 2006 Wimbledon Junior Championship boys’ doubles title (Nate Schnugg), and was finalist that same year at the Australian Open Junior Championships (Schnugg). In 2007, he advanced to the French Open Junior boys’ singles semifinals, and was also finalist in doubles (Jonathan Eysseric). Kellen competed in the main draw in men’s doubles at the US Open in 2006 and 2007. In 2007, he captured the boys’ doubles title (Schnugg) at the USTA Boys’ 18 National Championships in Kalamazoo, MI. In ITF world rankings, Kellen reached a ranking high of No. 1 in doubles and No. 5 in singles during his junior career. At the University of Texas, Kellen was a 2008 doubles All-American and named to the NCAA All- Tournament Team (No. 1 doubles w/ Ed Corrie). In 2010, he won the Big 12 Championship crown at No. 2 doubles (Ed Corrie).

Scott Davidoff
As one of the top ranked juniors in the country, Scott could have played college tennis nearly anywhere, but chose the University of Colorado out of the desire to help put the school on the Division I tennis map. He did just that, and during his junior season, the team won the 1993 Big 8 Championship, losing to Stanford in the second round at the NCAA National Championships. After competing on the ATP tour, Scott was hired as Head Men’s Tennis Coach by his alma mater, where he received regional coach of the year honors during his tenure. He began coaching on the ATP and WTA tour in 2002, leading players to more than ten grand slam tournament titles combined. Scott served as Olympic coach in 2008 and 2012 (India), and 2016 (China). In 2014, Scott and former tour player, Mahesh Bhupathi, started the International Premier Tennis League throughout Asia, in which top players, including Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Serena Williams have competed.

Nancy Rudd Popof
It was at Green Gables Country Club where a very young Nancy took her first swing at the tennis ball, but, on the courts at the Denver Tennis Club, where she really began to flourish as a player. During her junior tennis career, Nancy was among the top two players in the USTA Intermountain section in every age division, from 1966-1973. She held a USTA national ranking high of No. 25 in 1972 in the G16 division. Nancy went on play collegiate tennis at Stanford University from 1975-78. She captained the team during her senior season, when it took home the 1978 AIAW (pre-NCAA) Team Championship title edging out USC 5-4, breaking the Trojans’ 36-match winning streak that began in 1975. It was Stanford’s first-ever national team championship title in women’s sports.