Atlanta tennis stars inspire youth players during U.S. Open

Young tennis players at the South Fulton Tennis Center are training under the guidance of long-time coach Sam Kennedy. Many of the students, including local children training through the South Atlanta Community Tennis Association, look to Atlanta-born professionals for inspiration as they pursue competitive careers. Chris Eubanks, Taylor Townsend, and Cocoa Gauff have previously utilized the same courts for practice and continue to interact with local youth. The facility has served as a training ground for several players currently competing in the U.S. Open. The tournament has recently featured notable performances, including a victory by Ben Shelton over Carlos Alcaraz and a comeback win for Cocoa Gauff against Mirra Andreeva. Coach Kennedy attributes the heightened interest in the local program to the visibility of these stars on the national stage as students strive to reach the professional level.

• 2:10 AMYahoo Sports — ‘Tennis can make you grow’: Atlanta-born U.S. Open stars motivate young tennis players