Mardy Fish Children's Foundation Tennis Championships

Sea Oaks To Host 2026 Mardy Fish Children’s Foundation Tennis Championships

Randy Walker · August 19, 2025 · Leave a Comment

The Sea Oaks Beach & Tennis Club will become the new home of the 2026 Mardy Fish Children’s Foundation Tennis Championships, the $15,000 U.S. Tennis Association Pro Circuit “Futures” tennis tournament held annually in Vero Beach since 1995.

Sea Oaks, which has annually held the Mardy Fish “Wild Card” tennis tournament since 2018, will now also host the main draw version of the event May 4-10, 2026. The entry-level professional tennis tournament, which has featured such current tennis stars as Ben Shelton, Tommy Paul and Frances Tiafoe in the past in their early years in pro tennis, benefits the Mardy Fish Children’s Foundation, the non-profit foundation benefitting children in Indian River County, named for Vero Beach native son Mardy Fish, the former top 10 tennis star, U.S. Davis Cup player and captain and silver medalist at the 2004 Olympic Games.

“The Sea Oaks Beach & Tennis Club is one of the most beautiful tennis venues in Florida and will make for a spectacular setting for our Mardy Fish Children’s Foundation Tennis Championships USTA Pro Circuit event,” said Tom Fish, chairman emeritus for the Mardy Fish Children’s Foundation and the father of Mardy Fish. “Sea Oaks has an incredible reputation for tennis participation and for their support attending exhibition matches and our annual singles wild card event on their charming stadium court. We know this will be a unique atmosphere for a Futures level event with standing room only crowds attending daily, which the players will certainly enjoy.”

Sea Oaks will be the fourth different club in Vero Beach, but the first on the island, to host the very popular event. Founded by the late Vero Beach tennis pro and promoter Mike Rahaley, the event was held at Grand Harbor from 1995 to 2009 and in 2017 and 2018, The Boulevard Tennis Club from 2010 to 2016 and from 2019 to 2022 and then for the last three years at the Vero Beach Tennis & Fitness Club at Timber Ridge.

“We are forever indebted to the Vero Beach Tennis & Fitness Club and their owners, the Van Deinse family and their members, for everything they have done to help the Mardy Fish Children’s Foundation with children’s programming and for hosting our pro tennis event the last three years, “ said Lynn Southerly, Executive Director of the Mardy Fish Children’s Foundation. “We feel that it is important to spread the message of our mission and the good work we do throughout Indian River County so having another club offer to host us had to be considered. Educating more people about the impact we are having on the lives of at risk youth and encouraging more members of our community to be a part of our mission is what keeps us going and helps us help more children reach their goals and fulfill their dreams.”

Nestled along Florida’s scenic Treasure Coast, Sea Oaks Beach and Tennis Club is a private, member-owned community that offers an exclusive coastal retreat where luxury living meets an active lifestyle. Home to 614 beautifully maintained oceanfront and riverfront residences, Sea Oaks features a world-class tennis facility with 16 Har-Tru courts and a vibrant social atmosphere that captures the essence of relaxed elegance and coastal charm. In addition to its exceptional racquets program, the community offers unmatched amenities, including oceanfront dining, a fully equipped fitness center, and a charming marina on the Indian River. For those seeking an active, welcoming community by the sea, Sea Oaks Beach and Tennis Club presents a rare opportunity to live and belong in one of Florida’s most treasured coastal destinations. For more information go to https://seaoaksbeachandtennis.com/

Fans interested in sponsorship or box seat packages are encouraged to contact Southerly at Lsouth1072@gmail.com

Rahaley, the late tennis instructor and entrepreneur in Vero Beach, founded the Vero Beach USTA Pro Circuit event in 1995 and ran it through 2015 when he passed the reins for the tournament’s management to the Mardy Fish Children’s Foundation, which has used the tournament as a major fundraiser since then, the Mardy Fish Children’s Foundation has named its perpetual singles winner trophy “The Mike Rahaley Memorial Trophy” in his honor.

Founded in 2007, the Mardy Fish Children’s Foundation (www.MardyFishChildrensFoundation.org and @MardyFishFound on Twitter) currently supports over 3,000 children per year in 15 elementary schools, six middle schools, and several other community organizations in Indian River County, Florida by funding after-school and summer exercise, nutritional and enrichment programs in a safe environment to prepare them for healthy, productive and successful lives. The Foundation introduced the “Six Healthy Habits” in 2012 which are Get Sleep; Drink Water; Exercise Daily, Eat Healthy; Brush and Floss; Make Friends.

Some of the past competitors at the USTA Vero Beach Futures have gone on to succeed at the highest levels of professional tennis, winning major singles and doubles titles, Olympic medals and Davis Cup championships and earning No. 1 world rankings. Andy Roddick, the 2003 U.S. Open champion who attained the world No. 1 ranking and helped the United States win the Davis Cup in 2007, competed in Vero Beach in 1999 in his first ever professional tournament. Thomas Johansson of Sweden, who reached the second round of the Vero Beach Futures in 1995, won the Australian Open seven years later in 2002. Nicolas Massu, the 1998 singles runner-up in Vero Beach, won the singles and doubles gold medals at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, Greece, beating Fish in the gold medal singles match. Other notable former competitors in Vero Beach include former world No. 2 Magnus Norman, former world No. 4 Tim Henman, 2016 Wimbledon finalist Milos Raonic, 2021 Wimbledon semifinalist Denis Shapovalov, 2022 and 2024 U.S. Open semifinalist Frances Tiafoe, 2023 Australian Open semifinalist Tommy Paul and new rising star and 2023 U.S. Open semifinalist Ben Shelton. Former Vero Beach competitors have combined to win 19 titles in singles, doubles and mixed doubles at Grand Slam tournaments. Eleven former Vero Beach players have gone on to play Davis Cup for the United States – Roddick, Fish, Taylor Dent, Jared Palmer, Donald Young, Ryan Harrison, Frances Tiafoe, Tommy Paul, Ben Shelton, Reilly Opelka and Alex Michelsen.

Now On The Grand Slam Stage, Jerry Shang Still Fondly Remembers Vero Beach

Randy Walker · August 27, 2024 · Leave a Comment

By Randy Walker

@TennisPublisher

It’s been almost three years since Jerry Shang won the Mardy Fish Children’s Foundation Tennis Championships in Vero Beach, but even after cruising up the ATP rankings and playing all four Grand Slam tournaments he still speaks so highly of his time on the Treasure Coast.

“I still remember every match like it was a week ago,” said Shang after winning his first ever U.S. Open main draw match, upsetting No. 27 seed Alexander Bublik 6-4, 3-6, 5-7, 6-3, 6-4.

Shang, still a teenager at age 19, entered the 2024 U.S. Open with a career-high ATP ranking of No. 72. When he played in Vero Beach in 2021 (then played in October due to COVID), he was still 16 years old and ranked No. 1041 on the ATP computer and also being the world’s No. 1 junior. He defeated the No. 2 seed Damien Wenger of Switzerland, No. 8 seed Duarte Vale of Portugal and No. 6 seed Liam Draxl en route to the final in Vero Beach where he defeated No. 3 seed Ricardo Rodriguez of Venezuela. It was Shang’s fifth career professional tournament and his third ITF World Tennis Tour tournament victory after having won in Fayetteville, Arkansas and Naples, Florida earlier in the Fall.

“The club was amazing and … Tom Fish, he’s a lovely person and he’s been helping me in that week so much with the practices, setting up practices with people, and I mean, just amazing place to be at, and hopefully I can visit soon.”

Shang made his debut at a Grand Slam tournament at the Australian Open in 2023 and defeated Oscar Otte in the first round to become the first Chinese man to win a main draw match at the Australian Open. He also reached the main draw at the French Open later that year and in 2024, he completed his main draw appearances at all four majors by reaching the second round at Wimbledon and then getting into the U.S. Open as a main draw direct entry. His best Grand Slam performance came at the 2024 Australian Open where he reached the third round of the Australian Open, losing to Carlos Alcaraz.

“Here at the U.S. Open, obviously it’s much different to juniors and also Futures and Challenger levels,” Shang said after his win over Bublik. “But I think everyone is here with the same goal, just to try to be the better version of themselves. Me as well. So just going day by day. Let’s see where I get to.”

The 2025 Mardy Fish Children’s Foundation Tennis Championships will be held April 21-27 at the Vero Beach Tennis & Fitness Club.

Cooper Williams Winning Aussie Open Boys’ Doubles Title Gives 2023 Mardy Fish Competitors Three Junior Boys’ Doubles Majors

Randy Walker · January 29, 2023 · Leave a Comment

American junior tennis players who played in the 2022 Mardy Fish Children’s Foundation Tennis Championships are getting this Grand Slam junior boys doubles title thing down.

Cooper Williams, the 17-year-old from New York who reached the second round of the 2022 Mardy Fish Children’s Foundation Tennis Championships, became the third straight player from the 2022 Vero Beach event to win a Grand Slam tournament junior doubles title when he and partner Learner Tien won the junior boys’ doubles title at the Australian Open. Williams and Tien defeated top seeds Alexander Blockx of Belgium and Joao Fonseca of Brazil 6-4, 6-4 in the final.

Williams joins his fellow Vero Beach tournament competitors from April of 2022, Nishesh Basavareddy of Carmel, Indiana and Alex Michelsen of Aliso Viejo, California, as junior doubles winners at Grand Slams since playing in Vero Beach.

Michelsen, who lost in the first round of singles in Vero Beach to eventual champion Sekou Bangoura, won the Wimbledon junior doubles title with Sebastian Gorzny. Michelsen paired with Williams in doubles in Vero Beach, losing in the first round.

Basavareddy won the junior boys doubles title at the U.S. Open with Ozan Baris, before heading off to play for Stanford University. Basavareddy lost in the first round of singles in Vero Beach in 2022, but, as a wild card entry, won the doubles title with Vero Beach fan favorite Ricardo Rodriguez.

The 2023 Mardy Fish Children’s Foundation Tennis Championships will be held April 24-30 at a new location, the Vero Beach Tennis & Fitness Club at Timber Ridge.

Junior boys doubles winners at the Australian Open, Wimbledon and the U.S. Open (clockwise)

Recent Mardy Fish Tennis Competitors Play In Wimbledon Junior Finals

Randy Walker · July 10, 2022 · Leave a Comment

Michael Zheng and Alex Michelsen, who competed in the 2021 and 2022 Mardy Fish Children’s Foundation Tennis Championships at The Boulevard, both competed in junior finals at Wimbledon.

Zheng, who earned his first career ATP ranking point in the October 2021 edition of the event in Vero Beach, was defeated in the junior boys singles final to Croatia’s Mili Poljicak 7-6 (2), 7-6 (3). Michelsen, who played in Vero Beach in the 2022 event in April, paired with Sebastian Gorzny

Sebastian Gorzny to win the junior boys doubles title, defeating Paul Inchauspe and Gabriel Debru of France.7-6 (3), 6-3.

Zheng earned his first ATP ranking point in Vero Beach in October when he defeated Reece Falck of New Zealand in the first round on Court 5 at The Boulevard. Awarded a wild card entry by the U.S. Tennis Association, Zheng lost in the second round to eventual semifinalist Zeke Clark. Zheng, a resident of Montville, N.J., will be freshman at the Columbia University in the Fall. Michelsen, who was a USTA wild card entry into the 2022 MFCF Tennis Championships in April, was defeated in the first round by eventual champion Sekou Bangoura on the Stadium Court at The Boulevard. A University of Georiga commit, Michelsen also was a doubles finalist at the Australian Open junior championships and won the singles and doubles titles at the Easter Bowl in March.

Sea Oaks To Once Again Host “Wild Card” Tournament For Mardy Fish Pro Tournament

Randy Walker · January 25, 2022 · Leave a Comment

The Sea Oaks Tennis Club in Vero Beach, Florida will once again host a main draw singles wild card tournament for the The Mardy Fish Children’s Foundation Tennis Championships $15,000 ITF World Tennis Tour event, Wednesday February 23 to Friday, February 25, 2022.

World-ranked players will compete in the event where the winner will receive a direct entry into the Mardy Fish Children’s Foundation Tennis Championships, the $15,000 ITF World Tennis Tour event to be held April 25-May 1 2022 at The Boulevard tennis club. This marks the fourth time that Sea Oaks has hosted this special wild card tournament. In 2018, Matthew Segura, the 17-year-old great nephew of Hall of Fame tennis legend Pancho Segura, won the event defeating fellow American Jack Vance in the final. In 2019, Segura repeated as champion, defeating 18-year-old Perry Gregg of Chicago in the final. In 2020, Segura made it a three-peat at Sea Oaks defeating Emmett Ward in the final. The event was not held in 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Players can enter the event on the UTR platform here: https://app.universaltennis.com/events/80708?_ref=randywal270&shared=true Matches will be best-of-three set matches with a 10-point Match Tiebreaker played in lieu of a third set. The entry deadline is February 20. Admission is free. Donations to the Mardy Fish Children’s Foundation are encouraged!

The Mardy Fish Children’s Foundation Tennis Championships is the USTA’s $15,000 ITF World Tennis Tour tournament played in Vero Beach since 1995 and is regarded as one of the best entry-level professional tennis tournaments in the world. Proceeds from the event benefit the Mardy Fish Children’s Foundation, the non-profit tennis foundation benefiting children, named for Vero Beach native son Mardy Fish, the former top 10 tennis star and the current U.S. Davis Cup captain.

Tournament tickets and sponsorships for the Mardy Fish Children’s Foundation Tennis Championships are now on sale and can be purchased at www.MardyFishChildrensFoundation.org Fans can follow news and developments on the tournament on Facebook and on Twitter at @VeroFutures. Detailed sponsorship information can be obtained by emailing Lynn Southerly at Lsouth1072@gmail.com, Tom Fish at Ttfish10s@aol.com or Randy Walker at RWalker@NewChapterMedia.com

Some of the past competitors at the USTA Vero Beach Futures have gone on to succeed at the highest levels of professional tennis, winning major singles and doubles titles, Olympic medals and Davis Cup championships and earning No. 1 world rankings. Andy Roddick, the 2003 U.S. Open champion who attained the world No. 1 ranking and helped the United States win the Davis Cup in 2007, competed in Vero Beach in 1999. Thomas Johansson of Sweden, who reached the second round of the Vero Beach Futures in 1995, won the Australian Open seven years later in 2002. Nicolas Massu, the 1998 singles runner-up in Vero Beach, won the singles and doubles gold medals at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, Greece, beating Fish in the gold medal singles match. Kyle Edmund, the 2013 champion in Vero Beach, helped Great Britain to the Davis Cup title in 2015. Other notable former competitors in Vero Beach include former world No. 2 Magnus Norman, former world No. 4 Tim Henman, 2016 Wimbledon finalist Milos Raonic and most recently world No. 50 player and teen sensation Denis Shapovalov, who played in Vero Beach in 2016. Former Vero Beach competitors have combined to win 19 titles in singles, doubles and mixed doubles at Grand Slam tournaments. Seven former Vero Beach players have gone on to play Davis Cup for the United States – Roddick, Fish, Taylor Dent, Jared Palmer, Donald Young, Ryan Harrison and Frances Tiafoe.

Founded in 2007, the Mardy Fish Children’s Foundation (www.MardyFishFoundationChildrensFoundation.org and @MardyFishFound on Twitter)