The Mardy Fish Children’s Foundation Tennis Championships is a men’s “Futures” tournament on the USTA Pro Circuit – or a “minor league” pro tennis tournament.
The event is one of the most successful events on the USTA Pro Circuit, starting in 1995 and being one of the longest running USTA Futures events. It is regarded as the best attended Futures event in the world – attracting approximately 3,000 fans each year.
The tournament is an important part of the Vero Beach community and economy, bringing in an estimated $500,000 into the local economy each year. Approximately 200 players, as well as coaches, officials and fans, travel to Vero Beach for the 10-day event annually.
Many of the international competitors at the event have gone on to compete at the highest levels of pro tennis – at Wimbledon, the U.S. Open, Davis Cup and the Olympics. Past players have combined to win 19 Grand Slam tournament titles in singles, doubles and mixed doubles. Nicolas Massu, the 1998 Vero Beach runner-up, won the Olympic gold medal in singles and doubles in 2004 and Kyle Edmund, the 2013 Vero Beach champion, played for Great Britain in the 2015 Davis Cup Final. Other former competitors include Andy Roddick, Tim Henman, Mardy Fish, Thomas Johansson, Milos Raonic, Magnus Norman, etc.
Profits from the event will benefit The Mardy Fish Children’s Foundation in Vero Beach. Founded in 2007, the Mardy Fish Children’s Foundation currently supports over 1700 children grades KDG-8th in Indian River County, Florida by funding after-school exercise, nutritional and enrichment programs in a safe environment to prepare them for healthy, productive and successful lives. Mardy Fish Children’s Foundation, collaborates with various community organizations, including Boys and Girls Club of Indian River County, Dasie Hope Bridgewater Center and LOTA Sports. Kids on Courts After School Tennis program is facilitated by LOTA Sports offering progressive tennis instruction from world class professionals. The Foundation introduced the “Six Healthy Habits” in 2012 Get Sleep; Drink Water; Exercise Daily, Eat Healthy; Brush and Floss; Make Friends. Mardy Fish achieved a career-high ranking of No. 7 in 2011 and won 14 career ATP singles and doubles titles in his career. After retiring from the ATP World Tour in 2015, Fish now competes on the celebrity pro golf tour and the PowerShares Series legends tennis tour while serving as a coach for the USTA Player Development Program and a TV commentator for ESPN.
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Tom Fish, Vero Beach Futures Founder Mike Rahaley and Mardy Fish
Andy Roddick played in the USTA Futures in 1999
Tim Henman was a semifinalist in Vero Beach in 1995
Crowds in Vero Beach are the best of any Futures-level tournament in the world