Venus Joins Anderson as U.S. Open Sportsmanship Award Co-Winner
September 11, 2015 | By Long Island Tennis Magazine Staff
The USTA has announced that Venus Williams has received the fifth annual U.S. Open Sportsmanship Award, presented to the professional tennis players who best demonstrate excellence in sportsmanship throughout the Emirates Airline U.S. Open Series and the U.S. Open. Venus, a two-time U.S. Open champion, joins Kevin Anderson as this year’s U.S. Open Sportsmanship Award recipients.
“What more can you say that hasn’t already been said about Venus Williams," said USTA Chairman, CEO and President Katrina Adams. “She is the personification of class and grace as a competitor and is the perfect recipient of the US Open Sportsmanship Award.”
The USTA started a Sportsmanship Committee in 2011. Its charge is to “educate and inspire youngsters and their parents to develop and exhibit a high degree of sportsmanship and an attitude of fair play and mutual respect on and off the tennis court. Underlying the charge is the ethical imperative that fairness is more important than winning.”
Eligibility requirements for winners include participating in at least two Series tournaments, as well as the 2015 U.S. Open. Each U.S. Open Sportsmanship Award winner receives a trophy and a $5,000 donation to the charity of his or her choice. Past winners include Roger Federer and Caroline Wozniacki (2014), Li Na and David Ferrer (2013), and Bob & Mike Bryan and Samantha Stosur (2012).
