The path to international tennis stardom — the first steps toward conquering the distinctive red clay of the French Open, the hallowed grass at Wimbledon and the craziness of the U.S. Open — inevitably begins at small tournaments played in front of family and friends. For junior and college players in Southern California, that path started in futures events overseen by the International Tennis Federation.
The prize money isn't big, usually $15,000 or $25,000, but getting ranking points and experience without traveling to Europe are the real rewards for players preparing for the difficult transition to the men's and women's pro tours. As recently as a decade ago, the ITF annually staged about a dozen events here at those levels.
"Last year we had one," said Chris Boyer of Pasadena, a board member of U.S. Tennis Assn. Southern California.
