Ocala’s Drawdy Named USTA Florida Tennis Volunteer of the Month

A 25-year-old Christy Drawdy “had no idea how to hit a ball” when she took her first tennis lesson.

Ten years later, and three children later, the athletic Ocala resident is an accomplished 4.5 player and represents a new generation of tennis parent and volunteer.

The single parent supports her three children in tennis while captaining multiple adult USTA League teams and participating in local charity tennis events.

“This year she captained a team in my inaugural 18-39 league, recruiting new young players and helping me work out the best format for the league,” said USTA Florida Ocala-area Local Adult Play Coordinator Leigh Chak. “She has all three of her children also playing tennis and sets up a mini-net and red ball in her driveway to encourage their love for the game as she keeps it fun.”

A former top-level softball player, she quickly picked up tennis and last year had her 8.0 and 9.0 mixed teams in the running for her local league finals.

“With three little kids my extent of volunteering is helping as a court monitor while my oldest was playing a match, and captaining adult teams,” she said. “My 8.0 team came up just short to advance. I think we lost by one set.”

Chak says that Drawdy draws players to her with her humor and dedication, playing tennis through all three of her pregnancies.

“Her players stay loyal because she leads with humor and fair play and everyone feels valued,” Chak said. “I can always count on her to welcome new players and to tell me like it is when she sees something she thinks could be improved in our local leagues. I could use about a dozen more captains just like her in my area. She is the poster child for the phrase, ‘If you want to get something done right, ask a busy person.'”

She says of volunteering, “I enjoy getting friends together to compete and enjoy tennis!” USTA Florida thanks and congratulates Christy Drawdy as the December 2019 Florida Tennis Volunteer of the Month for her dedication to adult and junior tennis in the Ocala area.

ABOUT CHRISTY

Birthplace: Daytona Beach, Fla.
Family: Three children
Favorite Shot: Top spinner forehand

My earliest tennis memory was…”taking my first tennis lesson as a 25-year-old. I had no clue how to hit the ball!”

I like to volunteer in tennis because…”I enjoy getting friends together to compete and enjoy tennis!”

When I am not playing tennis I am…”spending time with my 3 children and great tribe of friends.”

My best tennis memory is…”any comeback, being down a set and 5-2 and coming all the way back to win.”