USTA Florida’s Rita Dotson Receives Champion of Equality Award at 2024 US Open

At the 2024 US Open, the USTA recognized and honored Champions of Equality from around the country. This award, part of the second annual event celebrating women who have championed equality in the sport, recognizes Rita Dotson’s dedication and influence across multiple levels of tennis. 

“There are so many others worthy of this recognition, and I am so humbled to have been chosen by USTA Florida for this prestigious honor,” she said. 

The Champions of Equality was first awarded in 2023, where Billie Jean King received a Lifetime Achievement Award and Venus Williams with the first US Open Billie Jean King Champion of Equality Award. Former USTA Florida President, Dana Andrews, was one of 16 women from the USTA Sections who also was honored for her contributions to grassroots tennis. 

Hailing from Pensacola, Dotson’s journey in tennis has been both inspiring and impactful. A Certified Teaching Professional (PTR) and USPTA Elite, she has dedicated her entire adult life to teaching and promoting tennis. Her passion for the sport began in high school, where her talent earned her a scholarship to play JUCO tennis. Over the years, she has transitioned from being an athlete to a mentor and leader, making significant contributions to the Florida tennis community. 

Currently, Dotson is the Director of Junior Tennis at the Roger Scott Tennis Center in Pensacola and the Founder and President of Tennis-4-Everyone, which is a nonprofit organization that provides year-round tennis instruction and academic tutoring throughout the school year for free.  

“Tennis has afforded me countless opportunities on and off the court. As a player, I have developed many lasting friendships,” she said. “As a teaching professional, and non-profit President [Tennis-4-Everyone] I have been able to utilize my teaching skills to reach various populations. As a volunteer, I have realized that no task is too big or too small. In giving, I have received much more than I could’ve ever imagined.” 

Her commitment to tennis extends beyond the court, as she is serving in her third term on the USTA Florida Board of Directors. Through her involvement with the board, Dotson remains deeply connected with USTA members locally and nationally, using her platform to give back to the community, especially with Special Olympics. 

Dotson’s work with Special Olympics and Junior Team Tennis has been particularly meaningful. She was a coach for Team Florida at the 2022 USA Games Special Olympics, an experience that profoundly influenced her perspective on tennis. “My greatest source of inspiration has come from working with Special Olympics athletes,” Dotson said. “It has opened my eyes and heart to see that tennis is truly a sport for everyone.” 

Through her non-profit, Tennis-4-Everyone, Dotson has expanded her outreach to underserved communities, including children in foster care, at-risk youth, individuals on the autism spectrum, and plans to create a wheelchair program for both youth and adults. Her dedication to inclusivity is evident in her commitment to ensuring that tennis remains accessible to all, regardless of background or ability. 

Dotson’s impact on her students is undeniable. She remembers the joy she has witnessed as students achieve milestones like hitting their first ball or completing a successful rally. “There are so many special moments I can recall, realizing there are no limitations to what they can accomplish. My most recent memory is of one of my Love to Learn, Love to Play students who, after completing the courses, wrote me a special note of thanks. She ended with a special quote that I will carry with me forever, ‘Behind every tennis player that believed in themselves is a coach who believed in them first.’” 

Dotson is an amazing volunteer, coach, and person in the Florida tennis ecosystem, and it’s no surprise to everyone that knows her, that she is now a Champion of Equality.