Nicole Black’s tennis journey is proof of passion, perseverance and the power of the community. After she had picked up a racket in high school for the first time, she did not touch one until 2020, but once she did, she never looked back and is now the USTA Florida volunteer of the month before July.
“I did not make the football team in the 7th grade, but tennis courts still happened and I made the team,” she said. “I played that year and only then touched a racket until I was 47 years old.”
That year was 2020 and Nicole housed her love for tennis by playing casually. Then she jumped in Usta Leagues in 2022 and found her new passion. She started playing much more, which also led her to be the leader of one of her teams.
“One of my favorite things as a captain is to have someone who is newer in the sport as if I was not so long ago, and emphasize that tennis is a game of mistakes, everyone makes them, so let’s be competitive and certainly have fun and grow,” she said. “I also like to keep people involved in the sport that has given me so much.”
She stops that mentality, even if she is only a player and recently participated in the 40 & more than 3.0 sectional championships. Her team found their backs against the wall, but although she was not a leader of this team, Nicole was able to help everyone come together and to penetrate to win the championship and secure a place at Nationals.
Her colleagues have also noticed how she is a great leader and a nice person to be in the neighborhood. “I was lucky to see from first hand how real leadership looks,” said a player. “She is incredibly friendly, highly organized and, more importantly, more consistent communicative.”
Outside the field, Nicole is a doctor on the neonatal Intensive Care in the Winnie Palmer Hospital for Women and Babies. She is also a mother for two children, five cats and a woman of one for her husband.
She has a huge heart to give back and help others, whether it’s her daily job or volunteer work on the tennis court. Usta Florida congratulates and thanks Nicole for everything she does both on and outside the tennis courts.
Interested in volunteering for tennis? Visit ustaflorida.com/volunteers For more information about available opportunities. Do you know that someone else is doing extraordinary volunteer work? Click below to nominate and have them recognized!
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