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Jimmy Parker, world-renowned tennis legend, USPTA Master Professional, and pro emeritus at Santa Fe Tennis and Swim Club in Santa Fe, recently tied retired professional tennis player Bob Sherman’s all-time record of 125 USTA National Championships. The victory came when Parker and his son, Christopher, won the finals of the Super Senior Father/Son National Championship in Cherry Hill, NJ, against number one seeds Michael and Andrew Stewart, 6-4, 3-6, 7-5. 

 

Recovering from major knee surgery, Jimmy was not ready to play in the USTA National Indoor Singles Championships. Instead, his impressive come-from-behind win transpired at the Super Senior Father/Son National Championships. When fully healed, Jimmy hopes to take the court at the 2016 USTA Men's 70 Grass Court Championships in August, and the USTA Men’s 70 National Clay Court Championships in October, where he will have the opportunity to secure a 126th win, which would give him exclusive possession of the all-time record. 

The United States Tennis Association (USTA) is the “national governing body for the sport of tennis and the recognized leader in promoting and developing the sport’s growth on every level in the United States, from local communities to the crown jewel of the professional game, the US Open.” Each year, the USTA sanctions four National Championship tournaments for each age group. Jimmy’s 125 National Championship titles were achieved primarily after the age of 35. He did, however, win the 1960 and 1962 Father/Son National Championships with his father, when he was 17 and 19 years old, respectively. 

Jimmy, now 73, has had a brilliant 60-year tennis career. In his youth, he played against some of tennis' greats - legends like Rod Laver, Chuck McKinley, Stan Smith, Roy Emerson, Arthur Ashe, Jimmy Connors, Ilie Nastase and, in the opening match at the U.S. Open in 1968, Ken Rosewall. His accomplishments as a tennis professional also include: 25 ITF World Championships; U.S. Junior Davis Cup Team Member; All American at Rice University; coach of the year; 17 times player of the year; featured instructor on The Tennis Channel;  #1 U.S. national ranking in every age group from 35 to 70; and represented the U.S. on a record 26 ITF World Cup Teams. Goodwill emissary for the U.S. State Department, U.S. Air Force Pilot and newspaper columnist, his accomplishments off the court are equally as impressive. 

Parker, in addition to playing the National Championship circuit, currently teaches at the Santa Fe Tennis and Swim Club in Santa Fe, NM. Committed to the future of high-level tennis, he will also play a role at the Santa Fe Tennis Academy, which provides serious tennis training to promising young tennis players in the Southwest in preparation for state-wide, national, and international competition. 

The Santa Fe Tennis and Swim Club is a quaint, yet chic private tennis facility, nestled near the scenic Sangre de Cristo Mountains in historic Santa Fe, NM. Located at 1755 Camino Corrales, the recently remodeled club features: both indoor and outdoor courts, including the only Har-Tru clay court in New Mexico; a charming outdoor pool; signature dishes from the Matchpoint Cafe; lessons, summer camps, year-round leagues, clinics, and tournaments administered by a professional staff; the Santa Fe Tennis Academy which will provide serious tennis training to promising young tennis players in the Southwest in preparation for state-wide, national, and international competition; plus a unique sense of community. Circa 1967, this Santa Fe vestige has been a destination for top-flight tennis talent, including Rod Laver, Roy Emerson, and Jimmy Parker. For more  information about the Santa Fe Tennis and Swim Club, please call 505-988-4100 or visit santafetennis.net. 

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