The USTA Southern California junior staff selects one tournament director each month who goes above and beyond to run a successful and enjoyable tournament for our junior players. They demonstrate excellent communication, great customer service, and provide a positive experience for everyone. We would like to congratulate Burbank’s Cecil Mamiit, the September 2023 recipient, on this recognition.

Cecil, a Southern California native, began playing tennis with cousins in Glassell Park. Influenced by the Filipino community, he trained in South Pasadena and Arcadia. In 1996, he joined the University of Southern California’s tennis team, winning the NCAA Singles Championships as a Freshman. Starting his professional career the same year, he reached a career-high ATP ranking of No. 72 in 1999.

While representing the Philippines on the ATP Tour, Cecil won silver at the 1999 Pan American Games and bronze at the 2006 Asian Games in singles and doubles. He secured bronze at the Ojai Tennis Tournament in 2008. Notably, he achieved his best result in 1999 at the San Jose tournament, defeating notable players before reaching the final.

In the Davis Cup, Cecil remained undefeated until 2008, representing the Philippines. From January 2011 to the clay court season, he served as the hitting partner for Maria Sharapova, contributing to her 2012 French Open win and Career Grand Slam.

Now, fast-forward to the present: Cecil has served as the Tournament Director at Tennis Mechanix Academy in Burbank for a little less than a year. His inaugural tournament, a Level 7 event in April 2023, marks the beginning of his tenure. Cecil expresses immense gratitude to his team for their instrumental role in ensuring the success of these tournaments.

Praised for creating a positive atmosphere, participants commend the professional, organized, and well-run tournaments with clear communication and attention to detail. Parents appreciate the welcoming environment, efficient organization, and helpful staff. The events have been described as fun, educational experiences, fostering camaraderie and learning for both players and parents.

Several parents praised the well-run events, emphasizing the positive experiences of their children in their early tournament participation. One parent, whose five-year-old attended the second tournament, highlighted the welcoming atmosphere created by the staff. Another parent expressed satisfaction, stating, “This was a well-organized and fun event, one of the first tournaments that my children have played in, and they had a great time and learned about how to compete.” A participant shared, “This was my first tournament, so it was fun! I also learned a lot about how to serve and play the game.”