The venerable and classic Ojai Tennis Tournament will mark its triumphant return with the playing of the 120th event April 20-24 in Ojai’s downtown Libbey Park. Tournament organizers have announced that Ojai Wall of Fame member and renowned tennis commentator Patrick McEnroe has been named the 2022 Tournament Honoree while Ojai legend and International Tennis Hall of Famer Tracy Austin once again returns as the tournament’s special guest.
McEnroe, the 55-year-old former All-American from Stanford University who won the French Open doubles title in 1989, counts winning The Ojai back in 1987 as a Cardinal junior as one of his major tennis accomplishments. In fact, it was a trophy his famous older brother, International Tennis Hall of Famer John McEnroe, never won.
“There aren’t many of them,” Patrick McEnroe joked. “It was pretty cool.”
McEnroe will be feted at The Ojai and honored at The Ojai’s traditional tournament week fundraising event – an exclusive evening featuring food, wine and McEnroe’s reflection on The Ojai and other personal tennis memories on April 22 at 6:30 p.m. at the Ojai Valley Museum (130 W. Ojai Ave., Ojai, CA 93023). A limited number of tickets ($140 each) are available at TheOjai.net, with proceeds supporting the Ojai Valley Tennis Club, youth tennis programs and tournaments in Ojai, the enhancement of Libbey Park and local school tennis facilities, and The Ojai Tennis Tournament.
Austin, a resident of Rolling Hills, will once again be the special guest of the evening event and will interview McEnroe, who won one singles title and 16 doubles titles during a professional career which ended in 1998. McEnroe called Austin a great friend and a Southern California stalwart: “We haven’t shared the booth as much as we have done a lot of appearances together and corporate hospitality events. She is a delight to work with and a total pro. In broadcast and speaking, she is like she was as a pro – very diligent, incredibly focused and always prepared. That’s how people remember her as a player.”
Austin, a resident of Rolling Hills, is no stranger to The Ojai and was the 2018 tournament honoree. Her son, Brandon Holt, is a former Ojai CIF champion and currently on the pro tour while her youngest son, Sean Holt, is a freshman on the USC team. She first burst onto the tennis scene in winning The Ojai in 1977 (Women’s Open singles) and 1978 (Girls’ 16s singles), just one year before becoming the youngest player to win the US Open at the age of 16. The former World No. 1 beat Martina Navratilova in the semifinals and Chris Evert in the final at that 1979 US Open and was later named that year’s Associated Press Female Athlete of the Year.
Austin went on to win 30 singles titles and five doubles titles during her amazing professional career. Austin holds the distinction as being the youngest player to be inducted into the International Hall of Fame (in 1992). She can be seen at tennis’ top events and has been the face of the US Open for more than 20 years for USA Network and Tennis Channel.
In recent years, The Ojai Tennis Tournament honorees have included Austin, former Grand Slam champion Rod Laver, former World No. 1, Wimbledon champion and USC All-American Stan Smith, and legendary former Stanford coach Dick Gould.
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