Beyond the Baseline: Sammie Xiao

As a Community Tennis Coordinator with USTA Southern California, Sammie Xiao has made a positive impact in her more than year and a half at the company, working daily to help expand tennis accessibility across the section. Her path to community tennis began long before she held the title, shaped through family, connection, and a growing love for sports. Even before she realized it, the foundation for her career was already being laid in the after-school programs she attended, the people she grew up with, and the values instilled throughout her upbringing.

Energetic, resilient, and caring, Sammie brings a positive spirit to everything she does. She is passionate about cultivating inclusive environments where everyone feels welcomed and valued, consistently working to break down barriers and create new opportunities. A natural connector, Sammie excels at building relationships across diverse communities, bringing people together for experiences they may not have had access to before. Her enthusiasm and dedication continues to leave a lasting impact on those around her and everyone she works with.

SoCal Upbringings

For as long as she can remember, Sammie’s life has been centered in Los Angeles. El Sereno—a neighborhood in the city’s northeast corner, bordered by South Pasadena, Alhambra, and the San Gabriel Valley—has always been home for her. Having grown up and still living there to this day, her ties to Southern California run deep. That, however, can’t be said for most of her family. In the 1990s, Sammie’s parents immigrated from Zhongshan, China to Los Angeles, along with many relatives on her father’s side. Their move didn’t just bring the family closer, but it brought them together on the same street.

“I’m the second youngest of ten cousins, which was super cool because most of my extended family lived in three homes that were all right next to each other,” Sammie exclaimed. “I’ve come to learn that we have somewhat of an unusually large family, as my paternal grandmother is the oldest of four and my father the second youngest of seven. My fondest childhood memories were spent jumping fences between backyards, riding my bike up and down the street, enjoying fruit straight off the tree, and getting into shenanigans with the comfort of knowing that I could always find my grandma if I needed something.”

As garment workers, Sammie’s parents worked long, demanding hours for much of her life, leaving for work before she went to school and returning well after she was home. As a result, most of Sammie’s childhood days were spent with her sister, under the care of her cousins and grandmother, or in various after-school programs. It was in those programs that Sammie first discovered her love for sports, especially soccer and basketball. As she explored her interests, she found herself developing new passions, always eager to try something new.

“I was always into a new hobby or idea, which I would inevitably and very passionately proclaim as my career,” Sammie said. “Ice cream truck driver, shoe designer, comic book artist, a real artist, professional athlete, musician, behavioral analyst, neurosurgeon, lawyer—the list goes on.”

Introduction to Tennis 

Despite her many interests, tennis never initially sparked Sammie’s curiosity. Between elementary and middle school, she played nearly every sport she could—soccer, basketball, kickball, handball, flag football, volleyball, and softball—but never tennis.

As she entered her freshman year at Woodrow Wilson High School in Los Angeles, Sammie decided to take another route aside from sports and instead focus on music. She spent much of the year involved in band and drumline, but eventually came to the realization that music wasn’t her true passion.

Wanting to stay engaged with school activities, Sammie took a step back to reassess her options, and ultimately turned to her family for inspiration. Several of her older cousins had played tennis during high school, and Sammie remembered the joy they found in the sport, as well as the success they achieved afterward. Motivated by their example, she decided to give tennis a try and joined the school’s team her sophomore year. From there, everything began to fall into place.

“I don’t think I necessarily sought tennis out so much as fell into it, but my cousins inspired me to play as most of them played when they were in high school. I figured if they could do it, why couldn’t I,” Sammie said. “I don’t know much aside from the fact that they and their friends played and they all had fairly successful academic careers and got adult jobs when they finished school. They’d already tread the path— all I had to do was follow in their footsteps.”

Learning the intricacies of tennis all while facing the challenges that often deter new players, Sammie remained unfazed. Although she was the newest member of the team with the least experience, she didn’t shy away from the hard work it would take to close the skill gap. Taking an unorthodox approach, Sammie turned to YouTube to teach herself how to succeed in the sport.

“I spent countless hours and all-nighters watching how-to videos on Youtube, hoping each video would contain the knowledge that would finally unlock the secret to hitting Rafael Nadal’s forehand or Justine Henin’s backhand,” Sammie shared. “At first I thought: how hard could it be to hit a fuzzy ball? As it turns out, it was fairly difficult—but that’s what kept me coming back.”

After her sophomore year showed clear progress in her tennis skills, Sammie was ready to go all in and fully committed to improving her game over the summer before her junior year. Since the Wilson boys’ and girls’ teams often gathered at the park courts to practice nearly all day during the summer, Sammie saw it as the perfect opportunity to get better, and maybe even gain an edge.

Through both online research and in-person observation, Sammie discovered that left-handed players often held a slight advantage, as most opponents were used to playing right-handers. Staying true to her unorthodox approach, she decided to teach herself to play left-handed, a risk that eventually paid off. By the start of her junior year, Sammie had earned a spot on the Varsity team thanks to her noticeable improvement.

In her final two seasons of high school tennis, Sammie helped lead her team to back-to-back playoff appearances, a feat the team had set its sights on years prior. While they didn’t make a deep run, simply reaching that stage was a testament to the dedication and hard work Sammie and her teammates had put in.

Navigating College Life 

Upon graduating from high school, Sammie enrolled at Santa Monica College (SMC), drawn by the  benefit of priority registration as a student athlete and the opportunity to compete on the school’s tennis team while working toward her associate degree. During her three years at SMC, she built a solid academic foundation and created some of her all-time favorite tennis memories, both on and off the court.

“My favorite on-court memory is the first time I hit a one-handed backhand winner in a match. I started working on this shot during my first year of community college, and it took a few months to refine and make usable in a match. It wasn’t the prettiest shot, but after countless shanks, moonballs, and complete whiffs— it was the best feeling ever,” Sammie remarks. “A close second is the time we won the California Community College Athletic Association (CCCAA) Team Championship in Ojai. The rest of the team had finished their matches, and our doubles match came down to a match tiebreaker against City College of San Francisco. The pair we were up against were older and had way more playing experience, but we pulled through by the skin of our teeth and took the match.”

As much as Sammie cherished her time on court, some of her favorite memories came from the little moments off the court such as goofing around as a team, peppering coaches with crazy questions, post-practice burritos, last-minute sushi runs, and studying with teammates.

After earning her associate degree, Sammie transferred to California State University, Northridge (CSUN), where she majored in Kinesiology with an emphasis in Exercise Science as she aimed to knock out the prerequisites for physical therapy school. While tennis took a backseat, she stayed connected to the sport by joining her school’s Tennis on Campus club.

While at CSUN, Sammie’s schedule was nothing short of intense. During her final semesters, she balanced a full course load, an internship, and three part-time jobs at once, often running on just a few hours of sleep a day. While far from ideal, this time taught her how to persevere under pressure and keep moving forward, even when the days felt impossibly long.

It was during this period that Sammie also began coaching part-time, which opened the door to a new chapter in her relationship with tennis.

“My favorite gig in college was coaching part-time with Richard Goldenson, who had coached me and still currently coaches at SMC,” Sammie stated. “Without him being willing to take a chance on me, I would have never started my coaching journey or arrived at my current position within the Community Department.”

As a coach, Sammie met some of her current colleagues and stepped into her first official role in the tennis industry, helping to teach after school beginner-level lessons to elementary and middle school students. Though she doubted if her coaching experience was enough at the time, the opportunity became a significant turning point.

“I had never taken part in any USTA tournaments, leagues, or other events until then. At the time, USTA SoCal had an active Tennis Golf Athletics (TGA) franchise in the San Fernando Valley. This is where I first met my current colleagues, Kevin Finkelberg and Marjorie Levin. I didn’t think I would get the gig, since all I had was a few months of coaching afterschool programs and a couple of weeklong camps. I’m not sure how I got it, but it’s led full circle to my current role within the Community Department. The biggest takeaway from this is that it’s good to lean into your interests, as the worst thing that could happen is that nothing changes. But, if the person on the other side thinks you fit what they’re looking for, that could change everything.”

After earning her degree, Sammie chose to continue coaching, initially with the intention of doing so part-time while pursuing graduate studies in physical therapy. That was until life came to a halt for everyone in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, which in turn gave her a chance to pause and re-evaluate her career path. Not long after, Sammie decided to put her studies on pause and accepted a full-time position with the Challengers Boys & Girls Club, where she was tasked with rebuilding the Challengers Tennis Academy from the ground up.

Confident in the program’s impact and supported by a team of like-minded coaches, Sammie worked to create a space where tennis could be a tool for growth and opportunity for youth in the community. Over time, the program gained recognition for its quality and mission, eventually catching the attention of the USTA Foundation. That recognition set the wheels in motion for the Challengers Tennis Academy to become part of the National Junior Tennis & Learning (NJTL) network in 2023, an initiative that aligned perfectly with Sammie’s vision of using tennis as a vehicle for meaningful change.

Journey With USTA SoCal

After Challengers became an NJTL, Sammie had her first interaction not too long after with Esther Hendershott, USTA SoCal’s Director of Community Tennis & Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, at a conference shortly thereafter. Making a strong impression, Sammie was invited by Esther to apply for a newly opened position as a Community Coordinator with USTA SoCal. Sammie applied and ultimately secured the role, beginning her work with the organization in January 2024.

In her role today, Sammie supports a wide range of grassroots tennis efforts across Southern California. Like many on the Community team, she wears multiple hats, but her core mission is to grow the game by fostering meaningful connections, expanding access, and creating inclusive opportunities for young players to engage with tennis, whether recreationally, socially, or competitively.

Day-to-day, her work involves building relationships with schools, educators, and local tennis providers such as Community Tennis Associations (CTAs) and NJTL programs. Whether she’s organizing teacher trainings, coordinating with afterschool partners, or helping programs access equipment and curriculum, Sammie focuses on meeting communities where they are and ensuring they have the tools and support to thrive.

“Sammie is so fun to work with and be around. She’s energetic and is always ready for whatever comes, which is perfect for the Community Department,” said Esther. “Since joining our team, Sammie has been busy connecting with new schools and afterschool providers in areas we haven’t reached, increasing our school numbers by 80%. For our community events and Coming Together Play Days, there isn’t anything Sammie can’t stuff into her Toyota Rav! She’s always ready to jump on the tennis courts at our events to meet and connect with people. Her love of playing tennis makes working at USTA SoCal a perfect fit!”

Sammie also plays an integral role in the organization’s diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts, which is embedded into every aspect of the department. Sammie serves as a liaison to USTA SoCal’s DEI committee, helping lead special initiatives and projects that aim to expand tennis and foster a sense of belonging across all communities in the section. A big part of that responsibility includes making sure the educators, providers, and youth they serve feel seen, supported, and safe in their tennis environments.

Throughout the academic year, Sammie also collaborates with colleagues to lead the Youth Leadership Council (YLC), which is a group of high school student-athletes passionate about tennis and driving positive change in their communities. The YLC is divided into three committees: Marketing, which manages social media outreach; Competition, which explores the operations and logistics behind events; and Community Engagement, which focuses on inclusive programming and service. The initiative empowers youth leaders to leave a lasting impact while deepening their connection to the sport.

The impact Sammie has made across the communities she serves is both tangible and lasting. Through her outreach and presence, she leaves a meaningful impression on the people she meets and the programs she supports.

“Sammie is such a trailblazer! She has literally covered almost every inch of our USTA SoCal map,” exclaimed fellow USTA SoCal Community Tennis Coordinator Bryan Hudson. “Sammie seamlessly connects with others and ensures that everyone feels welcomed and included.”

For Sammie, the work she does is not just a job, but a reflection of who she is and what she believes in. It brings together her love for people, her instinct for problem-solving, and her deep belief in the power of sport to inspire growth and connection. It’s this purpose-driven approach that fuels her passion and keeps her showing up each day, eager to make a difference in as many lives as possible.

“My favorite thing about my role is that it melds my two favorite things, that being socializing and problem solving, with the bonus of bringing more people to my favorite sport,” Sammie commented. “Our growth in the school space is probably my proudest accomplishment thus far. What made me fall in love with coaching was seeing how tennis can bring so much joy into kids’ lives. The way their faces light up after hitting a good shot, the sheer joy that radiates when they complete a challenge, the friendships and connection they make while chasing and hitting a tiny yellow ball. It makes the countless hours spent on the phone, drafting emails, and driving to different counties worth it.”

Personal Life & Passions

When Sammie’s not out in the community growing the game of tennis, she keeps herself busy in ways that bring her joy, connection, and a bit of fun. Much of her time outside of work is spent mentoring high school players, hanging out with her dog, Jelly, at her favorite local dog group, and being around her favorite people. She also enjoys challenging herself, whether that’s lifting at the gym, trying to shave seconds off her lap times in Gran Turismo 7, or figuring out how to make laundry day a little more bearable. As for her creative side, something that many people may not know about Sammie is her quest to discover the best possible pizza crust recipe.

“It’s always changing! The latest game changers for me have been adding diastatic malt powder and using different beers in place of water to up the fermentation flavor,” Sammie shared.

As for her goals in tennis, Sammie is committed to ensuring that no one is left out of the sport because of barriers like cost or access.

“My core belief is that financial and/or equipment access should never prevent folks from participating in the sport,” Sammie stated. “Tennis has always had a high financial bar and we’ve been lucky enough to witness the long-term impact of investment in grassroots programs for underserved communities. This has helped lead to a larger, more diverse community of talented players at all levels who have discovered a passion that they can share with others.”

All-in-all, Sammie aims to keep it simple, but impactful, spending quality time with the people she loves most, cherishing the little moments, and most importantly leaving the world a little better than it was.