Tennis Legend Charlie Pasarell to be Recognized for
Autobiography at La Jolla Beach & Tennis Club

Southern California has long been a hub for tennis royalty, and few figures have shaped its history quite like long-time San Diego resident Charlie Pasarell.

On Wednesday, August 19, 2026, the La Jolla Beach & Tennis Club and the Southern California Tennis Association (SCTA) Foundation will co-host a special evening celebrating the launch of Pasarell’s autobiography: Serving First: Dreams Realized and Lessons Learned from Family, Friends, and a Life in Tennis.

A Six-Decade Legacy On and Off the Court

Spanning more than 60 years, Pasarell’s impact on the sport is monumental. As the United States’ No. 1- ranked player in 1967 and one of the best in the world on the professional tour for 15 years, he is widely beloved among his peers and community for his lifelong dedication to tennis.

When the sport transitioned from its amateur days to the Open Era in the late 1960s, Pasarell was a primary catalyst for change. He played a leading role in forming the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) and co-founded the National Junior Tennis League (NJTL), bringing tennis to countless youth across the nation.

To Southern California tennis fans, he is also widely celebrated for rescuing a struggling local tournament in the late ’70s and transforming it into the iconic BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells—now globally recognized as the sport’s “Fifth Major.” His unparalleled contributions also earned him an induction into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 2013.

The Visionary Behind “Tennis Paradise”

Pasarell’s deep ties to the section were recently spotlighted in USTA Southern California’s Tennis Towns series, which officially designated the Coachella Valley as a premier hub of tennis heritage. The feature honored Pasarell as an innovative pioneer who recognized the Coachella Valley early on as the ideal setting for world-class tennis, laying the foundation for what would become one of the sport’s most popular destinations.

Among his many lasting innovations at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden was the introduction of the venue’s signature “Pro Purple” courts. Pasarell famously spearheaded the color swap after analyzing the visual physics of the sport, noting that purple is exactly 180 degrees opposite yellow on the color wheel. By contrasting the court surface perfectly with the tennis ball, the design dramatically enhanced ball tracking for television viewers, fans, and the players themselves—a standard that has since defined the aesthetic of the tournament.

“We were the first with this color scheme. We did a study as to what color best made it so you could see the ball on television, and they said purple,” stated Pasarell. “We didn’t want an all-purple court because it would be too dark, so we did purple on the inside and green on the outside. The court really jumps out at you and you can see the ball very well.”

An Evening of Tennis History

Southern California tennis enthusiasts can hear these stories and more at this special occasion. The evening will feature an intimate, behind-the-scenes conversation moderated by Joel Drucker, a historian-at-large for the Hall of Fame and co-author of Serving First. And joining Pasarell on stage will be legendary tennis journalist, author of 23 books, and fellow Hall of Fame inductee Richard Evans. Together, they will share untold stories, dynamic history, and insider memories from the 1960s to the modern era.

Event Details & Registration

Don’t miss the opportunity to listen to tennis legends while supporting tennis in our section. All proceeds after costs will be donated to the SCTA Foundation.

Date: Wednesday, August 19, 2026
Time: 6:30 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Location: La Jolla Beach & Tennis Club
Address: 2000 Spindrift Drive, San Diego, CA 92037

Price: $125 per person, which includes an autographed copy of Pasarell’s book, four stations of hors d’oeuvres, and a full bar.

To reserve your spot, please visit: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/tennis-legend-charlie-pasarell-s-serving-first-book-launch-evening-registration-1993063734281?aff=oddtdtcreator

Or contact:

Linda Milan, Executive Director of the SCTA Foundation
lmilan@sctafoundation.org
310-824-5139 (call or text)