"4 All Tennis Has Given Me"

Gina Rose Genovese

This is the inscription on the brick that Gina Genovese has placed on the Hall of Fame's Legend's Walk.  Gina considers herself very fortunate to have had tennis in her life.  As a matter of fact, the game ultimately shaped her life.  Once ranked as high as 150 in the world, she started playing tennis when she was 16 and played on the pro circuit in 1980 - 1981. Gina was fortunate enough to realize that tennis has so much to offer and, in her case, the game has led her to happiness.  In 1983, she opened Gina's Tennis World in Berkeley Heights, New Jersey.  She tells us that she always dreamed of owning a club so this is her dream come true and it really is "her world".

Gina has coached nationally ranked players and continues to teach at her club. She tells us that she loves finding an excuse to come to Newport to visit the Hall of Fame to explore the rich history of the sport. She has brought many of her students and friends to visit also.  "It is really special to walk through the Museum where you can see the evolution of the racquet, fashions and all aspects of the game. With each visit I always leave feeling so much more in touch with how far we have come."

Gina is constantly reminded what tennis has done for her and she is happy to give something back by supporting the Hall of Fame. She has been a Member for 8 years and this year she also decided to permanently make her mark at the Hall of Fame with a brick on The Legends Walk. In her words, "4 All Tennis Has Given Me".
 

 The Raissi Family Celebrates their love for Tennis with a Brick on The Legends Walk  

Our family has a special love for the game of tennis. Over the years, we have developed an understanding of the game and the challenges created by its physical and mental aspects. For us, the game has created a sense of self confidence and sportsmanship as well as bringing us total enjoyment. 

Our involvement with the International Tennis Hall of Fame & Museum is deeply rooted and dates back decades. It began with  volunteering and has progressed to playing on the grass courts, meeting great people, training with the pros and ultimately becoming Members. There is a very special feeling that comes with the excitement of the induction ceremonies, and attending the tennis tournaments and being part of other events. 

Our love for the game has allowed our children, Parsa & Sepehr, to be exposed to the sport and to understand the concept of giving back to an organization like the Hall of Fame. They began playing tennis when they were 5 and have been volunteering as ball kids since 2005. This has provided them with wonderful, lasting childhood memories. 

The ITHF is a center of excellence for tennis education and training.  It is an organization that we are proud to support to ensure that it remains a landmark for tennis enthusiasts, supporters, players, legends and and inspiration for the future of tennis. We are committed to its goals and growth, as it provides a fun environment for our family, as well as for many other tennis lovers right here in our beautiful state of RI. 

Our brick on The Legends Walk symbolizes how we feel about the game. It is dedicated to our family as a token of the love we share for the sport, while affording us the opportunity to support the Hall of Fame. We are honored to have a permanent remembrance in a place where so many past legends have and will walk. - Mo Raissi, ITHF Member

Doyle retired two years ago, after 28 years as the tennis pro at the Keene Country Club. A certified tennis teaching pro through the U.S. Professional Tennis Association, she coached at Monadnock from 1978-90 and with Judy Dubriske at Keene High for the last eight years. Doyle teaches at the Keene Racquet Club and coaches three women's teams. She still plays and plays well, teaming with Spicher during the Championships to win the women's doubles title with a 7-6, 6-2 victory over Kay Sherman and Bobbie Nyland of Peterborough.

SentinelSource.com, The Keene Sentinel, NH - Excerpt from Brick & Breaks, Published: Sept. 21, 2010