WHO WE ARE

Our mission is to develop, grow, and elevate the visibility and interests of the AAPI tennis community.

Our vision is to create opportunities, impact lives, build community, inspire innovation, organize and unite AAPI groups with one voice/direction.

WE CREATE IMPACT AND INSPIRE BY:

Empowering AAPI leadership

Building a national network that fosters community and engagement

Supporting AAPI tennis at all levels

Informing and educating the broader community outside AAPI

Providing guidance to help grow AAPI participation in tennis

Support AAPI Legacy

OUR STORY & PILLARS

AAPITA was founded because the AAPI tennis community didn't have a national home. Players, coaches, parents, organizers, and tennis industry professionals were doing meaningful work across the sport, but no organization existed to support and represent them at a national level. A group of AAPI leaders already working in tennis came together to change that. The founding group took their time on the foundational decisions, including a deliberately inclusive naming process and a mission they could build around: to develop, grow, and elevate the visibility and interests of the AAPI tennis community.

From the start, the team committed to three pillars that still guide AAPITA's work:

Building a leadership pipeline to address how few AAPIs hold senior roles in tennis
Celebrating AAPI achievements at every level of the game
Advancing education and advocacy across the sport

The founding group's approach has always been clear: focus on collaboration and action rather than on what's missing, build genuine relationships across the industry, and use the platform of top AAPI players, coaches, and leaders to tell a story that brings people in.

"I want AAPITA to be the voice for those that don't have one, the community in a sport that may not feel welcoming, and uplift us to be the best versions that we can be."

— Vania King, Founder

What started as advocacy quickly grew into infrastructure. From the first AAPI representation at the 2023 US Open to today's mentorship and education programs, AAPITA has spent the past few years moving from idea to organization, from one-time moments to lasting programs, and from a small founding group to a growing national community. The timeline below tells that story year by year.

THE SPARK

A group of AAPI leaders working in the tennis industry came together over a shared concern: the lack of AAPI representation at every level of the sport. Their first act of advocacy led to the first ever AAPI presence at the US Open, including a Lion Dance to open Day 1, cultural performances throughout the tournament, and the inaugural US Open Diversity Panel featuring Bowen Yang, Daniel Dae Kim, and Vijay Amritraj.

BUILDING THE FOUNDATION

AAPITA officially incorporated in January and received 501(c)(3) nonprofit status in March. Over the course of the year, the team built partnerships with all 17 USTA Sections, USTA National, USPTA (now RSPA), PTR, ITA, and AAPI advocacy organizations TAAF and Gold House. AAPITA also supported AAPI panels at five ATP and WTA events and six USTA Section community events during AAPI Heritage Month, including the largest tennis AAPI gathering ever held, drawing more than 1,000 attendees in Queens, NY.

INVESTING IN PEOPLE

AAPITA focused on long-term growth by building out its membership and retention structure, then launched its Emerging Leaders Mentorship Program. The six-week experience pairs promising AAPI junior players with former AAPI pros for personalized weekly mentorship across training, mindset, and career navigation. Each mentee receives a $1,250 travel stipend, with the program concluding at a national championship event.

EXPANDING THE MISSION

AAPITA expanded its programming with the launch of the Game, Set, Career Education Series, a virtual series introducing young professional AAPIs to careers in the tennis industry, and the Emerging Leaders Education Series for players, parents, and coaches. Two community microgrant programs opened, one for community events and one for fundraising, and AAPITA hired its first part-time Executive Director to support and scale ongoing work.

MEET OUR TEAM

ELEVATE

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COMMUNITY

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ELEVATE ✳︎ COMMUNITY ✳︎

We are a collective of leaders, change-makers, and advocates working to support greater awareness, equity, and inclusion for the Asian American and Pacific Islander tennis community, and to support everyone in it.