For a group of U.S. military veterans, tennis is more than just a sport – it’s a way of staying healthy, meeting new people and integrating back into society.
And on Military Appreciation Day at the US Open on Monday, members of the Armed Forces experienced a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to play tennis like the pros.
Marc Spittler, Jon Atkins and Henry Pruitt all participate in “Served,” a program held at the USTA National Campus in Orlando, Fla. The weekly clinics began in May and have attracted more than 70 members of the Orlando VA as well as local veterans from the Orlando area who have benefitted from the experiences of using tennis as a method of rehabilitation. They were joined on the court by U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command, Commander of the U.S. Fourth Fleet, Rear Admiral Sean Buck.
“It’s nice to be able to be recognized for the service that we’ve done,” said Spittler, who served in the U.S. Air Force between 1986 and 1997 and has been a regular at Served. The 48-year-old got involved in tennis when his 12-year-old son Connor started taking lessons at the USTA National Campus.
“This is something I never thought I’d be doing,” he said. “It’s a special time. It builds camaraderie. Military people, they have a special bond, it doesn’t matter what branch you’re in. We all put on the uniform, we all serve our country proudly, and we all want to experience it with people who are like-minded. I keep looking around thinking, ‘I shouldn’t be here.’ There’s absolutely no way I could ever duplicate this.”
For Atkins, a member of the 1st Batallion 7th Marines infantry unit, tennis has helped him rediscover himself.
“It’s been a journey. Ever since I got out of the military, it’s been hard to maintain work,” Atkins said. “I’ve job-hopped every couple years, and I end up leaving a job because of my anxiety disorder. [Tennis has] really just given me an opportunity to live again. To have somewhere to go with that facility and that quality of training, it’s humbling.”
Atkins said it was an unbelievable opportunity to play inside Arthur Ashe Stadium, especially since he has watched the US Open for many years. He described playing tennis as a life-changing experience, one that started when he made the decision to get his first racquet.
“It has completely changed my life and given me an opportunity to get out there and exercise,” he said. “When I’m out there, I don’t have any stress. All my anxieties go away. It’s just a good time. I traded in my mountain bike for two used racquets, and now I play every day. I was kind of lost before I got into tennis. I was reluctant when I started the program, but after Day 1, I haven’t stopped coming. I’m hooked.”
Pruitt has been participating in the Served program since its inception earlier this summer. The 72-year-old jet mechanic served in the U.S. Navy, primarily in Japan, for 20 years between 1962 and 1982. He found out about the clinics when he was in the Orlando VA Medical Center.
“I was in the VA hospital, and I saw a note hanging on the door saying they had tennis lessons for seven weeks for the vets,” he said. “I have granddaughters that play tennis, so I thought this was a good way to learn how to play tennis so I could go out and play with them.
“It’s a good bonding experience, and it gives you purpose. You’re used to being in the military, used to being in groups and working together, and this is a chance to get together with people from all branches of the service. It’s really special to be honored like this. I can’t even put it into words. It’s something I never would have dreamed of doing.”
Throughout the day, prior to the matches in Arthur Ashe Stadium, members of the military will take part in ceremonial coin tosses. In addition to the military members who took part in the morning’s clinic, other servicemen included in the ceremonies are U.S. Secretary of Veteran Affairs Dr. David J. Sulin; 2016 Medal of Honor recipient Senior Chief Ed Byers; Navy Petty Officer First Class Steve Richards; and Staff Sergeant Allan Ray Hipol, an Air Force recruiter from Harlem with the 313th Recruiting Squadron.
As part of the sixth annual Military Appreciation Day at the US Open, three members of the USTA and US Open family will also be recognized on court. They are USTA national wheelchair coach and U.S. Army veteran Paul Walker; three-time US Open Wounded Warrior ballperson, U.S. Army Sergeant Ryan McIntosh; and 93-year-old World War II Purple Heart veteran Luke Gasparre, who has served as a greeter for more than 45 years.