August 2025 President’s Letter
In our mission statement, “the National Men's Tennis Association is committed to fostering tennis competition among adult players on a nationwide basis.....” A review of participation analytics across adult tournament tennis in the U.S. makes it clear that there is a strong player preference for league-based team formats over age-based individual events. The high participation numbers in USTA League team tournaments demonstrates this trend. Players are drawn to team events that offer camaraderie, social interaction, and competitive balance through the NTRP rating system. Local team play creates a more engaging and accessible environment, aligning closely with the evolving interests, travel expenses and priorities of today’s adult tennis community.
Toward the end of each year, the premier event that showcases the "Best of the Best" competitive adult players from every USTA Section is the USTA National Intersectional Championships. This prestigious tournament is unique in that it is not based on NTRP ratings—instead, each USTA Section selects its top players to represent their region in this National Level 2 event, age-based team competition. Both the men’s and women’s national organizations strongly support the event, which offers a highly anticipated experience for participants. Players take great pride in representing their home Section and value the opportunity to compete against some of the most accomplished adult players in the country. Both the men's and women's National Intersectionals annually alternate between sites and playing surfaces (clay and hard court) to accommodate the national preferences for each surface."
Team selection for the USTA National Intersectional Championships varies by Section. Some USTA Sections have designated staff who select the teams, while others appoint Team Captains who are then responsible for recruiting the best available players in each age division. The men’s competition centers around the coveted Keith Donoff Cup, awarded to the USTA Section that accumulates the most overall match wins across all age divisions. In addition, medals are awarded to the 1st and 2nd place teams in each division: 35, 45, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80, and 85.
The 2024 Donoff Cup was claimed on the hard courts in Plano, Texas by the USTA Texas Section, which will look to defend its title at the 2025 Championships, held November 5–9, 2025, on the clay courts at the Judy and Roger Pearce Tennis Center in Columbus, GA.
Currently, USTA Sections and designated Team Captains are in the process of recruiting players to represent their teams at this prestigious national event. While some Sections can field teams in every age division, others may only fill select categories. Here is a link to the Donoff Cup overview and fact sheet
In closing, it is worth noting that levels of financial support for participating players vary significantly among Sections—some offer travel or lodging assistance, while others provide little to no funding. While a deeper discussion on the disparities in Sectional support for adult age-based competitive tennis may be better suited for another time, it's clear that the Keith Donoff Cup remains a hallmark event, celebrating not only top-tier competition but also the enduring spirit of U.S. adult tennis.
Play well, be safe, stay healthy and enjoy the Fall season!
Steve Duffel, President
National Men’s Tennis Association
