State Tennis Championships and Pickleball Invitational

We had two amazing days of competition at the 2023 State Tennis Championships and Pickleball Invitational last week, with some 200 athletes turning out to show off their skills.

The event, held at the spectacular USTA National Campus in Orlando, featured singles competitions, doubles, Unified doubles and individual tennis skills. The competition kicked off Friday under brilliant blue skies and continued throughout Saturday. Friday evening, participants enjoyed opening ceremonies and the athletes’ dance.

Alachua County athlete Glenn Battle has been playing tennis for more than 12 years, despite vision problems that qualify him as legally blind. Like so many Special Olympics Florida athletes, Battle said he doesn’t allow his disabilities to “control my life.”

“When we’re all together, we feel like we’re family,” Battle said of Special Olympics Florida events. “Our teammates are always cheering us on. I feel like Special Olympics Florida is my family. We look out for one another.”

View our competition photo gallery