Tennis Stars Amp up Bed-Stuy

Megawatt superpower tennis stars Serena Williams and John McEnroe lit up Bedford-Stuyvesant last Tuesday, September 13, when they made an appearance at M.S. 35 (The Stephen Decatur School), to celebrate the unveiling of brand-new tennis courts on the school’s grounds. 

The Nike Brooklyn Show Your Love event treated dozens of excited youth to an afterschool festival, equipped with a kid-friendly obstacle course, a mini serve speed tester, customized t-shirts and loads of popcorn and cotton candy.

The kids were having a ball. But just when it seemed it couldn’t get any better, the electricity amped up even more when 13-time Grand Slam Champion Serena Williams seemed to appear out of nowhere to join Tennis Hall-of-Famer John McEnroe on a makeshift stage in the playground. 

The former number-one world player McEnroe introduced Serena (herself a former World #1) as “one of the greatest—if not the greatest—female tennis players in our history.”

Both brilliant talents, Williams and McEnroe also have in common reputations for directing fiery outbursts toward referees during the heat of competition. McEnroe hinted at this as the two chatted with the audience. It had been less than 48 hours since Williams lashed out at the chair umpire behind an obscure penalty call.  She fizzled out, losing the U.S. Open Championship to Samantha Stosur of Australia. 

“Serena, tell everyone what it’s like to have to deal with these damned umpires,” McEnroe mischievously asked. 

“I really do believe they do a great job,” she answered.  “They do the best that they can do. My job is to play tennis. Everyone is doing their best.” 

The one-time Bad Boy of Tennis didn’t seem convinced.  “That sounds like Serena For President to me, because that is an answer I could never come up with,” he quipped.

The crowd counted down as the curtains dropped to reveal a bright-blue, full-sized tennis court.  Enthusiastic young fans were ushered onto the court for a chance to swat rackets at oversized foam balls tossed by the famous guests. 

One section of the hard court was set up to demonstrate the innovative scaled down Ten and Under, technique offering memorable fun for smaller participants who had never tried tennis before. Then, with one more beguiling smile and a few last camera clicks, the statuesque Ms. Williams waved goodbye and was whisked off the block in a flash.

The court resurfacing was funded by Nike and was made possible through a partnership with the New York City Department of Youth and Community Development.  Major event participants included the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation, New York Junior Tennis League, MS 35K, PS 141K, The Brooklyn Brownstone School, BET’s “106 & Park” Co-host Terrence J, and the SCO Family of Services.