Billie Jean King Tennis Center Offers Alternative Summertime Activities for Kids, Teens

By Samantha Katzman

Sand, surf and sun are all part of a typical Long Beach summer, but for some, this summer will be game, set and match. The Billie Jean King Tennis Center at Blair Field is staying open to provide its students with some more playing time. The extra days give kids and families a fun and productive alternative to summer activities.

The center, located at 1040 Park Ave., is named after Long Beach native and tennis legend, Billie Jean King, who won a record 20 Wimbledon titles and 39 Grand Slam titles during her time as a top-ranked player. She was also a forerunner in the fight for gender equality in sports. It is the goal of the center to share the love of tennis with all who wants to play. 

The Billie Jean King Tennis Center is run by three trainers with some impressive experience: Abigail “Aba” Villena, a  former Ohio State collegiate All-American with 11 years of United States Professional Tennis Association certified experience; Valter Paiva, 2009 USPTA Tennis Pro of the Year; and Domingo Mauricio, who has been with the US Tennis Academy since 1976.

Paiva and Villena have been with the center since 2005 and Mauricio since 2011.The trio teaches students of all ages and skill levels. Their goal is to keep the center modern; the courts are equipped with the latest equipment and keeping their finger on the pulse of the changes in the tennis world. They do this while sticking to the fundamentals of the game which, according to the instructors, are always the same.

“We are watching and learning from each other and the program has evolved with the trends in equipment and players,” Mauricio said. “We are evolving with the lessons and knowledge that we are sharing. You have to stay a student.”

Brothers Alex and Adam Nagourney have been training with Mauricio at the center for the past three years because of its proximity to where they live. As a result of his training, the brothers have become increasingly passionate about the game and looking to play at the collegiate level.

 “I wasn’t too serious when I started but as I was here for more time I began to really love the game,” said Adam, an incoming freshman at Long Beach Polytechnic High School.

His brother, Alex, an incoming senior and the sixth seed at the Moore League championships Aug. 9, is looking into playing tennis at schools like Georgetown, USC or UCLA. He said he is aiming for a scholarship but would be interested in playing even without one.

The center strives to provide an individualized training, even in a group setting by having smaller group sessions still aimed at individual development. The one-on-one attention is what makes BJK such a unique place, Paiva said.

 “Billie Jean King is definitely special because of that,” she said. “And it’s a smaller center and the kids feel closer so it’s just more of a personal feel.”