Beverly Resident Receives Tennis Lifetime Achievement Award

From USTA:Beverly resident Michael Louis Mercier has been selected by The United States Tennis Association (USTA) of New England as the 2017 recipient of the Gardner Ward Chase Memorial Award for outstanding lifetime achievements.

Mercier will be honored on Saturday, June 9 at the International Tennis Hall of Fame in Newport, RI as part of USTA New England’s Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony. The Gardner Ward Chase Memorial Award is the most prestigious annual award given out by USTA New England. To be considered for the award, you must show or have shown a unique passion for tennis and inspired countless others to contribute to the sport. “Our award winners exemplify the very best of tennis in New England,” said Peter Parrotta, President and CEO, USTA New England. “Mike has made such an enormous impact on tennis not just in his community, but throughout New England, and he’s truly deserving of our lifetime achievement award.”

Mercier has volunteered in New England tennis for over 40 years at hundreds of events. He has worked with players of all abilities from beginners to top New England juniors and professionals. Mercier is currently the head tennis professional at Harvard University and helps to provide individual, group and private instruction for over 100,000 Harvard alumni, family and affiliates. He volunteers in a variety of Harvard community programs including: Harvard University Men/Women Club Tennis Team, Tenacity, Special Olympics, Wheelchair Tennis, Harvard Alumni events, Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, Harvard Tennis teams’ racquet stringing, among others.

Mercier is also currently serving as the USPTA New England President and has served on a number of USTA New England boards and committees. He was the immediate past chair of the Wheelchair Committee and now volunteers, along with his family, at Adaptive Sports Partners of the North Country and their wheelchair tennis programming. “Receiving this award has given me the chance to look back over my long career in tennis where my main goal has always been to give more than I get back,” Mercier said. “You’re not just teaching tennis, but life skills, dealing with all different personalities and helping people off the court as much as on it. I am deeply grateful for the recognition I have received for my contribution to tennis throughout.” Mercier will be honored along with the New England Tennis Hall of Fame Class of 2018: Teryn
Ashley Fitch, Jonathan H. Bates and Heather Crowe Conner.

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