A.T.A. Junior Development Program.

The process of grooming the next generation of Zina Garrisons, Malavai Washingtons and Lori McNeals is the mission of the American Tennis Association's Junior Development Program.

While the ATA itself originated in 1916 and remains the oldest black sports organization in the country, its junior program was conceived in the 1950s by Virginia physician Walter Johnson. The program took root when Johnson used his own money to invite the best young African American players from across the country to attend intensive tennis training camps at his own home.

From those humble beginnings sprouted the talents of future Wimbledon champions and tennis legends Arthur Ashe and Althea Gibson.

Four decades later, the organization continues its efforts to provide a vital training ground and support system for young African American players hoping to follow in the footsteps of Gibson and Ashe.

"We as an organization need to be there for those that are not getting the attention they need from the United States Tennis Association," says Al Tucker, current director of the ATA's junior program, who points out that African American youth are largely underserved and overlooked by the USTA.

The ATA Junior Development Program has served as a national support system for young black tennis players. Several lofty goals have been established for the development program, including:

* Establishing regional and national training sites for the ATA's advanced juniors;

* Creating an ATA National Junior Tennis Circuit;

* The development of Tennis/Academic Programs in schools throughout the United States that will ensure tennis instruction during physical education periods;

* The development of an ATA District Player Development Program, to be set up in each district of the United States, that will offer quality coaching, sports science education and tournament selection assistance.

ATA President Richard Bradley believes that events like the BLACK ENTERPRISE/Pepsi Golf & Tennis Challenge are necessary to promote the entire organization by raising awareness and increasing exposure for its junior program.

"The Challenge gives exposure to our mission of encouraging juniors to participate in the sport of tennis. It also provides an opportunity for us to meet people and provide information about what we're trying to do here at the ATA," Bradley says.

Even more important to Bradley than grooming a future Grand Slam champion is the notion that tennis can provide an opportunity for something even more important--higher education. For the second consecutive year, the ATA Junior Development Program is one of the causes for which the B.E./Pepsi Challenge will raise funds.

"If you have a young player that fully develops their skills, then there's always the possibility of obtaining a college scholarship or perhaps participation at the professional level," Bradley says. "The important thing is tennis is a sport that can be enjoyed for a lifetime."

The cause of scholarship was again realized by the ATA's most recent class of graduating seniors, all of whom earned college scholarships at schools such as Howard University, Hampton University, North Carolina A&T University and the University of Maryland.

Tucker asserts that it is time for those who would champion the cause of African Americans in tennis to step forward.

"Junior development is the future of the ATA and we need the unqualified support of everyone that cares about that future," he says.