Tennis Pro Manager Named At SW Williamson County Regional Park Tennis Center

LEANDER, TX — Brie Rippner has been named tennis pro and manager of the Tennis Center at the Southwest Williamson County Regional Park in Leander, officials said Thursday.

The owner of Rippner Tennis will take over as tennis pro at the facility located at 3005 C.R. 175 on Oct. 1, officials said. In more than six years playing in the professional tennis circuit from 1997 to 2003, Rippner competed against tennis greats Martina Hingis, Maria Sharapova, Venus and Serena Williams, Monica Seles, Jennifer Capriati, and Justine Henin. At one point in her career, she made it to the final 32 at the Wimbledon Championships.

The month after her first official start date, a grand opening at Rippner Tennis is scheduled on Saturday, Nov. 4, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., county officials said. The event includes refreshments, clinics, doubles mixes, and a pro exhibition. For juniors, clinics and junior play are scheduled all day. More information is available at www.RippnerTennis.com/wilco.

“We are extremely pleased that Rippner Tennis is coming to Williamson County and know that families and tennis enthusiasts alike, both current and future, will benefit from the energy and expertise that Brie Rippner and company bring to the court,” Randy Bell, senior director of the Williamson County Parks Department, said.

Rippner Tennis will offer a complete set of tennis management services and programming including adult clinics, introductory classes, performance practices, and its award-winning junior program as well as continue to promote 10-and-under tennis, recreational development and tournament training, according to an advisory. They also will provide pro shop services such as racquet stringing, ball machine rental, and more.

Among Rippner's myriad accomplishments on the court: 1995 US National Junior Champion; runner-up at the 1997 Junior Wimbledon championships; 2000 USTA Pro Circuit Player of the Year; competitor in 14 Grand Slam main draw events; the 1996 USTA national junior sportsmanship award; and a WTA singles 57th ranking worldwide.

>>> Uppermost image by Andrés Nieto Porras on Flickr via Wikimedia Commons; photo of Brie Rippner courtesy of Williamson County