In January, as relentless wildfires ravaged Southern California, entire communities found their lives turned upside down. Parks, country clubs, and tennis facilities turned to ashes—spaces that had been hubs of recreation and camaraderie were gone in an instant. For tennis players from Altadena, Malibu, and the Pacific Palisades, the fires served as a hurdle, testing their dedication to both the sport and their communities. These teams, grappling with immense losses, found a way to keep their passion alive.
The Altadena Town & Country Club (ATCC), a treasured institution in Southern California’s tennis ecosystem, did not escape nature’s wrath. The destruction of ATCC was not only a material loss but a blow to the players who called it their second home. This was especially true for the ATCC Men’s 3.5 Team, which had just reached the USTA Southern California Sectionals for the first time in its 115-year history. What should have been a celebratory moment turned into uncertainty. Would they even compete after such upheaval?
Team captain Aaron Buckwalter immediately found himself in a position of leadership beyond the court. “Within the first week, we were grappling with what was appropriate,” said Buckwalter. “I was surprised by how quickly the team galvanized toward attending. Our goal for the last two years had been to get to Sectionals, and despite everything, we agreed that this was a moment we couldn’t pass up.”
On the opposite side of town, the women of ‘Loosely Strung’ faced a similar quandary. Comprising players from Malibu and Pacific Palisades, they, too, had won their spot at Sectionals. However, January’s fires had left many members of their team displaced or unable to participate. Co-captains Andrea Thompson and Shelly Crema wrestled with whether competing under such circumstances was even possible. “It was a very hard decision,” Thompson recalled. “We knew we weren’t in it mentally. But after much discussion and an anonymous vote, most of us felt strongly that we needed to represent our communities.”
For both teams, attending Sectionals symbolized more than the culmination of years of dedication to tennis. It became a way to rally for their communities, to demonstrate strength in the face of adversity. The road to the competition wasn’t without challenges. ‘Loosely Strung’ entered the tournament with only six players—far from an ideal roster. Despite setbacks, their willingness to play reflected the determination of their hometowns to rebuild.
The wider tennis world took notice of these challenges and offered support. Rancho Santa Fe’s Taylor Fritz, currently among the top names in tennis, stood out for his generosity. Fritz pledged his entire $82,000 first-round prize money from the 2025 Australian Open to support wildfire relief efforts. His contribution was a powerful boost for those affected by the devastation.
Meanwhile, USTA Southern California has mobilized its resources to bring relief to impacted communities. With its Natural Disaster Relief Fund campaign, USTA aims to raise $500,000 to rebuild infrastructure and replace equipment. The initiative also includes live auctions offering unique memorabilia and experiences to engage tennis fans worldwide in the mission to revitalize Southern California’s tennis scene.
Efforts like these do more than repair what was lost—they reignite the love of sport in communities striving to recover. Aaron’s Men’s 3.5 Team competed with a renewed sense of unity and purpose, while Andrea and Shelly’s Loosely Strung never wavered from their decision to carry the torch for tennis players across Malibu and Pacific Palisades.
Southern California tennis may have experienced significant setbacks in 2025, but its spirit remains intact. Whether it’s through USTA fundraising initiatives or through the sheer love of the game displayed by dedicated teams, the local tennis community proves once again that passion for the sport is a driving force. Article contribution made by Brenden Fisher.
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