Hampshire County Tennis Legends
Hampshire County has been quietly nurturing two remarkable tennis icons, still celebrated today for their impressive achievements. Judy Dixon recently secured her sixth gold medal for her country, while Art Carrington was recognized during the opening day of the U.S. Open and became a member of the Eastern Division of the United States Tennis Hall of Fame.
Though both hail from New Jersey, Dixon and Carrington have made their homes in Hampshire County, residing in Amherst and Easthampton, respectively. The community of Western Massachusetts has supported them in enhancing their distinguished legacies throughout the years. From 2002 to 2017, Dixon served as the head tennis coach at UMass, while Carrington has operated the “Carrington Tennis Academy” at Hampshire College since 1980.
Dixon remarked, “For a small area, there is a lot of good tennis players in Hampshire County. I love living here. I love representing western Massachusetts for all that that means. I’m always amazed at the number of people playing tennis here and the quality of talent.”
Dixon’s latest gold medal came during the International Tennis Federation Masters 75 & over World Team Championships in Croatia, which took place from October 5-10. Serving as the captain of Team USA, Dixon participated in the tournament for the sixth consecutive year.
This year’s tournament posed various challenges, including travel logistics to the tournament’s location on the island of Brač, Croatia. Team USA had to navigate strong winds and a bumpy landing in Switzerland before arriving in Split, ultimately taking 24 hours to reach their final destination.
As team captain, Dixon was expected to contribute significantly, but she unfortunately fell ill with viral pneumonia on the tournament’s second day, experiencing symptoms throughout the event. Despite her condition, she managed to play one singles and four doubles matches, returning home with her fifth gold medal in the last six years.
Dixon shared, “It wasn’t what I was hoping to do. I’m the number one player on the team, so I wanted to play number one singles, but I couldn’t. I was extremely pleased that we won the gold medal and happy that everyone stepped up and played well.” Representing her country is a source of immense pride for Dixon, highlighting the team spirit that drives their collective success. This medal was particularly meaningful given the challenges faced during the competition.
Carrington’s Coaching Legacy
Similar to Dixon, Carrington’s journey began as a player before transitioning to a long-term coaching role in tennis. This summer, he received two notable honors just five days apart. On August 19, he was inducted into the Eastern Division of the United States Tennis Hall of Fame, recognizing his achievements dating back to his involvement with the American Tennis Association, akin to baseball’s Negro Leagues.
In recent times, Carrington’s coaching has garnered national acclaim, with many of his students progressing to play at the Division I college level and beyond. He said, “I’ve had a lot of kids, and that’s been the highlight of my life, the daily coaching. I’m a community coach; that’s my main thing. While I’ve seen world-class tennis, I prefer being in the community.”
This year also marked the 75th anniversary of Althea Gibson breaking the color barrier in tennis, leading to Carrington being honored at the U.S. Open on August 24. Invited by the CEO of the United States Tennis Association, he was celebrated from the president’s suite and box.
With a commitment to supporting aspiring tennis players nationwide, Carrington hopes to inspire others to reach goals they might have never envisioned. He stated, “I never thought I’d be where I am with tennis. It just evolved naturally, one step leading to another.”
