Rosie Casals

1995

Sports & Recreation

Rosie Casals is a championship tennis player, but beyond that she is one of the pioneers of women’s tennis. She has worked tirelessly throughout her career and has been a major force in attracting prestige and money for the women’s game. She is a co-founder of the Women’s International Tennis Association, where women were finally able to speak with a single, strong and effective voice to advance the opportunities for female tennis players. As an advocate on behalf of women and women athletes, Casals is the founder and President of Sportswomen, Inc., an active force in promoting women-owned businesses. Her goal is to develop leadership talents in women, motivating them to break down barriers and strive for equality.

Casals has provided an opportunity for women, as well as men, to play competitively in their later years with her Tennis Classic, the “Over-30” tournament circuit. She has supported tennis opportunities for less-advantaged young girls and is active in youth organizations, conducting several tennis clinics each year for less advantaged youth. She supports the Endangered Species Project through the Rosie Casals Celebrity Tennis Invitational. Not content with simply achieving as an outstanding athlete, she has worked actively to make opportunities available for others, especially women. A resident of Marin for the past twenty-for years, she is the tennis pro at Harbor Point Racquet Club in Mill Valley.