David Witt, a 10-year pro on the ATP Tour, has been named Director of Tennis at Palencia.
Palencia’s tennis complex includes eight lighted clay courts and a covered pavilion area.
“Bringing David Witt on board to head our new tennis program is another example of our commitment to quality and outstanding amenities,” said Walt O’Shea, Hines project manager.
Witt, a Jacksonville Beach native, most recently spent four and a half years as director of tennis at the ATP Club in Ponte Vedra Beach.
“I am very excited about what we can offer here at Palencia. My immediate goal is to get women, men and kids of all ages playing on our spectacular new facility,” Witt said. “There is a lot of interest in the game. With our great new facility we hope to sign up players of all ages for leagues and start programs and clinics aimed at making tennis fun and exciting.”
Before turning pro in 1991, Witt was named the No. 1 ranked USTA 16s player in 1989. He enjoyed an outstanding junior career, winning the 1989 USTA Boys’ 16s Clay, Hard and National Championships. Witt reached the quarterfinals at the 1990 USTA Boys’ 18s and doubles winner at the Astrid Bowl in Belgium.
Known as an all court player with a big serve and powerful ground strokes he took that reputation with him on the ATP tour. He calls playing on the tour a dream come true. “Two of my most vivid memories are being at Wimbledon for the first time and the U.S. Open in Flushing Meadow, a scene all to its own in tennis history, There’s so much history and tradition.” Witt said.
Recently former Wimbledon finalist and top 20 world ranked doubles player Scott Melville and Witt were the winners of the 2004 Firehouse Subs Men’s Doubles Tennis Tournament to benefit the Muscular Dystrophy Association, helping raise more than $60,000 for MDA.
Witt began playing tennis at age seven while watching his mom and dad play the game.
“I grew up liking and playing a lot of sports, when I was 11 or 12, I decided to concentrate on tennis,” Witt said.