KCH patients, tennis pros make a ‘racket’ at Lexington Open mini pro-am
LEXINGTON, Ky. (Aug. 4, 2025) — Every August, tennis players from around the world come to Lexington to compete in the high stakes Lexington Open tournament. But even with all their years of training and condition, nothing could prepare them for their opponents in this particular match — the patients of Kentucky Children’s Hospital (KCH).
Held before the daily matches of the Lexington Open and sponsored by White, Greer and Maggard Orthodontics, the mini pro-am, now in its second year, is a chance for the kids of KCH to face off against UK athletes and tennis pros. Far removed from the clinics and hospital rooms, they can be regular kids and not patients — running after errant tennis balls and taking wild swings with guidance and encouragement from some of the best tennis players around.
“What I really love about this event is watching these kids, and they can do this,” said John Backer, president of the Lexington Open. “Some of them have never held a racket before and hopefully from this experience, they’ll want to pursue the game. And the players are really enjoying themselves. I think they’re having more fun than the kids. We’re running a pro tennis tournament, but what we really love is giving back to the hospital and these kids.”
Eleven-year-old Sera Davis is engaged in a fierce doubles match; both her partner and opponents are working up a sweat trying to return Sera’s unpredictable serves. Nearby, 6-year-old Everett Polston is on a mission to try and hold every tennis ball he can find. On an adjacent court, 9-year-old Cate Cook is teaching the student players from the UK tennis team how the game is really played. But there are smiles all around as the pros blow off some steam before their matches.
“It’s a great opportunity to get to know other families who have had different paths, but there are similarities,” said Claire Polston, mother of Everett and 2-year-old Nolan, both of whom had long stays at KCH. “And Everett gets to come out here to try a sport we haven’t tried before and play against some of the great players.”
“It means so much to see community partners not only invest in our hospital but also bring fresh energy and creativity to events like this,” said Scottie B. Day, M.D., physician-in-chief for KCH. “For the second year in a row, the Lexington Open players gave our kids something they don’t always get — a chance to feel included, active and just like any other kid playing the sport they love.”
First held in 1995, the Lexington Open is a combination of the USTA Open and ITF Women’s Tours and attracts emerging talent and established players vying for ranking points and prize money. The tournament provides an excellent platform for rising stars to showcase their skills and compete against seasoned competitors. With its competitive atmosphere and enthusiastic local support, the Lexington Open is a key fixture in the tennis calendar, contributing to the growth and development of the sport.
The Lexington Open benefits many important organizations in Lexington. This is the second year Kentucky Children’s Hospital is one of the beneficiaries of the tournament.
UK HealthCare is the hospitals and clinics of the University of Kentucky. But it is so much more. It is more than 10,000 dedicated health care professionals committed to providing advanced subspecialty care for the most critically injured and ill patients from the Commonwealth and beyond. It also is the home of the state’s only National Cancer Institute (NCI)-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center, a Level IV Neonatal Intensive Care Unit that cares for the tiniest and sickest newborns and the region’s only Level 1 trauma center.
As an academic research institution, we are continuously pursuing the next generation of cures, treatments, protocols and policies. Our discoveries have the potential to change what’s medically possible within our lifetimes. Our educators and thought leaders are transforming the health care landscape as our six health professions colleges teach the next generation of doctors, nurses, pharmacists and other health care professionals, spreading the highest standards of care. UK HealthCare is the power of advanced medicine committed to creating a healthier Kentucky, now and for generations to come.