Nancy Jeffett -Co-rounder of the Maureen Connolly Brinker Tennis Foundation

Nancy Jeffett’s service to tennis over the past 50 years has been instrumental in advancing professional women’s tennis and in developing opportunities for junior tennis development.

In 1968, Jeffett partnered with her good friend Maureen Connolly, a then recently retired nine-time Grand Slam singles champion, to build tennis programming to engage more people with the sport, especially children and those from lower socio-economic backgrounds

The Maureen Connolly Brinker Tennis Foundation (MCBTF) was established with the goal of providing funds for tennis clinics and to aid juniors who could not afford to compete nationally.

Unfortunately, Connolly did not live to see the foundation thrive, as she passed away just a one year later. However, Jeffett remained highly committed to the cause, as she does to this day in her role as Chairman Emeritus, and as a result, one of the most prestigious junior tennis programs in the world was established. Jeffett developed an organization that inspires youth tennis, hosts a dozen major tournaments, and has contributed more than $4 million to player development—from tennis programs in public parks to professional tournaments.

In Connolly's honor, in 1969, Jeffett staged the first Maureen Connolly Brinker Memorial tournament. In the years that followed, Jeffett was determined to grow the tournament, as well as the opportunity for women's pro tennis to flourish.  

WTA Star Amelie Mauresmo, Australian Wheelchair Champion David Hall, and Tennis Industry Leader Nancy Jeffett to be inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 2015