There are probably not many tennis players in the Lexington/Columbia, S.C., area who haven’t had the pleasure of working with Jorge Andrew.
Connecting with people comes naturally to the native of Caracas, Venezuela. Andrew is the longtime Director of Tennis for the Lexington County Recreation & Aging Commission. He manages two large facilities: the Cayce Tennis and Fitness Center (30 courts) and Lexington County Tennis Complex (21 courts). Both facilities host major national, sectional and state junior, adult and ITF tournaments.
Andrew, 69, played on the ATP Tour for more than 10 years and was ranked No. 61 in singles and No. 69 in doubles. His career spanned three decades, from 1968 to 1982. He had singles wins over Rod Laver, Guillermo Vilas, Dick Stockton and Raul Ramirez. The Davis Cup was one of his passions and he played for Venezuela for 18 years, serving as captain for two years.
He was one of the original eight PTR International Master Professionals in 1999 and reached the USPTA Master Professional in 2003. He is the second person in the world to attain the highest level in both teaching organizations. In addition to serving as the Professional Tennis Registry President from 2012-15 and USPTA Southern Secretary/Treasurer 2004-08, he received the following awards: 1991 PTR Professional of the Year, 2003 USPTA Southern Pro of the Year and South Carolina PTR and USPTA Pro of the Year (twice).
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Andrew’s long list of USTA volunteer accomplishments include:
· USTA Southern Diversity and Inclusion Committee, 2019-present
· USTA Local Play & Competition Committee, 2021-22
· USTA Nominating Committee, 2019-20
· Chair and Vice-Chair of USTA Southern Tennis Pro Committee, 2014-18
· USTA Southern Junior Team Tennis Committee, 2013-18
· USTA Local Play & Competition Committee, 2015-18
· USTA Hispanic Task Force, 2015-18
· Vice-Chair of USTA Junior Team Tennis Committee, 2013-18
· USTA Davis Cup, Fed Cup and International Committee, 2011-13
· USTA Nominating Committee, 2009-10
· USTA Hispanic Participation Task Force, 2007-08
· USTA Tennis in The Public Parks Committee, 2005-08
· USTA Southern Junior Competition Committee, 2003-05
Among his many awards, one is most prominent: the 2016 International Hall of Fame Education Merit Award (pictured with International Tennis Hall of Fame CEO Todd Martin). Additionally, he received the 2009 Tennis Industry Association Service Award and the 2008 USTA South Carolina Lucy Garvin Volunteer of the Year award.
He is being inducted into his fourth Hall of Fame, as he is currently a member of the USTA South Carolina Hall of Fame (2012), Texas A&M at Corpus Christi Hall of Fame (2016) and USPTA Southern Hall of Fame (2019).
Former USTA Southern President and Southern Tennis Hall of Fame member Rex Maynard wrote, “You’ll find he checks every box of the criteria for selection, ‘Accomplishments in tennis as a player, coach, tournament official, teaching pro, administrator, or volunteer,’ I doubt there are many others who can say they have done all of this.”
Andrew and his wife, Ana, live in West Columbia, S.C., and have two sons, Juan, a firefighter, and Rodrigo, a PTR and USPTA Certify Tennis Professional.
Highlights
· Ranked No. 61 In singles and No. 69 in doubles in the world with singles victories over Rod Laver, Guillermo Vilas, Dick Stockton and Raul Ramirez
· Played Davis Cup for Venezuela for 18 years, serving as captain for two years
· Inducted into his fourth Hall of Fame
· Awarded the International Hall of Fame Education Merit Award (2016) and the 2009 Tennis Industry Association Service Award
· Longtime Director of Tennis for the Lexington County Recreation & Aging Commission
· One of the original eight PTR International Master Professionals in 1999 and reached the USPTA Master Professional in 2003
Served as the Professional Tennis Registry President, 2012-15
