The South Carolina Tennis Patrons Foundation and USTA South Carolina are proud to announce Arthur Anastopoulo of Pensacola Beach, Florida and Paul Pittman of Florence will be the 2020 inductees into the South Carolina Tennis Hall of Fame.
Anastopoulo was one of the state’s best junior and college players during the 1970’s and has positively influenced many tennis players over the past 35 years as a teaching professional. Pittman is a long-time volunteer who served as state president and has been instrumental in the development of the Florence Community Tennis Association and its many programs for youth and adults.
SCTPF Chairman Ernie James stated “This is wonderful news! I certainly know Paul and I am aware of all he has done to further the USTA’s mission to promote and develop the game of tennis. Although I do not know Arthur, I understand he was one of our best players who has continued to support the game. I’m pleased the Selection Committee feels these two are worthy of enshrinement.”
USTA South Carolina Executive Director Jennifer Gregg said “We are very lucky to have the opportunity to celebrate our past Champions and Leaders through the South Carolina Tennis Patrons Foundation. Paul and Arthur are great examples of ambassadors for tennis, for our organization and for the state of South Carolina. Congratulations to both inductees!”
Their achievements would normally be celebrated at the South Carolina Tennis Hall of Fame Banquet, which was originally scheduled for early November. That event has been cancelled this year, so Anastopoulo and Pittman will be considered 2020 inductees, but not formally inducted until 2021.
ARTHUR ANASTOPOULO
Arthur Anastopoulo grew up in Charleston and comes from a tennis playing family. He began playing tennis at age 11 at the public “Jack Adams” tennis courts where he was influenced and mentored by Hall of Fame inductees Pat and Jack Adams. As a junior player he won the City of Charleston singles and doubles championships in every junior age division, and by 15 years of age won the City of Charleston Adult Championship. Arthur’s passion for tennis started when he won the 14-and-under singles championship at the Palmetto Championships in Belton, where he later captured five more titles. With a four-year record of 58-0 in regular season matches for Middleton High he also won the state high school singles and doubles titles. As the top junior in South Carolina he represented both South Carolina and the Southern Section on Junior Davis Cup teams. Anastopoulo was ranked as high as number ten in the nation as a junior player.
After receiving over 100 tennis scholarship offers from colleges across the country, Anastopoulo chose the University of South Carolina where he became one of the school’s most accomplished players. Arthur earned NCAA Division I All American in doubles along with Chris Mayotte by reaching the NCAA quarterfinals. As a senior he was named the South Region Collegiate Player of the Year in singles and qualified for the NCAA. He played in three NCAA Singles and Doubles Championships, and was ranked as high as number six in singles and number two in doubles in NCAA division I tennis. While in college he played many USTA tournaments and was ranked number one in the nation in the 21-and-under division. Anastopoulo lettered all four years at Carolina, was named team MVP, team captain, and played number one singles and doubles.
Anastopoulo turned professional in June, 1980 playing as an ATP professional. As the number one player representing Greece and participating on their Davis Cup team, Arthur competed in the US Open, French Open, and Italian Open. While a touring tennis professional Anastopoulo won eight professional titles and was world ranked in singles and doubles.
Returning to South Carolina in 1984 he became the Head Pro for the City of Charleston. He worked for the City of Charleston in this position for 14 years coaching a number of the state’s top ranked junior players, thousands of inner-city youth, wheelchair, and mentally challenged players. Arthur was active in the South Carolina Professional Tennis Association, coached at the state All-Star and Player Development camps and was named USTA-SC and state USPTA Pro of the Year. He has been certified by both USPTA and PTR as a Certified Teaching Professional for over 30 years. Anastopoulo accepted the position of Director of Tennis for the city of Macon in 1997, where he brought his expertise to junior programming and summer camps by exposing over 80 children weekly to tennis. Since 2010, Arthur has served as the Director of Tennis at Portofino Island Resort and Spa Pensacola Beach, Florida. Anastopoulo has been honored with the key to the city of Charleston, and chosen as one of the top 25 tennis directors in the nation by Reebok.
PAUL PITTMAN
Paul Pittman is one of Florence’s, South Carolina’s and the Southern Section’s top volunteers and administrators who has made significant contributions to the game at the local, state, sectional and national levels. He played USTA Adult League tennis for 20 years and served as a team captain for 15 years. Paul played on teams that won state and sectional titles in Men’s, Senior Men’s and Mixed Doubles. He was a USTA Certified Official from 2009 to 2015.
Pittman is a strong supporter of grass roots tennis at the local level. He spearheaded the revitalization of the Florence Tennis Association in the 1990’s and served in numerous leadership positions, including President. He planned, organized and managed numerous programs, including those for beginner adults, underserved youth and Hispanic youth. He has written over 30 successful grant applications that produced over $100,000 for local tennis and has coordinated FTA participation in community events. Paul represented FTA on the Florence Mayor’s Coalition to Prevent Juvenile Crime and as chair of the Florence Area Sports Council. He was a key contributor to a community-wide effort to create and build the 30-court Dr. Eddie Floyd Florence Tennis Center in 2011. Under his leadership and guidance the Florence Tennis Association has been named the USTA South Carolina and USTA Southern Community Tennis Association of the Year, and in 2007 the FTA was named the National CTA of the Year.
He became active in USTA South Carolina in the late 1990’s serving on numerous state committees. He chaired Community Development, Strategic Planning, Personnel and Nominating and served on the By-Laws & Policies, Budget & Audit and Investment committees. He was elected to the USTA-SC Board in 2008 and served as President in 2010 and 2011. Paul also served on the South Carolina Tennis Patrons Foundation board where he was chair of the Youth Program Grant Committee and served on the Scholarship, Youth Program and Hall of Fame Selection committees. He was the SCTPF Board Chair in 2012-2013.
In 2008 Paul began volunteering at the Southern Section level, where he chaired the Community Development Committee and served on the Finance & Budget, Nominating and NJTL committees. He served on the USTA Southern Executive Committee from 2010 to 2013 and the Board of Directors in 2012 and 2013 when he helped draft a number of policies and revised the section Vision & Mission Statement. Since then he has organized and presented numerous leadership and organization training session for new volunteers and committee chairs. Pittman served on the Southern Tennis Foundation Board from 2016 to 2018 where he served on the Youth Programs Committee. He currently chairs the STF Major Gifts Committee..
He has served on a number of USTA national committees, including Community Tennis Association, Public Affairs and Advocacy, Learning & Leadership Development, Nominating and NJTL.
Pittman has been recognized with a number of state awards including the President’s Award, Lucy Garvin Volunteer of the Year and Southern State Volunteer of the Year. He has also received USTA Southern’s highest honors including the President’s Award, the Charles Morris Volunteer Service Award and the Jacobs Bowl.
