For Palisades High School players affected by wildfires, “the tennis court has always been home”

INDIAN WELLS, Calif.—At 7:00 a.m. on Friday, March 8, more than 50 members of the Palisades “Pali” Charter High School boys’ and girls’ tennis teams, along with many of the players’ parents, commenced a two-hour journey from Los Angeles to Indian Wells. This day also happened to be precisely two months since Pacific Palisades, an L.A. neighborhood located alongside the ocean just north of Santa Monica, was turned upside-down by a horrific fire that devastated the entire area, destroying more than 5,000 houses.

Pali high coach Bud Kling, who organized the trip and was also joined by his coaches, Rob and Joe Silvers, estimates that at least 15 team members lost their homes. All were evacuated. None at this point can return to the Palisades.

The Pali trip to the Indian Wells Tennis Garden has been an annual tradition for five years, a sun-soaked afternoon of food, fun and tennis viewing. But this year’s edition took on a whole other meaning.

“Tennis is the one normal thing in their day,” said Kling as he sat on a bench alongside Court 15.

This court also happened to be the place where, soon after arriving, the team was treated to an hour-long hitting session sponsored by Babolat. Over the course of 60 lively minutes, team members smacked groundstrokes and volleys.

“The tennis court has always been home for me,” said Reese Trepanier, a senior on the team whose family lost their home. “Tennis has definitely been grounding and a source of support for so many of us.”

Following time on the court, Babolat presented the team with racquets, shoes, strings, and bags.

“Knowing all that happened in L.A., we thought it would be good to share our passion for the game and do something special for them,” said Laurent Van Hoestenberghe, Babolat clients relations officer.

But that was hardly the end of Pali’s excellent Indian Wells adventure. The WTA Foundation,having been contacted weeks ago about the squad’s situation by former pro Alexandra Stevenson, gave the team a $10,000 donation. There was also a group photo opportunity with Australian Open champion Madison Keys, time with two-time BNP Paribas Open finalist Maria Sakkari, and several hours spent watching the tennis.

As night got underway, one of the team’s practice facilities, Palisades Tennis Center, also benefited from more generosity. Mike Tomas, director of the Center, received a $50,000 check from Tennis for Hope. The check, given by WTA Foundation executive director Ann Austin as part of the WTA Foundation’s partnership with Tennis for Hope, was made out to LA Fire Tennis Rebuild—funds that will support several facilities throughout the fire-damaged areas of Palisades and Altadena.

“So many families are going through tough times,” said Tomas. “Having our tennis center back will mean so much.”

As he accepted the check, Tomas was joined by Fernandez, USTA Southern California executive director Trevor Kronemann and Pam Shriver, Fernandez’s fellow Hall of Famer. A resident of nearby Brentwood, Shriver’s children went to school in the Palisades, was evacuated during January’s fire, and over the years has let many Pali team players practice on her court under the tutelage of Stevenson.

Having lost her Florida home last fall during Hurricane Helene, Fernandez felt inspired to provide relief for tennis communities that have been affected by natural disasters.

“Tennis has given me so much,” said Fernandez. “I want to give something back to it.”

Contacting such organizations as the International Tennis Hall of Fame, USTA Southern California and one of Tennis for Hope’s board members, John Erickson, Fernandez raised the money and concurrently began a collaboration with WTA Charities.

“This is what community is all about,” said Shriver.

Fitting indeed that such accomplished doubles players as Shriver and Fernandez each grasp the value of teamwork.

The Palisades High mascot is the dolphin, a natural fit given the school’s proximity to the ocean. The free-spirited, highly intelligent mammal is known to symbolize joy, good luck, protection and connection. Thanks to a variety of organizations—following a life-changing disaster that have could theoretically shatter any of those four attributes—on this long and friendly Friday in the desert, the Palisades Dolphins garnered much support in their quest to continue swimming forward.