News and Media
Racquet Rally Invitational Shines a Spotlight on South Florida – Florida Tennis
The Delray Beach Tennis Center came alive this past weekend as host of the 2026 Racquet Rally Invitational, a two-day celebration of racquet sports that brought together 10 of the nation’s top yellow-ball competitors with autism and neurodivergence.
Racquet Rally Invitational Shines a Spotlight on South Florida – Florida Tennis
WESTLAKE, Fla. —
Xcel Padel hosted a special event in Westlake on Saturday afternoon to teach children with autism how to play a sport that blends elements of tennis and squash.
The company partnered with Love Serving Autism to create an afternoon focused on inclusion through sport. Families participated in a customized padel experience designed for all abilities, with coaching, equipment and support.
LSA Media Coverage
16 Videos
0:22
2:08
1:40
0:41
0:45
1:45
0:27
24:32
0:38
0:36
0:25
3:30
2:05
0:43
2:01
Awards
Professional Tennis Registry
- Humanitarian of the Year award
USPTA, United States Professional Tennis Association
- 2022 USPTA FL Diversity Achievement Award
- 2018 USPTA National Star Award
- 2018 USPTA Florida Star Award
USTA, United States Tennis Association
- 2022 USTA National Eve Kraft Community Service Award
- 2018 USTA FL Outstanding Diversity Achievement Award
Foundation Grant Awards
- 2024 Community Foundation for Palm Beach & Martin Counties
- 2024 Boca West Children’s Foundation
- 2024 The Cognizant of the Palm Beaches
- 2024 USTA Foundation
- 2024 USTA FL Foundation
- 2024 FL Department of Education
- 2024 The Kirk Foundation
- 2023 Community Foundation Palm Beach and Martin County
- 2023 Spotlight Miami Foundation
- 2021-2023 USTA Foundation
- 2022 Impact 100 PBC
- 2022 Lost Tree Foundation
- 2022 Quantum Foundation
- 2021 Ballenisles Charities Foundation
- 2019 Florida Autism License Plate
- 2019 TD Bank Charitable Foundation
- 2019 Ibis Charities Foundation
Acknowledgements
Autism Awareness and Acceptance Month Proclamations
2023
- City of Riviera Beach
2018-2023
- City of Palm Beach Gardens
- City of Bonton Beach
- City of Greenacres
ATP and WTA On-court Exhibitions
- 2017-2023 Delray Beach Open
- 2022-2023 Miami Open
- 2019, 2022-2023 US Open
Media Appearances
Magazines
- 2023 Autism Acceptance Month Feature - Racquet Industry Sport Magazine
- 2023 Stroll Magazine
- 2019 Adaptive Tennis Champion of the Year - Racquet Industry Sports Magazine
- 2019 American Speech and Hearing Association Magazines
Podcasts
- 2023 USTA Eastern, Tennis Stories
- 2020-2023 USTA FL, Here to Serve
- 2021-2023, At the Net Podcast
TV/Radio
- ABC 25, WPBF News
- NBC 5, WPTV
- ESPN Radio, West Palm Beach
- Fox 29, WFLX
News Posts
- Love Serving Autism Teams With USTA Eastern, Adelphi University For Free Special Needs Training & Clinic
- USTA: Catching Up with Lisa Pugliese-LaCroix and Love Serving Autism
- The Palm Beach Post: Coronavirus Florida: Tennis program for students with autism has become a virtual smash
- USTA: CTA Spotlight: Love Serving Autism
- WTXL Tallahassee: City of Tallahassee starts up 'Love Serving Autism' tennis program
- USTA: Adaptive Athletes Join Net Generation Aces
- TENNIS.com Podcast: Love Serving Autism founder Lisa Pugliese
- USTA Florida: Love Serving Autism Adapts, Embraces Virtual Tennis
- ABC 25 WPBF: Tennis program helps kids with autism
- CBS 12 News: 'Love Serving Autism': New program for children with autism
- Different Brains: Tennis As a Therapeutic Tool for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders
