Laver Cup Community Legacy Project celebrates court unveiling at John McLaren Park

The Laver Cup Community Legacy Project celebrated a significant milestone today with the official unveiling of six newly resurfaced tennis courts at John McLaren Park. The court renovation, completed in partnership with the USTA Foundation and Mercedes-Benz, represents the centerpiece infrastructure investment of the comprehensive community initiative ahead of the Laver Cup's arrival at Chase Center from Sept. 19-21.

The event featured twenty-time Grand Slam champion and co-creator of the Laver Cup Roger Federer alongside San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie and Golden State Warriors President Brandon Schneider, complete with remarks from Laver Cup and USTA Foundation spokespeople.

Located in southeastern San Francisco, McLaren Park is the third largest park in San Francisco by area, after Golden Gate Park and the Presidio. The park’s transformed public tennis facility will serve as one of the home bases for Youth Tennis Advantage (YTA), a San Francisco-based junior tennis program that is part of the USTA Foundation's National Junior Tennis & Learning (NJTL) network. The network, co-founded in 1969 by tennis icon Arthur Ashe, Charlie Pasarell and Sheridan Snyder, serves more than 300 community-based organizations helping young people from under-resourced communities prepare for their futures through tennis, education, and mentorship programs.

Mayor Daniel Lurie joined Roger Federer in hanging the plaque to formally introduce the upgraded facilities. “San Francisco is thrilled to host this year’s Laver Cup. When we host global events like the Laver Cup—or the NBA All-Star Game, Super Bowl, and World Cup—visitors fill our restaurants, support our businesses, and contribute to our communities. And these events bring energy not just to Chase Center but to the entire city, including right here at McLaren Park,” said Mayor Lurie. “On behalf of San Francisco, thank you to the Laver Cup Community Legacy Project for investing in our kids, our parks, and our future.”

Roger Federer and kids at the official unveiling of six newly resurfaced tennis courts at John McLaren Park. Photo by Laver Cup.

The resurfacing project, which also introduced new drainage to ensure year-round playability, builds on the San Francisco Recreation and Park Department’s deep commitment to public tennis. With one of the nation’s most comprehensive municipal programs, Rec and Park maintains courts across the city and ensures the sport remains accessible through free and low-cost play, affordable lessons, clinics and community leagues for players of all ages.

“From the beginning, the Laver Cup has been about more than just three days of competition–it’s about leaving a lasting legacy in the communities we visit,” said Federer. “To see these courts restored here in San Francisco, with the support of partners like Mercedes-Benz who have been alongside me for many years, is really special. I hope they inspire the next generation to pick up a racket and enjoy this great game.”

The court resurfacing project was funded through the multi-channel Laver Cup Community Legacy Project, which also provides significant funding support for programming at Youth Tennis Advantage (YTA) and East Palo Alto Tennis & Tutoring (EPATT)–both recognized leaders in Bay Area youth tennis programming and members of the prestigious NJTL network.

The Community Legacy Project invited fans to contribute through a premium auction, Laver Cup Open Practice Day ticket sales, and limited-edition merchandise purchases, creating deeper connections between the tournament's global audience and local San Francisco communities.

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