University of North Carolina Athletics
Johnson To Be Inducted Into Tennis Hall Of Fame Saturday
January 27, 2006 | Men's Tennis
Jan. 27, 2006
PINEHURST, N.C. - North Carolina assistant men's tennis coach Don Johnson is set to be inducted into the North Carolina Tennis Hall of Fame Saturday night in Pinehurst, N.C. Johnson is one of three individuals honored Saturday with induction into the Hall.
Tal Henry III, of Charlotte, and Johnson, of Chapel Hill, both former University of North Carolina players, as well as Jim Jones, of Boone, will be officially inducted into the Hall of Fame on January 28, 2006 with a commemoration event held at the Carolina Inn at Pinehurst. The North Carolina Tennis Hall of Fame rests in Greensboro, N.C., a central location for the whole state to enjoy.
Don Johnson has made North Carolina his home since first attending college in 1986 at the University of North Carolina. He had an outstanding collegiate career and notably won numerous sportsmanship awards. His senior year was magical as he led his team to an ACC Championship for the first time in 12 years. After the UNC team captured the championship, Johnson humbly thanked all the fans that came to the match and would later be named the ACC Tournament MVP.
In 1992, Johnson officially turned pro and played on the Challenger Circuit and ATP tour. During his professional career, his doubles skills and abilities would grow rapidly. Johnson had much success over the course of his career, attaining the #1 ATP Doubles Ranking (2002), 23 Doubles Titles, 57 Doubles Finals, and $2,294,944 in total prize money. Johnson's first Grand Slam title was earned in 2000 with mixed doubles partner Kimberly Po at Wimbledon over the team of Lleyton Hewitt and Kim Clijsters. Another of his most satisfying triumphs came the very next year in 2001 when he teamed up with Jared Palmer to win the Men's Doubles title at Wimbledon.
Johnson retired from international play in 2004, but has continued his tennis involvement as an Assistant Coach to Sam Paul, Men's Tennis Coach at the University of North Carolina. He has mentored numerous collegiate players, including David Caldwell (All-America, 170 ATP Career High Singles Ranking), Tripp Phillips (All-America, 79 ATP Career High Doubles Ranking), and Nick Monroe (All-America). Johnson displays an incredible work ethic for his players and works hard to develop players to their fullest abilities. Johnson has not hung up his racquets just yet; he is currently playing on the Hartford Foxforce World Team Tennis Pro League roster. Don Johnson's drive and determination in coaching are just as strong as his competitive spirit to be a player; he is a true champion.
Tal Henry III was an accomplished junior and collegiate tennis player and will serve as a fine representative of the strength of NC junior tennis. Henry entered his first national tournament at age 11 in the 1971 National Junior's 12s Singles division in Chattanooga, Tenn.. The very next year he made his second trip to the Junior Orange Bowl International Championships and won the consolation bracket by way of overtaking the tournament's second seed. As the years went on, Henry traveled around the nation, remained steady and continued to improve upon his game. With tremendous effort he became a formidable singles and doubles competitor on the junior tennis scene. 1975 was a great year for Henry; he reached a #14 National Ranking and #1 Southern Ranking for his singles play, all the while he and partner Chuck Hodges persevered to attain the #1 Southern Ranking together.
Henry's exciting junior tennis career allowed him to cross paths with many other equally impressive players. In 1976, Henry entered the National Clay Court Tennis Championships in Louisville, Ky. as the thirteenth seed. John McEnroe, seeded sixth, would need three sets to overcome the accomplished junior in the Round of 16s. That same year, Henry entered the Southern Tennis Championship at Raleigh Racquet Club in the Men's Open Singles and would defeat Dean (Dino) Martin, Jr. during the course of the tournament. Throughout 1977, Henry would time and again prove his on-court presence by single-handedly defeating six of that year's Junior Davis Cup players. Another milestone came later that year in Forest Hills, NY when he gained a victory over Yannick Noah in the Quarterfinals of the US Open Juniors.
Henry was no stranger to the benefits of playing competitive tennis, as he was selected by Arthur Ashe and Charlie Pasarell to attend the Harry Hopman Tennis Camp in Amherst, Mass.. He then earned a tennis scholarship to attend McCallie Prep School in Chattanooga, Tenn.. Tennis would then help him make plans for college; he accepted a University of North Carolina athletic scholarship offer where he played for a year and a half before transferring to Trinity University in San Antonio, Texas on yet another athletic scholarship. Fittingly, a Tal Henry III Memorial Endowed Scholarship Fund has been set up in his honor and is available for UNC student-athletes.
Fellow Hall of Fame members, who were peers and opponents during his junior tennis career, include Tim Wilkison, John Sadri, and Andy Andrews. Tal Henry's induction is posthumous and will stand as an acknowledgment to his remarkable junior tennis career and love for the game of tennis.
The North Carolina Tennis Foundation supports organizations and programs that enhance the lives of people through tennis and education, and preserves the history of tennis in North Carolina. For more information on please visit us www.nctennis.com.
Players Mentioned
