It wasn’t until he was almost a senior in high school that Angel Lopez learned about tennis. He was in the cross country team, so he didn’t care too much for nets, and racquets, and bright green balls.

    But the first time he picked up a racket, he said he felt the connection to the sport.

    “It was fun, I kind of liked it,” Lopez said.

    He never thought that, from then on, he would devout his life to tennis, and to promoting tennis among Latino youth in San Diego.

    But almost 40 years later, Lopez is a tennis legend in San Diego. So much so, that this Saturday, August 27, he will the first Chicano to be inducted into the San Diego Tennis Hall of Fame, for his contribution to the sport and for his efforts to make tennis a household name among Latino youth.

    “I feel humbled, honored for being selected,” said Lopez, who is 56 years old. “Who wouldn’t want to be in the hall of fame?”

    He was selected in the categories of Tennis Teaching Professional, Coaching, Community Service, and Senior Playing Success. Also in 2011, Angel was honored at the WTA Mercury Insurance Open held at the La Costa Resort and Spa during Latin Night for his 31 years of service to the San Diego County Tennis Community and those in the Latino Community appreciate the sport and love of Tennis.

    Lopez serves as director of tennis operations at the San Diego Tennis & Racquet Club, where he has taught since December 1979. In March 1997 he began operating the Angel Lopez Tennis Academy at the San Diego Tennis & Racquet Club, where he supervises eight assistant professionals who are all USPTA certified.

    But his story in tennis goes way back. Lopez was born in San Diego to a Mexican family.

    “I grew up in the barrio,” he said, proudly.

    It was in high school he read the story of Pancho Gonzalez, a famous tennis player from Los Angeles. He was inspired to pick up a racket and try tennis.

    At the same time, he has always tried to encourage Latinos to give tennis a chance.

    “It doesn´t matter where you started in life, but what’s important is where you’re going in life,” he said.

    He constantly offers tennis clinics at local schools, such as San Ysidro High School.

    “Tennis is not a sport for rich people,” he said. “All you need is a racquet and balls. We have tennis courts in public parks, we have them in the high schools. I’m a firm believer that if you give kids a taste of it, no matter at what age, I think generally the response if kind of cool.”

    Lopez helps young players today by awarding the Angel Lopez Scholarship for $1,000, through Youth Tennis San Diego, to a graduating senior for the college of his or her choice.

    “Angel has been a consistent promoter of tennis within the Latino community and other ethnic diverse groups in the nation,” said Gus Chavez, a long-time educator and activist. “He is a world class tennis coach and has an extensive background promoting and serving tennis players around the nation and beyond.”

    For Lopez, being a role model means encouraging others with similar backgrounds as him to have better opportunities in life thanks to tennis.

    “It’s always important to give back to the community, to make an impact in a kid’s life. If I can inspire another Latino player, if I can inspire someone and show them the way, that’s my legacy.”