Meet the founder

Charrisha Watkins is a passionate community advocate, tennis professional, and visionary leader with more than 7 years of experience driving client-centered engagement and leveraging the power of sports to inspire change. Born and raised in Prince George’s County, Maryland, Charrisha blends her personal journey with professional expertise to challenge the status quo and create pathways of access, representation, and belonging through tennis.

 

In 2018, she founded Love in Tennis to do just that: make the sport more digestible, more accessible, and more connected to the lives of underrepresented communities. What started as an Instagram page has blossomed into a thriving platform that offers tennis as a tool for inspiration, exposure, and empowerment. Under her leadership, Love in Tennis has:

• Reached over 10,000 individuals both in-person and digitally

• Secured sponsorships from major brands such as Red Bull, Magic Mind, Chick-fil-A, and Boxed Water

• Trained other coaches to foster impactful tennis experiences

• Highlighted past, present, and future Black tennis legends

• Promoted community connection, health, and representation through sport.

 

An alumna of the Washington Tennis & Education Foundation (WTEF), Charrisha began playing tennis at age four. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Organization and Management Studies from Gettysburg College and an MBA in Leadership and Ethics from John Brown University. Her certifications include Youth Mental Health First Aid, Project Management (Google), and Racquet Sports Professional Association.

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In every role, Charrisha centers her work around authenticity, purpose, and people. She is an active and proud member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated, and is active in several professional networks, including Women in Sports and Events (WISE) and the National Society of Black Sports Professionals.