MEMPHIS, Tenn. (WMC) – Twenty years after she first picked up a racket at the Eldon Roark Tennis Center, Kristen Eley is back — this time as director of operations and head coach.
Eley, known to her players as “Coach K,” said the facility where she once trained as a student has always held a special place for her.
“So I have the unique pleasure of being able to have been a student and a player here at Eldon Roark,” Eley said. “I saw Eldon Roark as a safe space.”
Kristen Eley, aka “Coach K”(Action News 5)Girls outnumber boys on the courts
Eley said she has noticed a shift in who is showing up to play.
“I have more girls playing here,” she said. “It is probably about a 4-to-1 or 5-to-1 ratio, girls to guys.”
That trend extends well beyond Whitehaven. The U.S. Tennis Association reported female participation surged in 2025 — up 10 percent, adding more than 1.1 million women to the sport.
The number of African American players also grew, with a 14-percent jump and 454,000 new players hitting the courts.
Player Genesis Wormley said her goal is clear.
“To become pro,” Wormley said.
Fellow player Cassidy Lomax said the mental side of the game draws her in.
“I love how you have to critically think when you’re on the court,” Lomax said. “Like if you’re under pressure in a really big point, you have to think about your next move.”
A coach who sees herself in her players
Eley said her own experience as a young player shapes how she coaches today.
“I had the opportunity to have great coaches that were able to pour into me,” she said. “And so to be able to have the perspective of actually seeing me, seeing the girls play, but having seen me in them and being able to say, what would I tell myself in this moment if I were a 13-year-old player or a 10-year-old player.”
One of those coaches is still on the courts. Anthony Womeodu, who coached Eley years ago, continues to train the next generation of female tennis players.
“Coach K was very easy to coach because she would listen,” Womeodu said.
Anthony Womeodu and Kristen Ealy(Action News 5)
Womeodu said he sees the same quality in today’s players.
“Tennis is a cerebral sport,” he said. “The girls are listening more these days and they’re picking it up quicker, perhaps because of the explosion of the ladies on the tour.”
Eley said she has drawn inspiration from players at the highest level, including Venus Williams, whom she met when Williams last played in Memphis.
“She gave me some pointers and some advice,” Eley said. “And she said she was looking forward to seeing me on the tour soon.”
About Eldon Roark Tennis Center
The Eldon Roark Tennis Center has been located in Whitehaven since the 1960s. The facility features eight outdoor courts and four indoor courts on Finley Road. Tennis Memphis provides youth programs year-round, including after-school and summer sessions, clinics, and tutoring.
The Memphis Classic is scheduled this week at the newly renovated Leftwich Tennis Center. The tournament serves as an official kickoff event for the summer hard-court swing leading up to the U.S. Open. Tickets are available at memphisclassic.com.
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