For more than two decades, Match Point Impact has worked quietly behind the scenes of the tennis world, using the sport as a vehicle for mentorship, access, and long-term opportunity for young players facing difficult life circumstances.
Founded in 1998 by Scott Williams and Ryan Fitzwilliam, the organization was born out of a simple desire to give back. “We thought, let’s do something to give back to the game of tennis and to help people,” Williams said. “That’s really how Match Point Impact started—right here in Boca Raton.”
While the foundation had been active for years, its mission took on new urgency during the COVID-19 pandemic. “Prior to COVID, I was running diversity camps around the state,” Williams explained. “Then all the financing and funding stopped overnight.”
That pause became a turning point. “A great friend, Franco Forcella, became aware that we wanted to keep serving youth and said, I’ll send it forward and sponsor your first camp,” Williams said. “That’s really when Match Point Impact went into overdrive.”
The organization hosted its first pandemic-era camp at the USTA National Campus with roughly 40 participants. “We had the masks, the distancing, all of it,” Williams recalled. “But it was amazing, because the need was still there.”
From that moment on, Match Point Impact expanded its reach, focusing on youth who might otherwise be excluded from high-level tennis environments. “We work with kids who can’t afford that level of coaching,” Williams said. “Some need equipment, some need rackets or clothing, and some just need the opportunity to attend a college exposure camp.”
The organization’s model is intentionally flexible. “If they can afford to send it forward for $100, they can attend the camp,” Williams explained. “If they can’t, that’s okay. Other people step in to help. We’re not here to turn kids away.”
Vice President Jasmine Williams, Scott’s daughter, said that philosophy defines the foundation’s purpose. “Our main goal is to help youth who have been through tough battles in life,” she said. “That could be single moms, orphans, families recovering from disasters, special needs families—anyone who needs support. Whether that’s coaching, equipment, or connections, we try to serve them in as many ways as we can.”
In recent years, Match Point Impact has grown well beyond South Florida. “Last year was really special for us,” Jasmine Williams said. “We expanded internationally, collaborating with a charity in Germany, working with a academy in Colombia, and continuing long-term outreach in South Africa.”
That South Africa connection has been in place for decades. “Coach Ryan has been working with one of the largest orphanages there for over 20 years,” Scott Williams said. “There are hundreds of students, and some of those kids have gone on to play college tennis. That’s incredibly meaningful.”
Despite its global reach, the organization remains deeply rooted in Florida, with camps and events held across the state. One of the most significant upcoming events is scheduled for March 28 in Delray Beach. “We’re collaborating with the Special Olympics and the National Women’s Pickleball Foundation,” Jasmine Williams said. “There will be tennis, pickleball, and a lot of community involvement.”
A key figure in Match Point Impact’s work is former world No. 2 Tommy Haas, whose involvement is personal and hands-on. “I’ve been with Tommy since he was 13 years old,” Scott Williams said. “We talk every day. He hasn’t forgotten where he came from.”
Haas attends camps whenever possible and works directly with participants. “Beyond being a board member, he shows up,” Williams said. “He comes at his own expense to encourage kids. That’s what makes it special.”
Jasmine Williams echoed that sentiment. “My dad coached Tommy when he was young, and that relationship never stopped,” she said. “It means a lot for the kids to see someone at that level so involved.”
Match Point Impact also offers unique ways for supporters to engage with the organization. “For our benefactors, we say thank you by including them in special experiences around the world,” Scott Williams explained. “Indian Wells, Miami Open, the Italian Open—behind-the-scenes access. It’s very special, and it connects people directly to the mission.”
Those interested in supporting the organization can learn more at matchpointimpact.org. “People can make monthly or annual donations,” Williams said. “And depending on the level, they’re invited to participate in one of our special experiences.”
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Written by Associate Editor Osvaldo Godoy. Photo credits: Match Point Impact.
