By Karen Ronney
Phillip Kim’s life journey is one filled with passion, reinvention and community. Growing up in Foster City, California, he picked up a tennis racket at age 12, never realizing the sport would become a cornerstone of his life decades later. For his efforts, he received the Curt Condon Spirit Award by USTA Southern California. This esteemed honor recognizes individuals who demonstrate an exceptional passion for tennis and a commitment to sharing that enthusiasm with others.
Kim, the Executive Director of LoveSetMatch, is also a Southern California Tennis Association Foundation community grant recipient. He embodies the best of what community advocates bring to the tennis and life.
“Phillip Kim has an amazing passion to help others and inspire his tennis community,” said Linda Milan, the Executive Director of the SCTA Foundation. “We are proud to get support LoveSetMatch because this organizations changes lives at the grassroots level. Phillip is so deserving of this honor.”
Kim attended San Mateo High School in Northern California but did not pursue tennis competitively in college. Instead, music took center stage. As a young adult, he moved to Los Angeles to immerse himself in the vibrant music scene. He played electric guitar in alternative rock bands, including Rasbery Jam, and became heavily influenced by the raw sounds of Nirvana. Eventually, he transitioned from performer to executive, running Metro One, the same record label his band was signed to. He gained firsthand experience navigating the evolving music industry.
By the late 2000s, the industry was shifting as CDs were replaced by digital downloads, and major retailers were disappearing. As large-scale studio productions became less essential, Phillip found himself at a crossroads. It was then that he reconnected with an old passion: tennis.
In his 40s, Kim started playing and coaching recreationally, earning his RSPA pro certification. Tennis transitioned from a hobby to a calling, leading him to build a community around the sport in Monterey Park. Through meet-up groups and social media outreach, he connected with fellow enthusiasts, including Donald Wong, a former USTA Tennis Service Representative, who encouraged him to bridge the gap between recreational players and USTA programs.
Kim became a SoCal representative for USTA Pacific Northwest’s recreational program, expanding tennis access in underserved areas, including Hawaii and Alaska. His afterschool program, “Think Together”, served primarily Hispanic communities in Azusa, combining academics with tennis instruction. Unfortunately, funding cuts ended the program, leading Kim to pivot once again.
He took on a new role as a tennis pro at the prestigious Langham Huntington Hotel in Pasadena, where he mastered the art of customer service. It was here he recognized the deeper value of coaching—not just in teaching skills but in forming meaningful connections with students.
A chance encounter with a couple at the hotel led him to start teaching tennis at Belvedere Park in East Los Angeles. Initially hesitant due to concerns about safety, Kim soon realized the transformative potential of tennis in this community. He launched a program called Park After Dark, offering free lessons twice a week to keep kids engaged and off the streets. His efforts caught the attention of USTA SoCal, which had long struggled to establish a presence in East LA. With the support of local law enforcement and community members, Kim built a thriving program that was both safe and impactful.
Inspired by his work at Belvedere Park, he took the next step and founded LoveSetMatch initially in 2010 in the private sector but transitioned it into a nonprofit in 2019. His mission was to use tennis as a tool for education and empowerment. Today, LoveSetMatch operates as an official USTA Foundation National Junior Tennis and Learning program (NJTL) in schools. He partners with the YMCA and hosts weekend clinics at high schools in the San Gabriel Valley.
Kim’s mission extends beyond athletics—he aims to raise graduation rates in East Los Angeles by integrating STEM concepts into tennis lessons. His goal is to foster a deeper understanding of physics, health, and wellness among his students.
“We talk about gravity in tennis with the ball, and centrifugal force as it rotates around a core, and homeostasis is why your heart needs oxygen,” Kim said. “If you give kids scientific principles, you can connect them to the world and nature. We teach health concepts by explaining the benefits of eating well, drinking more water and reasons to avoid drinking soda.”
His initiatives include the LoveSetMatch Lounge, a virtual monthly gathering where coaches, parents and players share experiences. He also started a journaling program using the Passion Planner to encourage self-reflection among his students on and off the tennis court. His dedication is evident in the countless hours he pours into private lessons, donating 100% of his earnings to support the nonprofit.
Through LoveSetMatch, Kim has orchestrated large-scale community events, including a Black History Month celebration, Girls’ Empowerment Day in partnership with YMCA and the Los Angeles Unified School District, as well as a Lunar New Year festival in Monterey Park. His work has created opportunities for thousands of children who might otherwise never have held a racket.
With almost twenty coaches, he has a growing presence in schools, and a mission to make tennis accessible to all. LoveSetMatch is not just a program—it is a movement. And at its heart is Phillip Kim, a man who found his greatest purpose not on a stage, but on the court, changing lives one ball at a time.
“For me, tennis is just the gateway,” Kim said. “It’s about building relationships, empowering kids, and shaping the next generation of leaders.”
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About the Southern California Tennis Association Foundation:
We are a 501c3 nonprofit organization and is the charitable arm of USTA Southern California. The Foundation’s mission is to “Change lives and build communities through tennis.” Since 2020, the SCTA Foundation has had a community impact of giving over $1million in tennis grants and tennis scholarships to deserving youth, adults, tennis organizations, tennis facilities and tennis programs to make tennis an equal opportunity sport, accessible to all, regardless of age, ability, ethnicity, or economic background. Visit us on Social Media on Instagram and Facebook. To learn more about the SCTA Foundation go to: www.sctafoundation.org. To donate go to: sctafoundation.org/donate/.
