Charlie Pasarell

Charles M. “Charlie” Pasarell, Jr. has spent more than six decades at the heart of tennis, as a champion player, pioneering leader, philanthropist, and one of the architects of the modern professional game.

His journey began on the courts of Puerto Rico and carried him to tennis’s grandest stages, like Wimbledon’s Centre Court. Charlie was ranked No. 1 in the United States in 1967, won NCAA singles and doubles championships, and represented the United States in Davis Cup competition five times. He won 18 singles titles and competed against many of the game’s greatest players. In 1969, he faced his mentor Pancho Gonzales in an epic five-hour match at Wimbledon that remained the longest in the tournament’s history for 41 years.

But Pasarell’s impact on tennis extends far beyond the court. Alongside his close friends Arthur Ashe and Sheridan Snyder, he co-founded the National Junior Tennis League, bringing tennis to young people who might otherwise never have had the opportunity to play. He later helped found the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP), giving professional players a greater voice in shaping the future of their sport. He went on to serve 20 consecutive years on the ATP Tour Board, the longest tenure of anyone to date.

After retiring from competition, Pasarell turned his attention to another unlikely dream: building a major professional tennis tournament in the California desert. Under his leadership, Indian Wells grew from a relatively small event into the BNP Paribas Open, now one of the largest and most prestigious tennis tournaments in the world.

In his memoir, Serving First, Pasarell goes beyond the accomplishments to share the people and experiences that shaped his life. From his tennis-champion parents and lifelong friend Arthur Ashe to his mentor Pancho Gonzales, Robert F. Kennedy, and a wartime trip to Vietnam, his stories offer a remarkable window into a life lived at the heart of tennis and history.

More than a tennis memoir, Serving First is a story of character, purpose, evolving dreams, and the people who leave a lasting mark on our lives. Woven throughout are the words of wisdom passed down from his father and lessons from a life grounded in love: for family, friendship, and the game that gave it all meaning.