Courts of the Forty Acres

With both the University of Texas men’s and women’s teams advancing to the NCAA Championships Round of 16, it feels like the right moment to look back at the courts that helped shape the program’s identity as much as the players themselves.

Dr. D. A. Penick (left) and Wilmer Allison

At the center of that history are two towering figures in Texas tennis, Dr. D. A. Penick and Wilmer Allison. Their influence extended far beyond Austin, helping to define and shape the sport across the state. While this story begins on the Forty Acres, it ultimately reflects something larger: how the legacy of Texas tennis, across all programs, has been built, preserved, and, in some cases, quietly relocated over time.

Penick led the University of Texas tennis program from its earliest days, formalized in 1908, through his retirement in 1956. As head coach at the university, tennis director of the University Interscholastic League, president of the Southwest Conference, and president of the Texas Tennis Association (now USTA Texas), he became widely regarded as the father of Texas tennis and a central figure in the sport’s growth throughout the state.

In the heart of Austin, near the area just south of present-day Darrell K. Royal–Texas Memorial Stadium, tennis echoed across the Penick Courts, the first true dedicated home of University of Texas tennis. Built in 1927, these courts served as the foundation for Texas tennis greatness, hosting early varsity matches and a generation of players who helped shape the sport in the state.

The Early Years: Courts and Community

Before the Penick Courts, there were only a few rudimentary places to play. Allison recalled that UT had "varsity courts, but they weren’t much,” located near what is now Moore-Hill Hall. Players often turned to the Austin Athletic Club, established by tennis pioneer Will Caswell.

Austin Athletic Club: The Roots of Texas Tennis

The Austin Athletic Club, built in 1923 at 24th Street and Lamar Boulevard along Shoal Creek, stood on the site where the Caswell Tennis Center now operates. Featuring several clay courts and a modest clubhouse, it became Austin’s first organized tennis facility and a social hub for local players. In 1931, Caswell turned the club over to the City of Austin, and in the years that followed, the site was redeveloped into a public tennis center. By the late 1940s, the modern Caswell Tennis Center had taken shape, eventually bearing Caswell’s name. Today, it remains one of Austin’s oldest continuously operating tennis facilities, preserving the very ground where the city’s tennis legacy began.

A New Era: The Penick Courts

The opening of the Penick Courts in 1927 marked a turning point for Longhorn tennis. Named after Dr. D. A. Penick, the facility gave the university’s growing program a proper home.

Grand opening of the Penick Courts in 1927

In an interview years later, Wilmer Allison fondly recalled his connection to those courts:

“I hit the first ball ever served on the Penick Courts — and years later, Ann and I went out there and I hit the last one too, then took the net down for the final time.”

His story captures both the excitement of tennis taking root in Austin and the poignancy of seeing its earliest home give way to progress.

By the late 1950s, the campus was expanding rapidly. The Penick Courts, once nestled just south of campus, stood in the path of the East Mall project. As new academic buildings rose, the courts were dismantled, closing a foundational chapter in Texas tennis history.

Reflecting on the changes, Allison quipped that his game had evolved as much as the city itself:

“My tennis has been modified considerably too in the last 40 years.”

Penick-Allison Varsity Tennis Center

In the 1960s, as the original courts gave way to campus expansion, the program transitioned to a new facility adjacent to Darrell K Royal–Texas Memorial Stadium. Located within the stadium complex, these courts became the home of UT varsity tennis during a period of growth and transition. Contemporary accounts describe a facility far simpler than today’s purpose-built venues, yet one that continued to support a highly competitive program.

Under Coach Wilmer Allison, daily routines reflected both discipline and resourcefulness. Practices began promptly at 2:00 p.m., with freshman players arriving early to open gates, roll out grocery carts of tennis balls, set net posts, and prepare the courts. Conditioning extended beyond the playing surface, as players ran stadium steps and completed sprints on the Memorial Stadium track.

Just days before his death in 1977, the University of Texas honored Allison with a ceremony on April 16, dedicating the Penick–Allison Tennis Courts to both Allison and his longtime mentor. True to his humility, Allison reportedly expressed that he would have preferred the courts bear only Penick’s name. He passed away just four days later at age 72, making the dedication a poignant and fitting tribute to one of Texas’ most influential figures in the sport.

In 1986, the University of Texas dedicated a new varsity facility: the Penick–Allison Tennis Center, named jointly for Penick and Allison. Located at 1701 Trinity Street, at the intersection of Red River and Trinity, it became the home of Longhorn tennis for more than three decades.

The facility featured 12 lighted outdoor courts, locker rooms, and seating for hundreds of fans. It hosted numerous NCAA and Big 12 tournaments, serving as the site where UT players trained, competed, and carried forward the legacies of the two men for whom it was named.

In 2014, the facility was demolished to make way for the construction of the Dell Seton Medical Center at The University of Texas, part of the new medical district on the east side of campus. For many alumni and tennis fans, it marked the end of an era, but also the beginning of a new chapter in Texas tennis.

Built in 1986, the Penick–Allison Tennis Center was a $3 million facility named in honor of D.A. Penick, and his protégé, Wilmer Allison. The complex was demolished in 2014 to make room for the Dell Medical School, and in 2018 a new 24,000-square-foot Texas Tennis Center with 12 outdoor courts opened near UFCU Disch-Falk Field and the Red & Charline McCombs Field.

Where UT Tennis Lives Today

After decades of shifting locations, the University of Texas tennis has found a modern home built to match the program’s national stature. Today’s facilities reflect not only the growth of the sport, but a continued investment in excellence at every level, from championship competition to recreational play. Together, they represent the latest chapter in a story defined by evolution, resilience, and an enduring commitment to tennis on the Forty Acres.

Texas Tennis Center (TTC)

Opened in 2018, the Texas Tennis Center at 2100 Comal Street is the official home of the UT men’s and women’s varsity tennis programs. The facility includes 12 outdoor championship courts, a modern clubhouse, and spectator seating designed to bring fans close to the competition.

Weller Indoor Tennis Center

Opened in 2013, the Edgar O. and Melanie A. Weller Tennis Center provides six climate-controlled indoor courts, allowing UT’s men’s and women’s teams to train and compete year-round. The facility sits adjacent to the outdoor Texas Tennis Center, offering a seamless blend of indoor and outdoor training environments. The Weller Center has been a crucial part of the Longhorns’ success over the past decade, supporting multiple NCAA Championship teams.

Whitaker Courts (Whitaker Fields)

For students and recreational players, the Whitaker Courts at 4901 Guadalupe Street are the center of campus tennis life. The courts originated in the late 1960s, when UT’s intramural and recreational facilities moved from south campus to the newly developed Whitaker Fields complex at 51st and Guadalupe. At its peak, the facility featured as many as 40 courts, making it one of the largest tennis complexes in the region. Today, 35 lighted courts remain in use, continuing to host leagues, lessons, and tournaments managed by UT RecSports.

A Legacy that Endures

From courts set against the walls of a football stadium to a world-class tennis complex, the story of Texas tennis is not just one of place, but of continuity—where each generation builds upon the same foundation, even as the courts themselves move.

While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of this historical account, the evolution of facilities and records over time means some details may be incomplete or subject to revision. We welcome any additional information, corrections, or insights that can help us improve and preserve this history.