ORLANDO, Fla - Fernando Velasco was honored with the 2017 George Bacso Lifetime Achievement Award by the United States Professional Tennis Association. Velasco was recognized during the Awards Luncheon at the NEXT Generation: A Tennis Innovation Workshop powered by USTA & USPTA on Friday, October 13.

This award was developed to honor individuals who set the highest standards in volunteerism on behalf of tennis teachers.  The USPTA National Awards program is conducted annually. Nominations are submitted by the organization's 17 divisions and by individuals. Recipients in each category are decided by the USPTA Awards Committee.

Velasco is a 40-year veteran in the Tennis Management business and has served as General Manager and Director of Tennis at top-notch clubs in Chicago, Phoenix, Dallas, Savannah and Boca Raton, Florida, and in Austin at the Grey Rock Tennis Club. He is presently the Executive Director of the Capital Area Tennis Association and teaches part-time at the Polo Tennis and Fitness Club in Austin.

He is considered one of the top teaching professionals and managers in the country, having been selected as National Pro of the Year by the USPTA.  He is a sought after speaker at National and International Tennis Professional Conventions.  He is a ranked player in the USPTA and the USTA.  In 2014 he was selected as the CATA Tennis Legend for his contributions to tennis in Austin since his arrival here in 2000.

He was a personal close friend of George Bacso. Together, they were members of the USPTA National Board for over 10 years.  Velasco was instrumental on translating the USPTA Certification Exam in Spanish and aided Bacso to grade the Spanish applicants by sending audios to him with their responses in English.