Desert Teen Simon Frary Rises in Tennis Rankings with Help from Legends Rosie Casals and Billie Jean King

NBC Palm Springs Sports Desk, brought to you by Agua Caliente Casinos, takes a closer look at a rising local tennis star whose journey proves that with the right support, it’s never too late to swing big.

At 18 years old, Simon Frary of La Quinta is already ranked among the top 50 tennis players in Southern California. Remarkably, he didn’t even pick up a tennis racket until age 14—a late start by competitive standards.

Simon credits his rapid rise to the mentorship of tennis icon Rosie Casals, founder of the Love and Love Tennis Foundation, which provides free access to tennis instruction and opportunities for underserved youth. “If I had not met Rosie, I would definitely not be here with a tennis racket right now,” Simon says.

Rosie remembers their first meeting well: “He came to me and said, ‘I need some help.’ I said, ‘Let’s see what you can do.’ He was already tall—and he’s even taller now—and had real talent. Most kids start much younger, but I’m behind him all the way.”

Simon has also trained alongside Billie Jean King, gaining wisdom from two of the sport’s most legendary figures. He says tennis has taught him life lessons far beyond the court: “Tennis is the game of life. It’s taught me to have integrity, self-confidence, and to make decisions not out of fear, but from who I really am.”

Simon is now preparing for a trip to Tampa to continue advancing his training, and a GoFundMe has been set up to help support his journey. (You can find the link on the NBC Palm Springs website.)

For those inspired by Simon’s story, Rosie and the Love and Love Tennis Foundation offer free tennis clinics every Saturday from 9:00 to 10:15 a.m. at Fitzburn's Park in La Quinta, open to anyone interested in learning the game.

From student-athlete to rising star, Simon Frary is serving up something special in the Coachella Valley.

GO FUND ME LINK

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