A Tribute to Okechi Womeodu

The junior tennis community was stunned to learn that Okechi Womeodu collapsed and died on November 10, 2004 during an indoor soccer game in his hometown of Memphis. A vibrant young man, Okechi was always ready with a smile; his considerable tennis talent never isolated him from others, indeed he combined it with his personality to draw others to him. In our overwhelming sense of loss, there is comfort in knowing he had recently achieved one of his goals, playing in the U.S. Open. This photo, taken during his doubles match, captured his attitude of playing hard but enjoying the game. His legacy is that spirit.