Applications open for Tom Perrotta Prize for Tennis Journalism

A new media award has been established to honour the memory of sportswriter Tom Perrotta, tennis correspondent for the Wall Street Journal, who passed away in January 2021.

The Tom Perrotta Prize for Tennis Journalism will be presented annually to a writer under the age of 40 for excellence in tennis journalism. It includes a $2,000 cash award and will be presented in New York City during the US Open.

Perrotta’s exemplary contributions in covering the sport were curtailed by his untimely death at the age of 44. A popular figure in the tennis press room, he was diagnosed with a brain tumour in December 2016 but continued to work for much of the following four years.

The International Tennis Federation is a co-sponsor of the award, together with the ATP, WTA and the International Tennis Writers Association.

“The tennis community lost a beloved member when in January 2021, Tom Perrotta succumbed to a brain tumour after a four-year battle,” said Simon Cambers, co-president of the International Tennis Writers Association. “We hope that his work and this award can serve as an inspiration to the next generation of young writers.”

Applications for the 2022 Tom Perrotta Prize for Tennis Journalism are now open. Please include a brief CV and two examples of the applicant’s published work related to tennis in any language. In addition, please include a brief statement as to why the award is deserved and what it would mean to the applicant.

Submissions should be forwarded to tomperrotta.prize@gmail.com before midnight EST on 28 February 2022.