A.J. Pitts Tennis Centre HOME OF MSU MEN'S AND WOMEN'S TENNIS

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Considered to be one of the finest tennis facilities among the collegiate ranks, the modern six-court, 500-seat A.J. Pitts Tennis Centre serves as the home of the Mississippi State men's and women's tennis teams.

The Pitts Tennis Centre, named for the late A.J. Pitts, a Mississippi State alumnus from Tupelo, Miss., opened its courts for play on February 26, 1984, when MSU's men hosted and defeated Louisiana Tech, 6-3.

The A.J. Pitts Tennis Centre has undergone several physical changes. The most recent renovations came in time for the 2016 campaign when the facility received new maroon chairback seating in the main grandstand as well as viewing platforms behind Courts 3 and 4. The platform behind Court 4 connects via walkway to Nusz Park, giving fans the ability to visit both the tennis and softball venues on days when both teams are playing at home.

The playing surface was last renovated in 2013, which marked the first time the court had been completely reworked since its opening in 1984. An entirely new foundation was poured and a fresh, new look was restored. The courts received a new paint and color scheme following the 2021 season to match the courts inside the Rula Tennis Pavilion.

Scoreboards were installed in 2011 with each individual court having point-by-point scoring, and the main scoreboard displaying team names and the team score.

The facility features a modern complex underneath the Centre's grandstand, which was added in 1998. The complex houses the locker rooms for the MSU men's and women's teams as well as showers and lavatories for officials and visiting programs. The locker rooms have been upgraded in recent years to include new aesthetics and ample seating for the players and coaches.

Fences replacing the facility's original structures were installed in 2001, and in the winter of 2003-04, a new press box was constructed in the center of the grandstand. The court's fences have since been updated with new screens, which showcase graphics both inside and outside of the facility.

Crowd support has been a key to the home success of the two teams, as average crowds of 400-500 fans flock to the A.J. Pitts Tennis Centre for matches during the spring to watch national-level tennis competition. In fact, attendance at the A.J. Pitts Tennis Centre has ranked among the top 5 nationally several times, as recognized by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association.

In addition to being the home to MSU's tennis teams, the facility was also the site for the 1989 SEC Men's Tennis Championships, the 1990 SEC Women's Tennis Championships, the 1992 Mississippi Intercollegiate, the 2000 SEC Men's Championship, the 2001 SEC Women's Championship, the 2012 SEC Men's Championship and, most recently, the 2013 SEC Women's Championship. State also hosted the first and second rounds of the NCAA Men's Tennis Championship in both 2012, 2013,2018, 2019, 2023 and 2024. In 2019 - for the first time ever - the NCAA Round of 16 was hosted by the top 8 seeds in the NCAA Championship and State's men were among that first group to host.

The Pitts Tennis Centre has served as the home facility to 58 Mississippi State All-America selections, 140 All-SEC stars, the 1989 NCAA women's doubles champions and the 1994 NCAA men's doubles champions. Teams which have called the facility home include the 1993 Southeastern Conference championship Bulldog tennis team, the 1996, 2018 & 2019 SEC Men's Tennis Tournament champions, the 1994 and 1998 NCAA Men's Tennis Championship semifinal squads, the 2011 and 2012 SEC Men's Western Division champs, and the 2005 SEC Women's Western Division title holders.

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