The Murray State Racers women’s tennis team has been very successful in recent years, being back-to-back MVC conference champions in 2024 and 2025, so it was time for an upgrade on their home courts. The tennis courts located on Murray State’s campus are named after the famous American basketball player, Bennie Purcell.
Not only was Purcell an athlete, but he also became Murray State’s men’s tennis coach, holding that position for 28 years. In his 28 years with the team, his teams won 11 Ohio Valley Conference men’s tennis championships, along with being named OVC’s Men’s Tennis Coach of the Year eight times.
Previous to this year, the Bennie Purcell tennis courts had not been resurfaced since 2005. How long between resurfacing tennis courts really depends on the maintenance and upkeep of the specific set of courts, but time between resurfacings should not exceed 20 years, so the courts at Murray State were pushed to their limit. This revamping of the courts was funded by private support, as well as funding from the United States Tennis Association (the USTA) and USTA Kentucky.
The Racer tennis program celebrated the grand reopening on Friday, Aug. 22, holding an event welcoming the community to come play with the women’s tennis team.
The current head coach of the women’s team is Jorge Caetano, who is starting his 11th season at MSU. Caetano played for Murray State, and as a senior in 2012, he played in the top singles spot under coach Mel Purcell. Mel Purcell is Bennie Purcell’s son, a retired professional tennis player who now spends his time coaching clinics and playing tennis in Murray. Mel Purcell coached men’s tennis at Murray State for 20 years, but there has not been a men’s tennis team at MSU since 2016, due to Title IX.
Mel has had a decorated career to say the least. His highest singles career ranking was No. 21 in the world, achieved in November 1980. Mel also went to the quarter finals of Wimbledon in 1983. Aside from his own personal accomplishments playing the sport, as the Murray State head coach he led the team to back-to-back Ohio Valley Conference titles.
With the courts being named after his father and his extensive past with Murray State tennis, it was only fitting that the first ball on the newly resurfaced courts was hit by Mel on the day of the event.
The top singles player for Murray State is junior Valeriia Chaikovskaia, who will be starting her third season with Racers tennis this year. Chaikovskaia is from Russia, and she has been very successful with the Racers tennis program. She spoke a little about what it has been like since the courts have been resurfaced.
“It’s been nice since we got our courts redone,” Chaikovskaia said. “I would say we feel more motivated to play on these new courts.”
Chaikovskaia won the award for singles performance of the year for her freshman year at Murray State, and in her first two seasons with the Racers, they were back-to-back Missouri Valley Conference Champions. Chaikovskaia spoke a little about what she is looking forward to next with Racers tennis.
“For now I’m just super excited to start playing fall tournaments, don’t want to look far ahead,” Chaikovskaia said. “But obviously I can’t wait for the spring season, can’t wait to feel this energy again and compete.”
It is safe to say that with these newly resurfaced courts and the amazing team Caetano has built, everyone is looking forward to this upcoming tennis season. The women’s team will start their 2025/2026 season with a fall tournament on Friday, Sept. 19, at the ASPU Invitational in Clarksville, Tennessee.