IT'S all about giving back. Former national tennis star, Karl Hale, served up a big ace for Tennis Jamaica, off-loading a huge donation of $7 million in cash and equipment to assist the island's ruling body in developing the sport.

The contribution, according to Hale, mirrors his confidence and committment to the sport in this country. He also endorsed and praised the current Tennis Jamaica administration team led by Phillip Gore, the president and national director of tennis, Douglas Burke.

Coincidentally, Burke and Hale were former Davis Cup doubles partners, who still hold the Davis Cup record of the longest final set in Davis Cup history since the introduction of the tie-break.

Schools tennis programme

Beginning January, a portion of the donation will be used to support the schools tennis programme in the parishes of Trelawny and St James.

Additionally, it will serve to equip a tennis centre in Montego Bay and provide technical assistance to Tennis Jamaica's under-10 islandwide development programme.

Hale captured the International Professional Tennis Registry (PTR) Professional of the Year Award in 2005 and the following year, he was appointed the new tournament director of the Rogers Cup. In his latter role, Hale was responsible for all player relations and negotiations with Sony Ericsson WTA Tour and ATP.

He also coached Canada's Federation Cup team and has worked with a number of Top 50 players, including Monica Seles, who was ranked number one in the world in 1995.