Tennis icon Cecil Mamiit grateful, surprised to be included in PH Sports Hall of Fame Class of 2026

Before the rise of Alex Eala and a new generation of Philippine tennis stars, Cecil Mamiit was already carrying Filipino pride on the global stage.

Born in the United States to Filipino immigrants, now 49-year-old Mamiit competed in Grand Slam tournaments in the late 1990s and early 2000s, reaching a career-high ranking of No. 72 in October 1999.

He began representing the Philippines in 2005 and went on to win six gold medals in multiple editions of the Southeast Asian Games. Mamiit competed for the country until the 2011 SEA Games before shifting his focus to coaching in 2012.

Now, he is set to be inducted into the Philippine Sports Hall of Fame, joining the likes of Olympic silver medalist Onyok Velasco and basketball icon Ramon Fernandez.

“Overall, the biggest feeling is gratitude—to my family and to the tennis community around me, especially Philippine Tennis [Association],” Mamiit told GMA News Online on Thursday.

“I’m grateful for the journey and everything that came with it. I also see this as a platform for the future of Philippine tennis—for the Filipino community to come together and hopefully be inspired to do more.”

Mamiit admitted he was surprised by the recognition and is looking forward to the enshrinement ceremony in May.

“Being in the Hall of Fame, I never really thought I would be part of something like this, whether in college or even at the ATP level. This is a great recognition, and I feel very proud to be included.”

Who is Cecil Mamiit?

Although born in the United States, Mamiit traces his love for tennis to a trip to Alaminos, Laguna, where he first picked up a racket at around eight years old.

“I remember visiting the Philippines and taking a few lessons during a family trip. There was one tennis court in Alaminos where I practiced,” he recalled.

“I still remember it clearly. I was hitting balls while turon was being sold on the side. I didn’t know if I wanted to eat or keep playing.”

“But it was great that the family was there to make a business out of it. It was great to hit on the shell for the first time. I think that there's a connection there. That was just a start of it,” he recalled.

From there, Mamiit’s passion for the sport only grew stronger.

After a successful junior career, he played for the University of Southern California, where he won the NCAA singles championship as a freshman. He turned professional in 1996 and played in the four Grand Slams.

Later in his career, Mamiit served as a hitting partner for Maria Sharapova before transitioning into coaching in 2012. Now, he runs a tennis academy in California with around 15 coaches and 10 courts.

Looking ahead, Mamiit hopes to see more Filipinos compete on the global stage, along with improved tennis facilities in the country.

“Imagine having both a top male and female player representing the Philippines and playing mixed doubles in the Grand Slams,” he said.

He also hopes to pass on his knowledge to the next generation.

“It would be nice to expand and share what I’ve learned. That’s the first step. From there, a strong foundation can be built for the long term.”

—JMB, GMA News