Nikola Cigna, left, and teammate Mathis Bondaz prepare to return a shot in their doubles match against Liberty at the Diablos College Tennis Invitational. (Photo by Sebastian Mondaca/Cronkite News)
TEMPE – As cold winds and clouds consumed Kiwanis Tennis Center, a tense rally unfolded between players from Arizona State and the University of Arizona as they battled for a crucial point.
But there was much more on the line than the outcome of a match.
The showcase of top collegiate tennis talent also served as a testament of the impact the Tempe Diablos are having in their community, and how far the Diablo College Tennis Invitational has come.
What began as a bold vision between ASU tennis and the Tempe Diablos – a charitable community organization – has grown into a premier event, blending high-stakes competition with a mission to give back to the Tempe community through scholarships and grant awards, which the organization provided to about 60 local charitable groups in 2023.
The cooperation that made the event possible was just as important to its success as the competition. Arizona State men’s tennis coach Matt Hill said collaboration between the Diablos and the Sun Devils tennis program made it all possible.
Arizona State men’s tennis coach Matt Hill, center, offers guidance to Nikola Cigna, left, and Mathis Bondaz during 7competition at the Diablos College Tennis Invitational. (Photo by Sebastian Mondaca/Cronkite News)
“It’s great to be out here sharing the court with many kids within the area,” Hill said. “Going back to when the event happened three years ago, we reached out to Tempe Diablos and asked if they wanted to work together and help give back to the community. Not only that, Tempe Diablos have also been contacting top schools from around the country to come and support the event.”
“If you look at it full circle, we wouldn’t be here without Tempe Diablos and I’m just so excited and prepared for what’s to come in the following years.”
The collaboration combines two strong local forces: the Diablos’ dedication to civic duty and ASU’s renowned athletic program. In addition to promoting tennis, the invitational helps the Tempe community by supplying essential funds for neighborhood projects, with all earnings going to Tempe Diablos Charities.
The Tempe Diablos have long been a cornerstone of the community, continuously striving to improve the lives of youth and fund important educational initiatives. Beyond organizing events, their goal is to use charity and community involvement to bring about long-lasting change in Tempe.
The Diablo College Tennis Invitational’s proceeds go directly toward programs that serve impoverished families by promoting education, youth development and growth opportunities.
The Diablos believe service and athletics can combine to build a better future for the next generation through each game played, each volunteer who steps forward and each dollar donated.
For Alan Young, the chairman of the Diablo College Tennis Invitational and a sports business instructor at ASU, this vision of growth has always been central to the event’s mission. Reflecting on the event’s early stages, Young said the partnership with Hill and ASU tennis was key to the tournament’s success and expansion.
“Tempe Diablos has been on the lookout for an event that they can own, manage and grow,” Young said. “Coach Hill reached out to me hoping to create a tournament in Tempe, bringing in seven teams to play a round-robin style tournament with ASU. We came in with the goal of making Tempe the tennis capital of Arizona. Tempe invested nearly four or five million dollars in the Kiwanis Tennis Center, and we wanted to showcase it.”
The growth of the invitational is something Young hopes will continue, as he sees the increasing popularity of tennis in the Valley as a sign of the event’s potential. Not only that, he looks forward to bringing women’s tennis into the picture.
A crowd of fans from various universities gather at Tempe’s Kiwanis Tennis Center to cheer on their teams at the Diablos College Tennis Invitational. 3. Fans from various universities gathered at Kiwanis Tennis Center to watch the Diablos College Tennis Invitational. (Photo courtesy of Tempe Diablos Charity)
“Every year, we want to see this event grow more and more,” he said. “We’ve noticed that tennis is actually very popular in the Valley, and that gives us immense hope to continue these showcases. We want to bring that excitement to college tennis.
“Hopefully, as more teams decide to join and Tempe decides to add more courts, we’ll be able to explore the option of not only featuring men’s tennis, but also including women’s tennis in the invitational.”
Looking ahead, the invitational has the potential to grow into one of the nation’s most eagerly awaited collegiate tennis competitions.
Greg Stainton, who directs tournament operations for the Diablos, supported the idea of the event and worked countless hours to ensure its success.
“It really is a unique opportunity not only for the athletes, but for us,” Stainton said. “It helps us engage with our community as an organization. We’re in our third year hosting an event like this and we have worked with over 15 universities. It’s been a slow growth, but it’s been steady. Our partners have stuck with us throughout the years and are loving what we do. We’re going to continue to work with ASU to ensure success and continue to give to Tempe.”
At the 2025 Diablos Collegiate Invitational, the Sun Devil men’s tennis team, ranked No. 41, finished as runner-up after its performance against No. 29 Boise State and No. 9 Arizona. ASU secured a 4-1 victory over Boise State, thanks to impressive singles wins from Bor Artnak, Mathis Bondaz, Nicola Cigna and Tanner Povey. However, in the championship match against Arizona, the Sun Devils fell short, losing 4-0.
Despite the defeat, ASU displayed resilience, and the team’s journey to the finals demonstrated its continued growth and competitive spirit on the court. The Sun Devils next turn their focus to the UTR College Championships, where they will compete against top teams like Pepperdine, Baylor and Princeton beginning March 15.
The Diablos Invitational, while showcasing top-tier tennis, also serves as a vital platform for the Sun Devils to continue refining their skills and competing at the highest level in collegiate tennis. The event’s success sets the stage for more exciting and promising seasons to come, further solidifying Tempe’s place as a hub for collegiate tennis in Arizona.
“Many athletes will come up to us and tell us ‘Thank you for everything you’ve done’ and that makes us feel like we’ve done a good job,” Stainton said. “It’s not football nor baseball, but it’s an awesome sport that has a huge fan base. That’s what this is all about. Building a program that gives back to the community while building and helping athletes excel at what they do.”