Every spring, the quiet town of Ojai, California transforms. The streets fill with players, fans, and volunteers. The scent of orange blossoms mingles with freshly-strung tennis rackets. And for one electric week, Ojai becomes the epicenter of one of the most storied tennis tournaments in the world. This is The Ojai Tennis Tournament—127 years of history, legends, and community spirit packed into a town that feels more like a postcard than a place.
But behind the beauty and tradition lies a story that’s never fully been told. Until now.
Over six years ago, Ojai local Holly Roberts—a photographer, journalist, and lifelong fan of the tournament—had a vision. She wanted to capture the magic of The Ojai on film, not just the matches and trophies, but the heart of it: the people, the volunteers, the history, and the way the town comes alive every April. Holly saw that this wasn’t just a tennis tournament. It was a tradition that had weathered world wars, swarms of bees, and more recently, a global pandemic.
Teaming up with film producer Ryan Del Nero, co-owner of Consume Media, the two set out to bring The Ojai Doc to life. What started as an idea quickly became an epic journey—one that has spanned years, captured hundreds of interviews, and followed the tournament through its highest highs and most uncertain moments.
And then, in 2020, the courts went quiet.
For the first time since World War II, The Ojai Tennis Tournament was canceled. COVID-19 hit hard. The tournament—so dependent on its community of over 600 volunteers—came to a grinding halt. Holly and Ryan’s cameras stopped rolling. Like the rest of the world, they didn’t know if it would ever come back.
But Ojai doesn’t give up that easily.
In 2022, The Ojai returned—and so did The Ojai Doc. The cameras were back, capturing the emotion and triumph of the tournament’s comeback. The energy was electric. The stands were full. Volunteers dusted off their badges, the famous Tea Tent opened its flaps, and orange juice from local orchards once again flowed like a sacred ritual.
The story seemed to be writing itself. A triumphant return. A community reunited. A tournament with a bright future.
And then, just as quickly, everything changed again.
The Pac-12 Conference—the backbone of The Ojai’s collegiate competition for decades—dissolved. The tournament’s future was once again thrown into question. Would The Ojai survive without the Pac-12? Could this 127-year-old institution adapt to yet another seismic shift?
That’s the story Holly and Ryan are telling. The Ojai Doc is more than a documentary about tennis. It’s about resilience. It’s about how a small town and its people have fought to keep this legacy alive for over a century. And it’s about what’s at stake now.
This is a story of champions—on and off the court.
To learn more about The Ojai Doc and how you can be a part of this incredible journey, visit www.consumemedia.org/theojaidoc.
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