Member Spotlight: Gail Gibson
Davida Dinerman
The Love of the Game and the Art of Sanctuary: Meet Gail Gibson
From the moment she held a cut-off tennis racquet at the age of three and a half, Gail Gibson’s life has been anything but ordinary. Born and raised in South Bend, Indiana, and the youngest of three siblings, she was often found tugging at the attention of her tennis-playing brothers at the local country club. “I was told I was a complete pain in the arse,” she laughed, but that persistence paid off. By age seven, she had her first tennis lesson, and by eight, she was competing in tournaments—and winning.
Her passion and competitive spirit carried her through the rigorous junior tennis circuit, often training before school as early as 5:45 a.m., traveling every weekend for tournaments, and living under the watchful (and often strict) eye of a mother who made sure she ran her mile and charted her practice matches. Her first coaches were influential in advancing her skills – taping the court off into thirds where she could hit to only the outside areas; having her hit 25 consecutive forehands and backhands into a bullseye on the wall. These sessions laid the foundation for her incredible placement and ball control.
Tennis was her life. And the hard work paid off. By her early teens, Gibson had already won her first silver ball and was ranked #1 nationally in doubles in the 14s and 16s, partnering with future tennis star and USTA executive Katrina Adams.
At 10 years old, Gibson had the surreal experience of playing against tennis legend Bobby Riggs—before his famous "Battle of the Sexes" match against Billie Jean King. “He was a character,” she remembers. “He said some flattering things and said that if this girl beats me, I will pay her way to the Orange Bowl until she turns 18.” She didn’t beat him that day—but the encouragement meant the world.
Gibson eventually attended the renowned Nick Bollettieri Tennis Academy during her freshman year of high school after moving to Florida. The academy was intense, and while it shaped much of her discipline and work ethic, the constant grind led to burnout during her junior and senior years in high school. A bout of mono forced her to step back, giving her a much-needed break from the game.
After high school, Gibson played collegiate tennis at the University of Miami, where she joined a strong roster and reignited her passion for the sport. After college, she moved to Clearwater, Florida, to be near her college boyfriend and her father. In 1994, she married, started a family, and put tennis on the back burner for nearly a decade.
Life shifted as it does—children, divorce, a career pivot—and Gibson discovered a new creative outlet: interior design. “I always enjoyed design when I was married,” she shares. After her divorce, with her kids just six and seven years old, she bought a tear-down property in Belleair and completely renovated it. Friends noticed her eye for aesthetics and began asking for help with their own homes. This passion blossomed into a profession.
In 2006, Gibson opened a home furnishings store but later shifted focus to raising her children. In 2015, she fully stepped into her own design business, creating what is now a successful design studio based in Tampa. Her work ranges from full-scale renovations and floor plans to furniture procurement for other designers. “I want my clients to feel how I feel when I walk into my own home—that it’s their sanctuary. A place of peace and beauty.”
Even as she built a thriving design business, tennis remained in the background. She dabbled in USTA leagues, stepped away again, and finally came back in 2016, more grounded and joyful in her approach. “When you grow up playing junior tennis, you're wired differently,” she laughs. “I realized I love to be on the courts and competing.”
That passion paid off when she won her first adult gold ball at the 50 and over Women’s Clay Court Nationals in West Palm Beach—a moment that stirred fond memories of her junior days and reminded her just how much tennis is a part of her soul.
Gibson’s love for the sport goes beyond competition. "It’s about connection,” she said. She recalls playing in tournaments where she reconnected with players she hadn’t seen in decades. Through tennis, she’s built friendships all over Tampa, Clearwater, and beyond. Even in her design world, she helps clients—many new to the area—plug into local USTA teams and morning leagues.
Gibson also gives back through tennis. She volunteers with the June Rogers Foundation, which supports colon cancer awareness and community tennis events. With a background in nonprofit fundraising, she’s helping drive sponsorships and creative ideas for future events. “It feels good to give back—especially through something I love.”
Outside of tennis and design, Gibson embraces a well-rounded lifestyle that includes working out, yoga, meditation, and family time. Her two children—now 27 and 28—live nearby. Her daughter Kendall, newly married, lives in St. Petersburg. Her son, Corder, lives just an hour away and works minutes from Gibson’s home on Harbour Island. “It’s a gift to have my family so close,” she said.
“I am extremely blessed to be able to play the sport I love,” Gibson reflected. “I’m at the point in my life where I do what feels good for me—spend time wisely, take care of my soul, and choose to be around people who uplift me.”
Her home, lovingly nicknamed her “Zen Den,” reflects that philosophy. It's a space where creativity, calm, and comfort converge. Whether she’s helping a client reimagine their space or returning a swing on the court, Gibson’s goal remains the same: to be present, to be grateful, and to create beauty—both in design and in life.