USTA Midatlantic Section
7926 Jones Branch Dr.
Suite 120
McLean, VA 22102
Phone: 703-556-6120
Fax: 703-556-6175
Junior Tournament Regulations, Ranking/Standings Requirements (including Points-Per-Round Charts), and Endorsement Procedures are available online.
Do you have an interesting tennis story or tennis photo to share? We’re always on the lookout for great images and even greater stories about our USTA/Mid-Atlantic members! If you would like to share your image or story with us, please e-mail Tammy Reeher
To encourage player participation in the College Showcase, the Section Junior Tennis Council has agreed to award 40 Participation Bonus Points to all players that come to the Showcase. Richard Becker, Founder of Juniortennisconsulting LLC, is offering two (2) free consultations to college prospects! A drawing will be held to award the prizes. The College Showcase is a great opportunity to meet with College Coaches. Now it is also a chance to earn points and win a free consultation!
He had to overcome great odds just to make it to Alabama. Charles Town Coach Clifford Jones was in a car accident, where he suffered a broken arm and a cracked sternum. But he didn’t let that stop him from leading his West Virginia Jr. Team Tennis squad to the 18-and-under USTA National Championship in Mobile. The Ace Kickers will meet the best teams from the 17 USTA Sections. They advanced by winning the Mid-Atlantic Sectional Championship at the Tennis Center at College Park in Maryland.
The University of Virginia women’s head coach will attend the USTA/Mid-Atlantic Section’s College Showcase. Mark Guilbeau will observe high-school players Nov. 14 at Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia. Guilbeau ushered in a new era at Virginia last summer when he was named the program's head coach. The 2005 ITA National Coach of the Year comes to Charlottesville from Kentucky, where he built the Wildcat program into one of the nation's elite.
Frank Shoup, the father of two successful tennis players and military standouts, said: “I'm gratified that your friends at USTA are continuing to encourage Junior Team Tennis, and I would like to offer some comments about what tennis has meant to my son Elliott and daughter Allison. Both played Junior Team Tennis, and both were on their high school tennis teams. Tennis was a great way to introduce them to the ideas of sportsmanship and discipline, as well as to a lifetime sport, which they both continue to enjoy. The sense of achievement provided by tennis, as well as aviation, has served them well, and I hope their experience can inspire junior players to share the same experience as my son and daughter.”
AUSTIN, TX—Eight is a lucky number for two Mid-Atlantic juniors. Scott Sculley (Churchville, MD) and Elizabeth Scotty (former Bethesda, MD resident) won the Boys and Girls’ 8s “Little Mo” National Championships. Sculley, the No. 1 seed, lived up to his seeding after beating No. 2 seed William Grant 6-2, 6-4, in the finals. In the semifinals, he overcame a first-set deficit to down Brandon Nakashima 2-6, 6-3, 6-3, at the Austin Tennis Academy. In August, the 8-year-old also earned the Little Mo East Regional Title in Atlanta, Georgia. In the Girls’ 8s, Scotty, the No. 2 seed, upset No. 1 seed Josie Frazier 6-2, 6-2, to win a National Championship. Scotty, the East Regional Champion, didn’t lose more than four games in any of her four matches.
This is a one-day event and will be attended by college coaches from the Mid-Atlantic and Southern Sections. The $35 registration fee includes a round-robin and competitive match play with the opportunity to play against former Old Dominion University players. A parent seminar covering Title IX, contact policy from NCAA coaches and clearing house registration, scholarship opportunities and limitations, and the rigors of playing college tennis Division I vs Division III.
This is your opportunity to live your fantasy to try to return John Isner's 140-mph serve, trade backhands with Melanie Oudin, and celebrate a great shot with a chest bump from Mike and Bob Bryan. A once-in-a-lifetime chance to team with and against the pros.
David Groemping, Gemini Mental Toughness Training, presented a Seminar at the High Performance Junior Match Play Camp. Now, he is hosting a Mental Toughness Workshop on Nov. 7 at the Skyline Sport and Health Club. Sharpen your game with improved mental skills.
Coaches, the application for the 2010 USTA High Performance Coaching Program is now available. Tennis has experienced an enormous worldwide increase in the amount of competition at the junior and professional levels during the last 20 years. This increase has coincided with a dramatic growth in the application of systematic and scientific approaches to find the most effective and most efficient training methods for maximizing a player’s potential.
The Eastern College Showcase Day will be Nov. 8 at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. This event helps junior and senior high-school players learn more about the college tennis process and connect better with college coaches, including the USTA Eastern Tournament for High-School Seniors and the Eastern College Tennis Showcase for High-School Juniors.
The Mid-Atlantic Section offers tennis players of all ages and levels an assortment of activities, programs, and tournaments. Whether you’re a junior player looking to step up your game or you’re an adult player looking for a new doubles partner, the Aspen Hill Club, Mount Vernon Athletic Club, and West Winds Tennis & Fitness Club provide some of the best tennis activities and programs in the Mid-Atlantic region.
Regency Sport and Health (McLean, VA) will host a special seminar to help parents and players understand the steps in the USTA competitive ladder for junior tennis players. USTA/Mid-Atlantic Competitive Tennis Manager Bonnie Vona will present information on junior opportunities in the Mid-Atlantic Section for national and international competition at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 13. At 7:30 p.m., Vona will work with juniors who are interested in starting the competition process. Topics will include determining your competitive level, entering a tournament online, understanding the ranking, standing and selection processes for the tournaments. At 8:30 p.m., she will address the issues for players moving up to national and international competition and explain the National and International Tennis Federation rankings. Vona will also discuss amateur and college eligibility.
One-day, short format tournaments open to juniors, college players, professionals and adults. Generally draws are compass draws for both singles and doubles with matches being one set with a tiebreaker at 5-5, although format and scoring is at the discretion of the director. Events can be men’s, women’s, or coed.
The Mid-Atlantic Section’s Junior Competition Counsel has approved changes to the 2010 L1 & L2 Junior Tournament Schedule, formats and ranking system. The goals of these changes are: Streamline the schedule. Reduce the amount of travel expenses. Simplify the aging-up process. Improve player development.
Players, you should be aware that the National Youth Competition and Training Committee is proposing that the National Ranking System will count 25% of your Doubles' results toward your Singles Standing. This proposal is made to keep in line with the new ITF ranking procedures. If approved, the change will occur starting Jan. 1, 2010. Mid-Atlantic Doubles events will be more accessible in 2010, because every Challenger will offer doubles (8 per year) along with 4 Doubles Only events per year in each age division.
MIAMI, FL – Club Med will host The Maureen Connolly Brinker Tennis Foundation’s annual "Little Mo" International Open at Club Med Sandpiper, in Port St. Lucie, Florida. The tournament runs Tuesday, December 15, through Saturday, December 19. Carol Weyman, Executive Vice-President of the Maureen Connolly Brinker Tennis Foundation said, “We are thrilled the “Little Mo” Internationals will be held at Club Med Sandpiper and we know it will be the ideal setting for international players and parents. Youngsters will have a chance to meet players from other countries, gauge their skills against players their same age, learn good sportsmanship and enjoy the game without the pressure of rankings. We also want to introduce the name Maureen “Little Mo” Connolly and her accomplishments to youngsters worldwide. We hope you will join us in Florida at Club Med for all of the festivities.”
Beatrice Capra falls to eventual US Open finalist.
In the girls’ quarterfinals, No. 16 Beatrice Capra battled back after dropping the first set, but was defeated by Russia’s Yana Buchina (the eventual finalist) 6-4, 2-6, 6-4. In the boys’ quarterfinals, No. 16 Denis Kudla nearly pulled the upset before falling to France’s Giannia Mina, the eighth seed, 2-6, 7-6 (7-4), 6-3.
Boys and Girls 14s Doubles Only Tournament (ID# 302976009) at the Boars Head Inn in Charlottesville, VA, originally scheduled for November 7-8 has been changed to November 14-15. The Boars Head Inn has been awarded a 50K Men's Challenger, whose dates conflict with the Junior Doubles. To offer the best service to our juniors, we have opted to move the tournament forward. Be sure to go to the Boars Head and see some of the USA's young stars!
COLLEGE PARK, MD—Spencer Liang (Potomac, MD) won the Singles and Doubles at the USTA Girls’ 14 National Championships and Andrew Schafer (New Market, MD) was the Boys’ 14 Singles Finalist and Doubles Champion with Chris Vrabel (Centreville, VA). Schafer, who upset No. 1 singles seed Jack Murray (who used to be No. 1 in the nation) teamed with Vrabel (another 14-year-old who trains at the Four Star Academy). They didn’t drop a set to win the Doubles Championship at the Tennis Center at College Park. This is Vrabel’s second doubles title at a National tournament. Liang, the second seed, upset the No. 1 seed Jamie Loeb (her doubles partner) 6-2, 6-4. Liang only dropped one set in the tournament.
Arthur Ashe Kids' Day Target Challenge winner 15-year-old Skylar Morton (Bethesda, MD) won $10,000 for the Junior Tennis Champions Center in College Park, MD.
The Mid-Atlantic Section will not be sending a team to the Slammin' 10s event in Texas. No selection will be made from the applicants’ list and players who have registered will not be charged. Hopefully, the Section will be able to participate in 2010.
COLLEGE PARK, MD—The atmosphere was electric. Jr. Team Tennis players waved their No. 1 foam fingers cheering their teams to victory at the Mid-Atlantic Sectional Championships. More than 30 Jr. Team Tennis teams and 221 players fought at the Mid-Atlantic Sectional Championships for the chance to advance to the 2009 USTA Jr. Team Tennis National Championships in Mobile, Alabama, later this year. Seven were crowned Sectional Champions on August 8-9 at the Tennis Center at College Park.
Sixteen-year-old Junior Ore (Gaithersburg, MD) has been offered a US Open Boys’ Main Draw Wild Card. Three 2009 USTA National Champions were granted wild card entries – Chase Buchanan (USTA Boys’ 18s), Gonzales Austin (USTA Boys’ 16s), Lauren Davis (USTA Girls’ 16s) – in addition to runner-up Jack Sock (USTA Boys’ 16s) and 2008 USTA Girls’ 18s winner Gail Brodsky.
In less than two weeks, World TeamTennis co-founder Billie Jean King will be at the White House to receive the prestigious Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Obama. However, before she makes the trip to the nation's capital, there's no place the tennis legend would rather be than in San Diego for one of her favorite annual events, the Advanta WTT Junior Nationals at the George E. Barnes Tennis Center, Aug. 5-8. The USTA/Mid-Atlantic Section team vying for the title will be Sophia Schonfeld (Washington DC), Justin Carter (Pikesville, MD), Harsha Rao (Severn, MD), Christopher Ford (Williamsburg, VA), Michelle Nguyen (Springfield, VA), and Linden Li (Great Falls, VA). Colin Clark is coaching the team.
Skylar Morton was undefeated in Singles at the National 16 Team Intersectionals. She won all four singles matches as the No. 1 seed for the USTA/Mid-Atlantic Section's 16s team in July. She has been highly ranked in three USTA age divisions over the past nine months. She received her first tennis racket as a fifth birthday present from her parents, and at age 6, was one of 10 from a group of 200 children ages 6-9 selected by the Junior Tennis Champions Center (JTCC) to participate in their training program based on her talent and tennis potential.
ATLANTA, GA—The Mid-Atlantic Section dominated the Little Mo East Regionals. Mid-Atlantic juniors captured five championships, had two finalists, one third place, and one consolation draw winner at the Sandy Springs Tennis Center. Little Mo Champions are Boys’ 8 – Scott Sculley (Churchville, MD); Boys’ 10 – William Howells (Richmond, VA); Boys’ 11 – Luc Mortemousque (Lynchburg, VA); Girls’ 11 – Raveena Kingsley (Parkton, MD); and Girls’ 8 – Elizabeth Scotty (Bethesda, MD).
Register now to be considered for the Slammin' 10s Rally Team, which will be competing in Arlington, TX. Six boys and six girls will be selected to play on the Mid-Atlantic Section Team. Players must be 10 or younger at the time of the event and will be accepted based on their position on the MAS 10 & under July Final Ranking List.
High School Seniors! The Mid-Atlantic will be hosting a College Night in November. Dates and site are being confirmed. Please keep checking this website for up-to-date information on times and registration.
The 12s Zonal Team, led by Head Coach Joanne Levy, won the Silver Medal at the Zone Team Competition in Knoxville, Tennessee. Team B Silver Medal Winners were Lilian Burchell, Alexa Corse, Emily Pence, Naomi Waters, Cameron Corse, Jada Robinson, Alex Cauneac, Alex Nesterovich, Nickolas Daly, Vijay Golla, Sean Sculley, and Nicholas Mouser. Corse of Baltimore, MD, earned the tournament Sportsmanship Award.
Want a chance to play on a college campus? In a college atmosphere? One-Day Showdowns are one day Open tournaments directed by collegiate coaches and held on college campuses. Junior players, college players, adult/open players can all play, and it is legal under NCAA rules. Most tournaments keep the entry fees low ($10 for singles, $5 for doubles) and utilize compass draws, so everyone gets 4-5 matches in the day. Most directors go with one set matches with a tie-break at 5-5. This past year USTA has had over 60 events, and the response has been tremendous—it has really been a hit with the junior players, parents, and coaches as well as the hosting college coaches and players. It is great community outreach and sometimes even great recruiting.
KALAMAZOO, MI—Mitchell Frank (Annandale, VA) and Junior Ore (Gaithersburg, MD) almost beat the No. 1 seeds at Nationals. They fell 6-4 in the third set to eventual champions Daniel Nguyen and JT Sundling (CA) in the Boys’ 18 doubles semifinals, but rebounded to win the third-place match in straight sets. BERKELEY, CA—Eighth seed Beatrice Capra surpassed her seeding by finishing in fourth place at the USTA Girls’ 18 National Hard Court Championships. ALPHARETTA,GA—Ndindi Ndunda proved that she is better than her No. 5 seed by finishing fourth at the USTA Girls’ 12 Championships.
The 16 Zonal teams excelled at Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, NC. Overall, Mid-Atlantic Team B had the best statistics (games and sets won) in the tournament. Team members are Lauren Davis, Spencer Liang, Maureen Slattery, Laila Judeh, Noor Judeh, Elizabeth Stewart, Fabiola Chaillo, Emily Hahn, Vanessa Vanderdys, Callie Whitlock, Alexandra Ritter, Christina Harrington, Van Damrongsri, Joe Dorn, Kevin Chu, Alex Sidney, Edwin Zhang, Eiichiro Okuyama, Michael Katz, Aaron Gomez, Evan Ward, Philip Nelson, Andrew Schafer, and Matt Waddell. Teresa Boylan of Sweet Briar College and Nic Askew of Howard University coached the teams. Coach Boylan said, "I found it very rewarding to be coaching a very spirited and competitive group of players and their parents who were striving to be in first place."
At the 14 Zonals, Olivia Gaudreault was undefeated to lead Mid-Atlantic to a Gold Medal finish. Mid-Atlantic was 4-0, including a tough win against Texas to make it to the finals, on its way to beating Eastern in the championship match. Coach Chris Tran said, "I want to thank the parents for all your support during the week long tournament. I had a wonderful time coaching these kids and I am so proud to have coached a group of wonderful kids. They worked hard and learned to work together as a team to win as a team in a very short time. While they achieved their team objectives, they also achieved their personal objectives.”
Mid-Atlantic's Jimmy Davis was named the Sportsmanship winner at the Boys 18 National Team Championships in Urbana, IL. Mid-Atlantic Boys Team: John Collins, Kyle Parker, Felix Sun, Andrew Pecht, Jason Luu and Jimmy Davis had a strong finish at the tournament by winning the West Draw. After losing a tough first-round match to powerhouse Southern, Mid-Atlantic won their final three matches, beating Northern California 5-2; New England 5-2; and Northern 5-2.
CHULA VISTA, CA—Case Tolliver (Bluefield, W.Va.) is a National Rapid Rally silver medalist. He improved upon his bronze medal finish from last year. Daniel Baturyn (San Leandro, CA) won the gold medal in the 8-9 year old boys’ division in this Jr. Olympic Skills competition.
DELRAY BEACH, FL—At the USTA Boys’ 16s National Clay Court Championships, doubles national champions Joe Dorn (Washington, DC) and Anton Kovrigin (Rockville, MD) defeated No. 9 seeds Jason Luu (Fairfax, VA) and Quoo-Daniel Nguyen (Dunn Loring, VA) 6-3, 6-1, at the Delray Beach Tennis Center.
National doubles finalists Fabiola Chaillo (Falls Church, VA) and Spencer Liang (Potomac, MD)
VIRGINIA BEACH, VA—The doubles team of Spencer Liang, 14, of Potomac, MD, and Fabiola Chaillo, 15, of Falls Church, VA, received silver balls for placing second in the USTA National Clay Court Girl’s 16’s Tournament. Skylar Morton, 15, of Bethesda, MD, took home her first bronze ball at the conclusion of the Girls 16’s Clay Court championship in Virginia Beach, VA. “I’m so excited,” Morton said, “The farthest I’ve ever gotten in a tournament til now was seventh place. Now I have a ball, a (silver) plate and I can show them off,” Morton exclaimed.
The Jr. Team Tennis State Champions were awarded free Legg Mason Tennis Classic tickets for Aug. 3. With 225 children participating, 21 Maryland teams from nine counties battled in beautiful weather for the right to advance to the Mid-Atlantic Sectionals, August 8-9, at The Tennis Center at College Park. The top two teams in each division advance to Sectionals and the winning team in 18-and-under Intermediate and Advanced, and 14-and-under Intermediate and Advanced will advance to Nationals in Mobile, AL, from Sectionals the last weekends in October.
Beautiful weather marked the 1st Annual Mid-Atlantic Coaches Commission Match Play Camp, July 10-12 at the Tennis Center at College Park. 52 players, chosen from the top 15 of each age division, participated. Coaches representing four different academies arranged competitive matches and coached the players on-court. The camp is intended to help players prepare for the upcoming Clay Court National Championships and to develop camaraderie for the Zone and National Team events.
Farmington Country Club kicked off its summer junior programs this week with 36-foot QuickStart Tennis courts. Clay Court No. 9 has been converted to four QuickStart courts with the help of Lee Tennis. Forty kids and their parents were impressed by the kid-sized courts in Charlottesville, VA. Farmington Head Pro Patrick Kearns said, "Having permanent QuickStart courts send a message about our commitment to teaching kids using the QuickStart format. The kids were blown away."
Justin Shane, who is ranked No. 1 in the USTA/Mid-Atlantic 18s, was named the male tennis Player of the Year in the Washington Post’s Fairfax Extra. Shane (Falls Church, VA) won the Northern Region singles championship and was a doubles finalist. The 6-foot-5 junior is ranked No. 22 nationally in the USTA Boys’ 18s. Others named to the First Team All-Star Team are seniors Sidarth Balaji, Kareem Farah, and Brian Hope; junior Edwin Zhang; and sophomores Jason Luu and Daniel Nguyen.
Houston Barrick (right) was homeschooled. (Contributed photo)
In March 2009, Charlottesville Area Tennis Association (CATA) began contacting home school support groups in Central Virginia to reach out to families who educate their kids at home. Tennis offers a wonderful opportunity to teach many life lessons and develop healthy, well-rounded kids in any setting. Many exceptional junior tennis players have been home schooled to meet the travel demands of playing junior tournaments. Houston Barrick, Co-Captain of the nationally ranked 2009 University of Virginia (UVa) Men’s Tennis Team, is an excellent example of combining tennis and home schooling. Physical education is an integral part of any home-school curriculum. Kids as young as two can be taught the building blocks of tennis athletic skills they’ll use throughout their lives. Agility, balance, hand-eye coordination and reaction time are the main focus of QuickStart games and activities that train young bodies in a fun, energy-burning way. USTA QuickStart lesson plans and practice activities make it possible for even non-tennis-playing parents to teach the fundamentals of the sport.
Luke Jensen, the 1993 French Open Doubles Champion, will conduct a clinic July 3 for high school and prospective varsity players in grades 8-12 in Williamsburg, VA.
The Lexington County Recreation and Aging Commission (LCRAC) will host the 83rd Annual National Public Parks Tennis Championships (NPPTC) in late July. The event is open to all players of all levels. This is one of the most inclusive tournaments ever held. The junior boys and girls’ singles and doubles events for ages 10-18 will be played July 25-28. The family events for husband/wife, father/son, mother/daughter, adaptive tennis, men’s and women’s singles and unified doubles and wheelchair men’s and women’s Open, A&B singles and doubles, and junior open singles will be played July 28-29. The USTA National Category 2 adult age division events for Open, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80, 85, and 90; men’s & women’s singles, doubles and mixed will be competing for $5,000 in prize money. NTRP divisions include (3.0, 3.5, 4.0 & 4.5) men’s and women’s singles, doubles and mixed will be held July 30-Aug. 2.
At Winchester Country Club, top seed Maria Fuccillo (Rockville, MD) won the championship by defeating No. 3 seed Natalie Blosser (Arlington, VA) 6-4, 6-4. Fuccillo, who won this Mid-Atlantic Girls’ 18 Level 1 Tournament in Winchester, VA, overcame 4-3 deficits in both sets to win the title. Blosser held off four set points in the first set and five match points in the final set. Fuccillo was ranked No. 1 in the Girls’ 18s last year.
CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA—Emily Dahnert of Charlottesville, VA, has just been named as a recipient of the $500 USTA Serves Incentive Award. In April, Dahnert, 11, participated in a USTA Recreational Coach Workshop, where she was the youngest participant, but still managed single-handedly to "wipe out" six adults during a round of the "wipe out" drill. She has aspirations of playing for the University of Virginia Women's Tennis Team and enjoys hitting with Mark Guilbeau, the UVa Women's Coach. Lynda Harrill, Charlottesville Area Tennis Association’s QuickStart Tennis Coordinator, says “I have watched Emily develop as a tennis player and young lady over the past three years. She’s an example of how positive tennis can be in a young person’s life. She’s a fierce competitor on the court, yet always with a smile, and she’s a caring and giving kid. Despite her young age, Emily is already teaching younger kids QuickStart Tennis and serving as a terrific role model.”
Excitement and fun captivated about 100 people at the National Junior Tennis and Learning Regional Rally. Kids played tennis games, won prizes and danced to Radio Disney at the Lake Newport Tennis Courts in Reston, VA. It resembled Halloween as they brought home bags full of prizes at the USTA/Virginia Block Party.
Six Rapid Rally Winners won Blue Ribbons at the Olympic Skills Competition in Howard County, Maryland. Davin Park, Marc DeSimone, Tyler Hart, Nicole Tabenske, Diana Budman, and Vidisha Patwardhan were crowned Rapid Rally Champions.
WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. – Victoria Ng, a senior at Springbrook High School in Silver Spring, MD, has been selected as one of 52 winners nationwide of a $6,000 College Educational Scholarship by USTA Serves – Foundation for Academics. Character. Excellence., the philanthropic and charitable entity of the United States Tennis Association. The Foundation has granted 71 high school students a variety of college scholarships this spring, totaling $379,000. Despite the fact that she competes in four sports – tennis, outdoor track, indoor track and softball – Ng finds time for involvement in the Chemistry Club and the Washington Chinese Dance Troupe. Volunteering and tutoring children during summers in the Chinatown center helped her earn a community service award. Her passion for science and research is leading her to major in biomedical engineering at the University of Maryland-Baltimore County. USTA Serves Chief Executive Karen Martin-Eliezer said, “We understand how vital financial assistance is for these deserving high school seniors as they pursue higher education. Supporting them is a sound investment in America’s future. It is our hope and firm belief that these young men and women will continue to positively impact the world throughout their life’s journey.”
The BG 14 and 18 Doubles Only L1 tournaments originally scheduled for Mary Washington University on June 21 and July 5, respectively, have been rescheduled for June 20 at the same site. June 21 will be available as a rain date. Entries for these tournaments close on Monday, June 15 at 11:59 P.M.
Paris, France—Beatrice Capra advanced to the girls' doubles quarterfinals before falling to the second seeds, and Denis Kudla, the fifth seed with partner Evan King, also advanced to the boys' doubles quarterfinals before being upset in doubles.
Charlottesville, VA – Sonia Brandon, a USPTA Tennis Professional with over 20 years of experience and a Fluvanna resident, will lead the inaugural QuickStart Tennis programs for Fluvanna Parks & Recreation Department. QuickStart Tennis is the USTA’s new format for teaching kids 10-and-under the sport for a lifetime. The sport has been kid-sized. QuickStart equipment and instruction are age-appropriate. With the portable QuickStart nets, kids can play tennis almost anywhere.
On Saturday, May 30, four area NJTL Chapters will compete to see who has the best NJTL tennis team in Northern Virginia. After the competition, there will be a Tennis Block Party with fun tennis drills, a prize court, giveaways and Radio Disney on location to emcee the event. The NJTL Regional Rally in Reston will be an exciting, diverse event featuring NJTL Chapters NOVA Family Enrichment Program, Thai Tennis Organization in America, Washington Area Chinese Tennis Assoc. and Reston Tennis Assoc., each bringing teams of 15-25 kids ages 9-14. Stay for the Tennis Block Party and watch the action as the kids get time to play on-court games, win prizes and let loose with Radio Disney.
Beatrice Capra (Ellicott City, MD), Denis Kudla (Arlington, VA) and Mitchell Frank (Annandale, VA) will be playing in the French Open Junior Main Draw. The USTA announced that seven boys and three girls have been accepted into the main draw at the 2009 Roland Garros Junior Championships. The main draw will be played May 31-June 7 at Roland Garros in Paris; qualifying will be played in Montrouge, France, May 28-29.
USTA Serves awarded Victoria Ng (Silver Spring, MD) with a $6,000 College Education Scholarship. Oludayo Areke (Clarksville, MD) & Emily Dahnert (Charlottesville, VA) received $500 Player Incentive Awards.
Yancy Dennis won the singles and doubles at the B12s National Open in Baltimore last week. It catapulated his national ranking from 24 in the country to 15. Just before that tournament, he made the quarterfinals of the Boys 12 Spring National Championship in Boca Raton, FL. He is currently ranked No. 1 in the Mid-Atlantic and won his first Mid-Atlantic Boys 16 L5 in February after just turning 12 years old.
Luca Corinteli (Alexandria, VA) was one of 14 players selected to train on clay at the Barcelona Total Tennis Academy for three weeks. Corinteli, 13, is ranked No. 15 nationally in the Boys’ 14 Singles this year and was ranked No. 1 in the Mid-Atlantic Boys’ 14s last year. He will be coached USTA National Coach Andres Pedroso. This training will provide an excellent developmental experience and give the players an opportunity to test their skills with players from other countries, while competing and practicing on red clay. In addition, it will provide the U.S. players an opportunity to see how another country’s top players train and compete.
USTA Director of Coaching Jose Higueras and Director of Men's Coaching Jay Berger visited the Regional Training Center at Tennis Center at College Park last weekend, watching and helping Mitchell Frank and Denis Kudla prepare for the French Open. They also conducted a Coaches Workshop for High Performance coaches from around the Mid-Atlantic Section. About 18 coaches had the opportunity to listen to Higueras and Berger and to participate in on-court drills. They spoke about the importance of having a specific purpose and progression for each coaching session and emphasized that players must learn to think for themselves.
Schedule a lesson with the best pros and improve your game at the best camps in the area. Check out Tennis Pro Joanne Levy and Tennis Camps at the Tennis Center at College Park, Van der Meer Tennis, Aspen Hill Club, Adidas Tennis Camps, 4 Star Camps, Jack Schore Tennis, and the Naval Academy's Blue and Gold Tennis Camps.
Because of their rankings, Denis Kudla (Arlington, VA) and Mitchell Frank (Annandale, VA) will get automatic bids into the French Open Junior Tournament. On Saturday, Frank, 16, beat Mikael Pernfors, who was a French Open finalist, 10-5 at River Bend. Pernfors, 42, climbed to No. 10 in the ATP rankings and won two consecutive NCAA championships. He has beaten Boris Becker, Pete Sampras, Andre Agassi, John McEnroe and Stefan Edberg.
Throughout the Mid-Atlantic region, there are exceptional summer camps. Whether a beginner or tournament player, six to eighteen years old, there is a summer camp for every aspiring tennis player. Full-day, half-day, and overnight camps are tailored to fit individual schedules. Each camp offers its own unique experience. Highlighted below are several tennis camps from throughout the Mid-Atlantic Section: Wintergreen Resort, Jack Schore Tennis, 4 Star Camps, and The Blue and Gold Tennis Camp.
Check out all of the Mid-Atlantic Section Announcements: Campus Showdowns Make Their Mark in Mid-Atlantic. Mid-Atlantic Will Host College Night in November. Boys and Girls 14s Doubles Only Tournament Changed from Nov. 7-8 to Nov. 14-15. One-Day Showdown Schedule.
The USTA has connected two Maryland players. Ryan Kent (Ellicott City, MD) and Tim Lozinak (Churchville, MD) are both sectionally ranked players who became friends through USTA tournaments and will become roommates and teammates in Fall 2009 at Division I Deleware.
USTA/Maryland's first ever QuickStart Tennis Tournament
The first ever USTA/Maryland-sponsored QuickStart Tennis tournament for kids under the age of 10 was hosted by Tim Harvey at the Quince Orchard Racquet Club in Gaithersburg. At the event, a total of 12 kids (eight in the 8 & Unders and four in the 9-10s) played continuously for one and one-half hours. Play was on four, 36-foot courts using foam balls for the younger kids and on two 60-foot courts using low-compression balls for the 9-10 year olds. Each participant received a certificate, a medal, and a USTA/Maryland string backpack. Pizza and drinks for everyone at the end of the tournament rounded out a fun-filled afternoon.
Beatrice Capra, 17, of Ellicott City, MD, is one of 11 female players who will compete for a wild card into the French Open. Laurie Capra said, “We are very excited for her. She is working very hard. She is now 2 in the 18's in the nation and 25 in the world juniors. She hoping to take that next step and jump into top 100 in the world. We will leave for Italy next Monday.”
CARSON, CA--Spencer Liang needs more arms to carry all her Easter Bowl awards. The Potomac, MD, resident won a silver clock for placing fifth overall in Girls’ 14 singles, a silver tournament ball for second place in doubles and a USTA Sportsmanship plaque for her conduct, fair play and sportsmanship at the USTA National Championship event.
CARSON, CA--No. 9 seed Mitchell Frank upset No. 1 Denis Kudla in the Boys' 18 semifinals and No. 4 Evan King in the finals to win the USTA International Spring Championships. The Annandale, VA, resident avenged an earlier defeat to Kudla in last year’s Orange Bowl Final.
MOBILE, AL--No. 1 seed Beatrice Capra lived up to her billing. The Ellicott City, MD, standout defeated Chichi Scholl 6-2, 6-2, in the finals to take home the USTA Spring National Championships. She only lost one set out of her seven matches on her way to the title. Capra also finished in fourth place in the doubles with Scholl.
RACHO MIRAGE, Calif.—Denis Kudla (a 16-year-old from Arlington, Va.) won the United States Tennis Association Boys’ 18 Doubles Easter Bowl National Championship with partner JT Sundling (Thousand Oaks, Calif). They defeated No. 3 seeds Frederick Saba (Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.) and Jack Sock (Lincoln, Neb.) in the final 6-3, 6-7 (7-2), 10-8. Last year, Kudla was crowned the Dunlop Orange Bowl Boys’ 16 Singles Champion and captured the U.S. Junior Davis Cup. The young phenom has played in the Legg Mason Tennis Classic and was the opening act for Pete Sampras and Roger Federer exhibition at Madison Square Garden. In the Girls’ 14s, Spencer Liang (Potomac, Md.) was a doubles finalist and finished fifth in the singles. She also won the Sportsmanship Award. In the USTA Boys’ 14 Singles, Luca Corinteli (Alexandra, Va.) finished fourth.
Charlottesville, VA– USTA/Mid-Atlantic Section Executive Director Rod Dulany said the “Go Bananas for QuickStart!” program will make exercise and health fun. “It is a great program starting up in our section that focuses on tennis, fitness, conditioning, hydration and nutrition. Kids can play like the pros by hitting back and forth. The only difference is they play on smaller courts with foam tennis balls. This program also teaches them to eat and train like the pros.” The Jump Start QuickStart Tennis Initiative is directed by Charlottesville Area Tennis Association (CATA) QuickStart Tennis Coordinator Lynda Harrill. Harrill says, “Applying for a grant from the Childhood Obesity Task Force was the inspiration for "Go Bananas for QuickStart!" Adding nutrition and hydration to the mix seemed like a natural. There’s no better food than bananas for tennis players and most kids love them. We’re going to use tennis players as nutritional role models for kids starting with bananas. Want to be a great tennis player? Eat like a great tennis player!”
Beatrice Capra of Ellicott City, MD (Michael Baz Photo)
PALM DESERT, Calif. – In the Girls’ 18s, No. 3 seed Beatrice Capra (Ellicott City, MD) picked up the victory in straight sets during the first round of the 42nd annual Easter Bowl Spring National Championships. Capra, who just turned 17, is looking to improve upon her two National second-place finishes. She was a National Orange Bowl Doubles and Clay Court Singles Finalist. In the Girls’ 16s First Round, Skylar Morton (Bethesda, MD) and Julie Vrabel (Centreville, VA) won in straight sets, while Isabel Aldunate (Bowie, MD) earned a hard-fought third-set victory. Sydney Smith (Washington, DC) also advanced. In the Boys’ 16s First Round, Quoc-Daniel Nguyen (Dunn Loring, VA) and Van Damrongsri (Ellicott City, MD) advanced in straight sets, while Justin Carter (Pikesville, MD), and Joe Dorn (Washington, DC) won in three sets.
In the Easter Bowl Boys’ 14 Division, Jordan Portner (Ellicott City, MD), Luca Corinteli (Alexandria, VA), and Shyam Venkatasubramanian (Glen Allen, VA) won their first-round matches in straight sets, while Daniel Shebshayevich (Potomac, MD) advanced in three sets. In the Girls’ 14s, No. 6 Spencer Liang (Potomac, MD), Laila Judeh (Potomac, MD), and Shannon Hudson (Virginia Beach, VA) advanced into the second round.
Spencer Liang has been on a roll. After turning 14 recently, she won three Mid-Atlantic Level 1 Championships in the 14s, 16s, and 18s. The Potomac, MD, resident defeated No. 1 seed Julie Vrabel (Centreville, VA) 6-3, 6-3, in the Girls’ 18s. In the Girls’ 16s the previous week, she outlasted No. 6 seed Maureen Slattery (Newport News, VA) 6-4, 4-6, 6-3. In the Girls’ 14s, she beat No. 4 seed Shannon Hudson (Virginia Beach, VA) 6-3, 6-0, in January right after her birthday.
Summer is the time for the National Zone Team Championships (ZONALS). These are National Level II Team events. Two USTA Mid-Atlantic Section teams compete at the B&G 12s, 14s and 16 ZONALS. Players travel with a parent or guardian to the event, but compete as a team with a USTA Mid-Atlantic Section coach.
Anacostia High School is beginning a new tennis tradition to match its success in major sports like basketball, football and track. Richard King, a PTR (Professional Tennis Registry) Certified Instructor, has been brought on as the new Anacostia tennis coach in Southeast Washington. King is looking for tennis players to practice at 3:30 p.m. after school. Tennis At Shiloh (TAS), a Community Tennis Association, will continue its program of Family Fun Tennis at the Family Life Center at Shiloh Baptist Church (1510 Ninth Street., NW). It is free from 9:30-11 a.m.. Children learn tennis lessons with music, aerobics, and stretching. TAS is also forming three new Jr. Team Tennis teams for children between the ages of 7-18. If you are interested, e-mail King at rakingjr@verizon.net or call 202-251-3469. The Fall Jr. Team Tennis Team, the Crusaders, won the 2008 Fall DC Competition.
The USTA Point Penalty System, set forth in USTA Tournament Regulation I.P shall be in force in all covered events except any reference to injury, illness or personal emergency shall not apply. The purposes of the Point Penalty System are to deter unsportsmanlike conduct; promote continuous play during matches; encourage punctuality among tournament players; and secure compliance with the rules, regulations, and orders. When any points set by the USTA conflict with the Mid-Atlantic point system, then the Mid-Atlantic point system shall apply.
Hello, we have been living here in Spain for almost three weeks. This trip has been one of the best things I have done for my tennis and I am sure it is the same with the other guys. We have learned so much these last few weeks as every day I am learning something new. The physical part of this trip is tough and we have done some workouts that have amazed me.
The National Staff for Player Development has recently designated the Tennis Center at College Park (TCCP) as a regional "Junior Tennis Champions Center.” As part of its mission to support Player Development, TCCP will host national High Performance Camps for Mid-Atlantic players. The first camp is scheduled for March 12-15 and will work with 8-12 year olds. Additional camps for 8-12s and 12-16s will be scheduled throughout the upcoming months.
The USTA/Mid-Atlantic Section is searching for qualified individuals to coach top-ranked juniors at Zonals, Intersectionals, B&G 18s National Teams, WTT Jr. Nationals and Nike Junior Tour. Coaches must be USPTA or USPTR certified, or have participated in the USTA High Performance Coaches Education Program, and should have at least two years of coaching experience with juniors. Tournaments are in California, Florida, North Carolina, Tennessee, Illinois, and Louisiana. (All coaches are subject to a background check.) Tournaments are in California, Florida, North Carolina, Tennessee, Illinois, and Louisiana.
The USTA/Mid-Atlantic Section uses the same age-eligibility rule as USTA National. Junior players are able to play in an age division until the month of birth in the year in which they “age out” of their current age division. This means that players who are 10, 12, 14, 16, or 18 years old may continue to play in their age division until the last day of the month preceding the month in which they turn 11, 13, 15, 17, or 19, respectively. NOTE: The start date of a tournament determines the player’s eligibility for that tournament.
Evaluate Mid-Atlantic Officials with this Official's Evaluation Form and answer these questions: Communication - How did the official interact with players, tournament staff, coaches and bystanders? Conflict - How did the official handle conflict, confrontation or unusual circumstances? Attitude - How was the official’s demeanor? On time for schedule changes? Application of the rules - Was the official knowledgeable of the rules? Used good judgment in application of the rules? Appearance - Was the official appropriately dressed in the proper uniform? Well groomed?
Check out the best players in the Mid-Atlantic Section. These are the Tournament Champions throughout the year on grass, clay, hard, and indoor courts.
Justin Shane of Falls Church, VA, got hot for five rounds and won the Boys’ 18 Level 3 National Tournament in Toledo, Ohio. Shane, the No. 15 seed, upset the No. 3, 4, 6, and 14 seeds at the Laurel Hill Swim and Tennis Club. He beat John Collins, the fourth seed, 6-4, 6-4, in the hard-court indoor finals. Collins (Bowie, MD), who is No. 1 in the Mid-Atlantic Boys’ 18s, took out the No. 13 and 16 seeds in the tournament. Sidarth Balaji and Kyle Parker were the National Finalists in doubles. In doubles, Balaji (Fairfax, VA) and Parker (Richmond, VA), the top seeds, defeated the sixth and seventh seeds of the tournament before falling to Nick Chappell (Indiana) and Justin Rossi (Michigan) 8-5 in the finals.
Two West Virginia standouts made it on the medal stand at the USA Jr. Olympic Skills Competition. Nicole Gabe won the silver in the Rapid Rally 10-11 girls’ division, while Case Tolliver captured the bronze in the 8-9 boys’ division. In Rapid Rally, a player hits the tennis ball against a wall as many times as possible in 30 seconds.
In the Boys’ 16s final, No. 1 seed Denis Kudla, a 16-year-old from Arlington, Va., lived up to his seeding, as he dominated training partner Mitchell Frank of Annandale, Va., 6-0, 6-2. Frank, the No. 12 seed, proved to be remarkably consistent all week as he frustrated opponents into going for too much and forcing errors. But the strategy proved ineffective against Kudla, who worked Frank all over the court and defeated him relatively easily. “This hasn’t really sunk in yet,” said Kudla. “I know Mitchell so well, and he’s one of the most consistent guys out here, so I knew I’d be in for a tough match because he gets so many balls back. But I was able to place my shots where I wanted to. It just feels awesome to win this title.”
Rose Hobson hangs a medal around Kasey Countee's neck.
Mid-Atlantic President Chris Reynolds and outgoing President Rose Hobson awarded medals to the top 5 Mid-Atlantic Juniors in each age category at the Mid-Atlantic Annual Meeting at the Army Navy Country Club in Arlington, VA. As of Oct. 14, 2008, the No. 1 players were Maria Fuccillo, Girls’ 18s; Sidarth Balaji, Boys’ 18s; Skylar Morton, Girls’ 16s; Quoc-Daniel Nguyen, Boys’ 16s; Spencer Liang, Girls’ 14s; Shyam Venkatasubramanian, Boys’ 14s; Dylan Owens, Girls’ 12s; Francis Tiafoe, Boys’ 12s; Raveena Kingsley, Girls’ 10s; and Sean Sculley, Boys’ 10s.
Former Mid-Atlantic Boys’ 12 No. 1 Kasey Countee (Cheltenham, MD) was one of five nationally ranked juniors recently invited by Prince Sports and the International Management Group (IMG), to train for one week with Nick Bollettieri at the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida. The other junior players were Boys’ 12 hard-court national singles and doubles champion Spencer Papa (Oklahoma), former Boys’ 12 USTA National No. 1 Jordan Belga (Illinois), USTA Top 10 and Tennis Recruiting Blue Chipper Timothy Kane (New York), and USTA Top 15 and Tennis Recruiting 5-Star Player Artemie Amari (New York). "It was a great experience, Countee said. “Every day that we worked with Coach Bollettieri he shared a story or some words of wisdom. We also got a chance to hit with Jimmy Arias and Xavier Malisse."
Bonnie Vona has been hired as the new Mid-Atlantic Competitive Tennis Manager. Vona will be joining us from the Texas Section, where she has been on their Competitive Staff for four years. Vona looks forward to hearing from the Mid-Atlantic members as she settles into her new position. “I hope to work closely with the MAS tennis community to promote the growth of our sport,” she said. “I see my role as a facilitator -- listening to the ideas and needs of the local community and generating events and programs to address those needs.”
No. 1 seed Spencer Liang (Potomac) and Skylar Holloway (Oxon Hill) went through the draw further than any other Americans. The two Maryland residents advanced to the semifinals before falling in straight sets to two Czechs. No. 4 seed Kamila Pavelkova beat Liang 6-3, 6-4, in one semifinal, while her fellow Czech and No. 2 seed Natalie Novakova defeated Holloway 6-2, 6-0, in the other semifinal.
PALO ALTO, CA – At the Junior Tour (NJT) USA National Masters tennis tournament at Stanford University, Mid-Atlantic’s Spencer Liang finishes fourth after falling to the eventual champion in the semifinals. Liang, the No. 3 seed, dropped a tough three-set match to eventual champion and No. 1 seed Julia Jones (Florida Section) 5-7, 6-4, 6-2, but she got the most games off of the Girls 14 winner. Liang didn’t drop a set on her way to the semifinals. In the first round, she defeated Sofia Vega Molina (Caribbean) 6-1, 6-2, and then beat Zaina Sufi (Southwest) 6-2, 6-4. In the third-fourth place playoff, Liang lost to No. 4 seed Jillian Rooney (New England) 6-3, 6-2.
In the USTA’s "Coming Attractions: A Look at Future American Tennis Champions" the Mid-Atlantic has three promising young players in this booklet –Denis Kudla of Arlington, VA; Junior Ore of Gaithersburg, MD; and Julie Vrabel of Centreville, VA. Kudla, who is coached by Frank Salazar, was the singles and doubles runner-up at the 2008 USTA Boys’ 16s National Championships. As a 15-year-old in June, he reached the semifinals of the USTA Futures tournament at Rochester, NY. Kudla has had success on clay, winning the singles and doubles titles at the USTA Boys’ 14s Clay Court Championships in 2006, and reaching the final of the USTA Boys’ 16s Clay Courts in 2007. Ore, who is coached by Salazar, was the 2006 USTA Boys 14s National Champion. He and Kudla played doubles at the Legg Mason Tennis Classic professional tournament. Vrabel, 14, has earned a career-high No. 3 ranking in the USTA Girls’ 14s.
SAN LUIS POTOSI, MEXICO -- Mid-Atlantic’s Dennis Kudla is a part of history. The 16-year-old from Arlington, VA, will be in International Tennis Federation (ITF) books for a record that can never be broken. No nation in history has won all four of the ITF’s junior team competitions in one season. Until now. In the 16s, Kudla beat Agustin Velotti 6-3, 6-4, and Evan King defeated Andrea Collarini 6-1, 2-6, 6-2, to secure the 2-0 USA win over Argentina. The USA boys team, captained by David Roditi, and the girls’ team, captained by Roger Smith, clinched a historic double victory in the finals of the Junior Davis Cup and Junior Fed Cup by BNP Paribas.
BLACKSBURG, VA--In the Virginia Tech (VT) Campus Showdown, Tech sophomore Sebastien Jacques won 6-3 over his teammate Patrick Daciek, a freshman from Severna Park, MD, in a one-set all-day tournament, open to pro, college, junior, and adult players. In the semifinals, Jacques nipped Mid-Atlantic’s Sidarth Balaji 7-5. In the quarterfinals, he beat the Midwest’s Brian Alden 6-2. In the second round, he defeated Mid-Atlantic’s Kevin McMillen 6-2. In the semifinals, Daciek defeated VT’s Corrado Degl’Incerti Tocci 6-2. In the quarterfinals, he beat VT freshman Zach Pine from Vienna, VA, 6-1. In the second round, he topped Liberty University’s Pritt Pihl 6-3. In the first round, he cruised past Southern’s Chad Hoskins 6-0. In a battle for third place, Degl’Incerti defeated Balaji 6-2. Balaji, a 17-year-old from Fairfax, VA, is No. 1 in the Mid-Atlantic Boys’ 18s.
Just like Roger Federer dominating the U.S. Open, a Fairfax, VA, 7-year-old has been dominating her competition. Natasha Subhash has won six titles in the 8- and 10-and-unders as a 6-year-old and her favorite player is Federer. “I like his forehand and his serve,” she said, adding that when she grows up, she wants to be a tennis pro. She is strong enough to use one hand on her forehand just like Federer does. And, like Federer, her strength is her forehand.
Six Mid-Atlantic Sectional Champions were crowned Aug. 9-10 at the University of Mary Washington with more than 150 players competing in Fredericksburg, VA. 12-and-Under Advanced Champion: FRC Servin’ up Trouble, Captain Kim Brown. 12-and-Under Intermediate Champion: Howard County Awesome Aces, Captain Shantha Chandra. 14-and-Under Advanced Champion: Richmond Nomads, Captain Lynn Maready. 14-and-Under Intermediate Champion: Regency Reds, Captain Chris Tran. 18-and-Under Advanced Champion: DTA, Captain Ryan Davidson. 18-and-Under Intermediate Champion: An Achievable Dream, Captain Donald Widener. Winning teams in the 14-and-under Advanced and Intermediate, and 18-and-under Advanced and Intermediate divisions will advance to the USTA National Junior Team Tennis Championships held October 23-November 2 in Mobile, Alabama.
GLEN COVE, N.Y.—Mid-Atlantic’s Aries Wong of Maryland won the Boys 12 Singles and Maureen Slattery and Shannon Hudson of Virginia won the Girls 14 Doubles at the Labor Day National Championships on clay indoor courts at Robbie Wagner's Tournament Training Center. In the Boys’ 12 singles finals, Wong, the No. 1 seed, defeated Kyle Mautner 6-4, 6-0. The Bethesda resident only lost 15 games in the first three rounds before have a close third-set match against No. 6 seed Taiyo Hamanaka 2-6, 6-3, 10-8 in the semifinals. In the Girls’ 14 doubles final, Slattery of Virginia Beach and Hudson of Newport News, the No. 4 seeds, nipped Claudia Li and Jillian Rooney, the No. 1 seeds, 9-7. In the semifinals, they upset the No. 2 seeds Morgan Feldman and Kennedy Womack 8-4. The champions only lost 11 games before the finals.
Boys’ 12: With 3,053 points, Aries Wong, 12, is 173 points ahead of Kasey Countee. The Bethesda, MD, resident overtook Countee, who had been No. 1 for six months, on Aug. 19.
The Mid-Atlantic No. 1 Juniors are Maria Fuccillo of Rockville, MD, in the Girls’ 18s; Sidarth Balaji of Fairfax, VA, in the Boys’ 18s; Skylar Morton of Bethesda, MD, in the Girls’ 16s; Quoc-Daniel Nguyen of Dunn Loring, VA, in the Boys’ 16s; Spencer Liang of Potomac, MD, in the Girls’ 14s; Shyam Venkatasubramanian of Glen Allen, VA, in the Boys’ 14s; Dylan Owens of Olney, MD, in the Girls’ 12s; Aries Wong of Bethesda, MD, in the Boys’ 12s; Raveena Kingsley of Parkton, MD, in the Girls’ 10s; and Sean Sculley of Churchville, MD, in the Boys’ 10s.
At the 2008 USTA Girls’ 18 National Championships, Mid-Atlantic’s Beatrice Capra, 16, of Ellicott City, MD, was ranked No. 11 and advanced to the Round of 64. After getting a bye in the first round, she beat Sabine Fuchs of Washington state 7-5, 6-1, and then lost to New York player Manuela Velasquez 2-6, 6-3, 6-2. In doubles, she teamed with Florida player Brooke Bolender, and the eighth seeds advanced to the quarterfinals. They beat Southern California Section players Danielle Lao and Alison Ramos 7-6 (5), 7-6 (5) in the Round of 32 and Missouri Valley Section players Michelle Kedzierski and Alexandra Lehman by injury default in the Round of 16, before falling to the No. 3 seeds -- Florida player Julia Boserup and Eastern player Christina McHale 6-0, 6-1. Other Mid-Atlantic participants who competed Aug 3-10 at the Berkeley Tennis Club in Berkeley, CA, were Maria Fuccillo, Lindsey Hardenbergh, Grace Leake, Linden Li, Yilian Zhang, and Michelle Nguyen.
Led by Coach Colin Clark Mid-Atlantic finished seventh at the World TeamTennis Junior Nationals in San Diego. The team members include Nobuyoshi Tanaka, Vienna, Va., Edwin Zhang, Falls Church, Va., Jason Luu, Fairfax, Va., Michelle Nguyen, Springfield, Va., Sydney Smith, Washington, D.C., and Kelsey McGillis, Great Falls, Va. In a battle of undefeated teams, Team Southern defeated Youth Tennis San Diego to defend their title at the World TeamTennis Junior Nationals presented by Advanta at the George E. Barnes Tennis Center in San Diego on Sunday. It was the third title for Team Southern in the event’s 13-year history, having previously won the championship in 2005 and 2007. Team Southern includes players from Georgia, Mississippi, South Carolina and North Carolina.
ATLANTA, GA – At the Little Mo East Regional – Mid-Atlantic’s Sean Sculley won the boys 10-and-under division Aug. 8-10 at the Sandy Springs Tennis. Sculley was the No. 1 seed and defeated Price, who is a top four boy in Georgia and top 20 in the Southern Section, 6-3, 6-0 in the finals. On the way to the finals, he also defeated the No. 1 boy from Puerto Rico. This now qualifies Sculley (a 9-year-old Churchville, MD, resident who is Sculley is No. 1 in the Mid-Atlantic 10-and-under boys rankings) for the Little Mo Nationals held at the Austin Tennis Academy in Austin, Texas, in October.
The Mid-Atlantic Boys and Girls 12s Zonal team advanced to the final by going undefeated. The team record was 4-1(the only loss was in the final to Southern, the largest of all the USTA sections). Led by Coach Chris Tran, the girls on the team were Olivia Large, Anna Fuhr, Ndindi Ndunda, Mia Gancayco, Dylan Owens, and Isabella Blosser. The boys were Oludayo Areke, Stephen Hu, Nicholas Bayh, Michael Drougas, Yancy Dennis, and Lewis Goode. Large and Drougas received the Sportsmanship Award for the section.
Eight Mid-Atlantic players stood out to Section coaches to qualify for Regional Identification Talent Camps in California. Six boys -- Parker Wilson of Winchester, VA; Paul Mendoza of Midlothian, VA; Brian Tsao of Sparks, MD; Adrien Bouchet of Oakton, VA; Luc Mortemousque of Lynchburg, VA; and Dennis Alfansev of Williamsburg, VA; -- qualified for the Boys (10-11 year old) Regional Identification Camp on Aug. 13-15 in Carson, CA. Alissa Rosen of Midlothian, VA, and Brooke Santoriello of Bel Air, MD, qualified for the Girls (8-9 year old) Regional Identification Camp on Aug. 11-13 in Carson, CA.
SAN DIEGO, CA -- Many of the nation’s most promising junior tennis players will return to San Diego to compete in the 13th Annual World TeamTennis Junior Nationals presented by Advanta, August 14-17 at the George E. Barnes Tennis Center. The WTT Junior Nationals is a premier national junior invitational event featuring 16 co-ed teams from throughout the United States. The teams will use the WTT format during their three days of non-elimination draw competition. Additionally, the participants will be treated to a player forum with event host and WTT co-founder Billie Jean King.
MATEF's ADOPT-A-SCHOOL PROGRAM utilizes the talent and energy of local tennis enthusiasts to become advocates for promoting QuickStart Tennis in special needs schools and military bases.
