ZooTennis

US Teams Reach Sunday's Junior BJK Cup and Davis Cup Finals; Blanch and Krueger Meet for Knoxville Challenger Title; Exsted Wins Third Pro Doubles Title; Tien Claims First ATP Title

The domination of the top seeded teams from the United States in the ITF Junior Billie Jean King Cup and Junior Davis Cup Finals continued today in Santiago Chile, with the girls beating No. 4 seed Czech Republic 2-0 and the boys defeating No. 8 seed Turkey 3-0 to reach the championship match for the second year in a row.Neither team has dropped a point in their five victories this week, and the

3 months ago | 2 reads

My Article on Cozad's Commitment; USA Teams Advance to Semis at Junior Davis and BJK Cups; Blanch Reaches Challenger Semis; Teens Urhobo, Hance and Johnston Move On in Orlando; Tien Makes Second ATP Final; Zheng Will Defend NCAA Title After Qualifying Today

Ryan Cozad, who turned 17 a few weeks ago, is No. 1 in Tennis Recruiting Network's Class of 2027 rankings and after visiting TCU, Georgia, Texas and Virginia, he made his decision to commit to the Cavaliers late last month. I spoke to Ryan and his father Matt about the whirlwind of the past four months which began with Ryan speaking with college coaches in June, narrowing his search to the

3 months ago | 1 read

US Teens Frodin, Newman, Urhobo, Stoot Johnston and Hance Advance in Orlando; Gogineni Ousts Top Seed at East Lansing M25; Blanch Reaches First Challenger Quarterfinal; Longhorns Rapolu and Herea Meet in Austin WTA 125 Quarterfinals

Orlando has proven to be fertile ground for many young Americans this week, with three boys and three girls who are still eligible for junior competition advancing to the quarterfinals in the two USTA Pro Circuit events taking place at the USTA National Campus.At the W35, 15-year-old qualifier Welles Newman defeated No. 5 seed Victoria Hu(Princeton) 6-3, 6-2 to reach her first pro quarterfinal.

3 months ago | 1 read

USA Teams Continue Dominance at Junior Davis Cup and Junior BJK Cup; Newman, Sohns, Chang Advance at Orlando W35; ITA D-I Conference Masters, Sectionals Begin Thursday with Final NCAA Entrants Decided

The United States teams came into this week's ITF Junior Davis Cup and Junior Billie Jean King Cup 16-and-under World Finals as the defending champions and No. 1 seeds, and both teams have lived up to those expectations after the completion of group play today in Santiago Chile.The US girls posted their third straight 3-0 victory, this time over No. 6 seed Poland, with Kristina Penickova

3 months ago | 2 reads

ITF J500 Merida Acceptances; USA Teams Roll in Junior Davis and BJK Cups; Rapolu Beats Parks at WTA 125 in Austin; Baris Upsets Jubb at M25 in East Lansing; Newman, Chang Qualify at Orlando W35; Reddy, Stoot Qualify at Orlando M15

Two more J500s remain this year on the ITF Junior Circuit, both on clay, with Merida Mexico tournament beginning in less than three weeks. The Orange Bowl, beginning December 8th, closes out the year.The Merida acceptances were released today, with ITF girls No. 1 Kristina Penickova entered, and ITF No. 3 Andres Santamarta Roig of Spain the top player entered in the boys field. No. 6 Yannick

3 months ago | 1 read

US Teams Cruise in Junior Davis Cup, BJK Cup Openers; Manchala, Wong and Stratton Claim J60 Titles; Knoxville Challenger 50 Qualifying Complete; Stoiana Beats Vidmanova at Austin WTA 125; Spizzirri, Mandlik Retake Leads in AO Wild Card Races

The first day of the ITF's Junior Davis Cup and Junior Billie Jean King Cup in Santiago Chile produced few surprises, with defending champions and No. 1 seeds the United States posting 3-0 wins in the first round of group play.The US girls defeated Austria, with ITF Junior No. 1 Kristina Penickova, playing No. 2 singles, defeating Lea Haider-Maurer 6-3, 6-1, and Julieta Pareja, playing No. 1

3 months ago | 2 reads

Jodar Claims Third Challenger Title on Collegiate Home Courts; Martinez and Nijkamp Win Pro Circuit Titles; Tjen Captures First WTA Title; ITF Junior Davis Cup and BJK Cup Competition Begins Monday

University of Virginia sophomore Rafael Jodar of Spain won his third Challenger title since August today at the home of his collegiate team, defeating Martin Damm 6-3, 7-6(2) in the final at the ATP Challenger 75 at the Boar's Head indoor courts in Charlottesville.Seeded No. 7, Jodar repeated his win over No. 6 seed Damm in the final of the Challenger 75 in Lincoln Nebraska two weeks ago; while

College Basketball Virginia

3 months ago | 5 reads

Damm and Jodar Meet Again for Challenger Title in Charlottesville; Tanguilig and Martinez Eye Sweeps in Sumter and Harlingen; Crawley Reaches W75 Final in Canada; Historic Titles for Pagonis and Çukurluoglu at Tennis Europe Junior Masters

Martin Damm and Rafael Jodar will meet again in a Challenger final, just two weeks after Jodar claimed his second career Challenger title with a 6-7(3), 6-3, 6-3 victory in the championships match in Lincoln Nebraska.No. 7 seed Jodar, a sophomore at the University of Virginia, advanced to his third Challenger final with a 6-4, 4-2, retired win over No. 8 seed Johannes Monday(Tennessee) of Great

3 months ago | 1 read

October Aces; Frodin Reaches First Pro Circuit Semifinal in Sumter W15; Jodar Advances to Eighth Challenger Semi in Charlottesville; Velcz Beats Top Seed in M25 Harlingen; ITA Video Follows Arizona's Jay Friend to All-American Title

From ATP Masters 1000s to W15s titles and everything in between, the top 20 performances by current and former collegians and juniors in October are highlighted in my monthly Aces column at the Tennis Recruiting Network. As has been the case for years now, I've found it impossible to cover all the titles won by former collegians, or even top juniors, so I apologize if one of your favorites isn't

3 months ago | 1 read

Jodar and Dietrich Meet in Charlottesville Quarterfinals; US Juniors Preston, Jauffret and Frodin Advance in Sumter W15; Kim Sole American Left at Harlingen M25; Trial Date Set in Brantmeier v NCAA; WTA Finals Feature Four Americans; Fritz and Shelton Qualify for ATP Finals

With top seed Rinky Hijikata(UNC) of Australia losing to qualifier Mats Rosenkranz of Germany 6-3, 6-4 in today's second round action at the ATP Challenger 75 in Charlottesville Virginia, only three seeds have reached the quarterfinals: Nos. 6, 7 and 8.No. 6, Martin Damm, will play Daniil Glinka of Estonia, No. 8 Johannus Monday(Tennessee) of Great Britain will face Mitchell Krueger and No. 7

3 months ago | 1 read

Dietrich Reaches First Challenger Quarterfinal on Home Courts; Drenser-Hagmann Stays Perfect with Win at W15 in Sumter SC; Baris Versus Kim in Harlingen; Friend Documentary Coming Friday

The ATP Challenger 75 in Charlottesville has always been a focal point for University of Virginia players during the fall, with many taking advantage of their home courts and local support to jump-start their pro careers. While UVA sophomore Rafael Jodar has managed to make the ATP Top 200 (he's 198 in the live rankings after his first round win last night) without a boost from this tournament,

3 months ago | 4 reads

Kypson, Draxl Fall in Charlottesville Challenger First Round; Two Junior Slam Champions Advance at M25 in Harlingen Texas; Udvardy, Jauffret Win at Sumter W15; Zheng Advances to Conference Masters for Chance to Defend NCAA Title; Liu and Kypson Lead AO Wild Card Race

With just two more Challengers left on the USTA Pro Circuit after this week, nearly every match feels significant with players eyeing the Top 100 for direct entry into the Australian Open, or the Top 230 for entry into qualifying in Melbourne. Sioux Falls Challenger 100 champion Patrick Kypson(Texas A&M), who is now 146 in the ATP rankings, lost his first round match today at the

3 months ago | 1 read

Penickova Rises to No. 1 in ITF Junior Rankings Despite Loss in Chengdu Finals; Gaines and Moreno Claim J100 Titles in Georgia; ITF J300 Pan Am Photo Gallery

As of today, Kristina Penickova has reached the top of the ITF Junior Tennis rankings, after the 16-year-old advanced to championship match of the ITF World Tennis Tour Junior Finals last week in Chengdu China. Despite losing to US Open girls champion Jeline Vandromme of Belgium 4-6, 7-6(5), 7-5, Penickova overtook fellow American Julieta Pareja on the strength of her results last week, her

3 months ago | 1 read

Vandromme and Schoenhaus Claim ITF WTT Junior Finals Titles; Kypson Wins Third Challenger of Year at Sioux Falls 100; First Pro Tournament, First Title for Kennedy-Drenser; Li Wins Second WTA Title

Seventeen-year-old Jeline Vandromme of Belgium and 18-year-old Max Schoenhaus of Germany won the ITF World Tennis Tour Junior Finals Sunday in Chengdu China in contrasting fashion.No. 4 seed Vandromme, the US Open girls champion last month in New York, got her third win this year over top seed Kristina Penickova in another three-set battle. After beating Penickova 2-6, 6-4, 6-4 in group play

3 months ago | 1 read

Kristina Penickova Reaches ITF WTT Junior Finals; Annika Penickova Advances to W15 Hilton Head Final; Forbes, and Stoiana Play for Pro Circuit Titles Sunday; Kypson and Spizzirri in Challenger 100 Finals; Lam Falls in Final of W15 in Spain

Sixteen-year-old twin sisters Kristina and Annika Penickova are, unusually, half a world apart this month, but both have advanced to finals Sunday.Kristina will play for the title at the ITF World Tennis Tour Junior Finals against Jeline Vandromme of Belgium, while Annika has advanced to her first pro final at the W15 in Hilton Head South Carolina.Kristina posted her third victory in four

3 months ago | 1 read

Penickova Advances to Semifinals at ITF WTT Junior Finals, Twin Sister Reaches Semifinals at W15 in Hilton Head; Forbes Beats Bigun at Norman M35; Stoiana Makes W100 Tyler Semifinals; Ghibaudo, Spizzirri Advance at Challenger 100s

The semifinals have been determined for the ITF World Tennis Tour Junior Finals in Chengdu China, with Kristina Penickova reaching the Knockout stage and Jack Kennedy falling short, despite his victory today.Round robin qualifications can be very wonky, and that was the case in two of the four groups. In Kennedy's Group B, Andres Santamarta Roig of Spain handed Max Schoenhaus of Germany his first

3 months ago | 0 reads

All Three Americans Drop Matches at ITF WTT Junior Finals; Forbes and Bigun Meet in Norman M25 Quarterfinals; Four Teens Reach Quarterfinals at W15 in Hilton Head; Memorial Mass for Tom Svajda Next Month in San Diego

The final matches in the round robin stage of the ITF World Tennis Tour Junior Finals are set for Friday, after all three Americans dropped their matches Thursday in Chengdu China.  Top seed Kristina Penickova and No. 5 seed Jack Kennedy lost to put their records at 1-1, with wins Friday likely necessary if they are to advance to Saturday's semifinals. Benjamin Willwerth is now 0-2 in group

3 months ago | 1 read

Penickova and Kennedy Start ITF World Tennis Tour Junior Finals with Wins, Top Seed Vasilev Upset by Alexandrescou; Thirty More Players Qualify for Division I NCAA Singles Championship with Regional Play Complete

Kristina Penickova and Jack Kennedy picked up victories in the first day of play at the ITF World Tennis Tour Junior Finals in Chengdu China Wednesday. Penickova, the top seed, defeated Julia Stusek of Germany 6-0, 6-4, coming from 4-1 down in the second set to close out the No. 5 seed in 61 minutes.Kennedy, the No. 5 seed, defeated No. 2 seed and former ITF Junior No. 1 Andres Santamarta

3 months ago | 1 read

ITF WTT Junior Finals Begin Wednesday in Chengdu; Newman Beats Top Seed at W15 in Hilton Head; Qualifying Complete at M25 and W35 Tournaments in Norman OK; USTA AO Wild Card Race Standings

The ITF World Tennis Tour Junior Finals begins with round robin play Wednesday in Chengdu, which is late tonight in the Eastern Time Zone of the United States. The two groups for boys and the two groups for girls, shown below, will produce the four semifinalists, with the knockout round beginning Saturday.The Americans competing in the Junior Finals are Jack Kennedy, Benjamin Willwerth and

3 months ago | 2 reads

Qalbani and Moreno Claim J60 Titles in South Carolina; US ITF Junior Circuit Features J100 in Rome Georgia This Week; Electronic Line Calling Debuts at Sioux Falls SD Challenger 100

Last week was a quiet one on the ITF Junior Circuit, with J60s the highest level of tournaments on the schedule. One of those J60s was in Lexington South Carolina, where Rowan Qalbani and Carlota Moreno swept the titles.Qalbani, the No. 2 seed, beat doubles partner and top seed Marcel Latak 6-4, 6-2 in the singles final, after partnering with Latak for the doubles title the previous day. Qalbani,

3 months ago | 7 reads

Jodar Earns Second Challenger Title in Lincoln; Wolff and Zarazua Claim Women's USTA Pro Circuit Titles; Top Seeds Shine at ITA Cup; First Roland Garros Junior Wild Cards Decided in Tokyo

University of Virginia sophomore and 2024 US Open boys champion Rafael Jodar of Spain won his second ATP Challenger title today at the 75 in Lincoln Nebraska, defeating No. 8 seed Martin Damm 6-7(3), 6-3, 6-3.  I apologize for my previous references to Lincoln as a 100-level Challenger; I must have been confused by the prize money, which is not related to the ATP points at stake. Jodar,

3 months ago | 1 read

Jodar and Damm to Meet in Lincoln Challenger Final; Rogers Beats Vidmanova to Reach W100 Macon Final; Wolff Escapes Liutova Upset Bid in Bakersfield W35; First Australian Open Junior Wild Cards Earned in South America

The finals are set at the ATP Challenger 75 in Lincoln Nebraska, with University of Virginia sophomore Rafael Jodar facing No. 8 seed Martin Damm after both posted straight-sets victories today.Jodar, who beat top seed Brandon Holt(USC) in last night's quarterfinal 6-0, 7-5 took out No. 4 seed Patrick Kypson(Texas A&M) 6-3, 6-3 today to reach his second ATP Challenger final.Damm, who saved

3 months ago | 0 reads

ITF J300 Pan Am Recap, Videos; Bender and Manchala Win USA's Les Petits As Qualifying Playoffs; ITA Cup for D-II, D-III, NAIA and JUCO Underway in Rome Georgia

My recap of last week's ITF J300 Pan American Closed Championships in Spring Texas is up today at the Tennis Recruiting Network, so if you missed my daily coverage here, it's an opportunity to get caught up on how one of the five J300 ITF Junior Circuit events in the United States played out. Below are videos of all four of the singles finalists. A Tennis Recruiting Network Photo Gallery is

3 months ago | 2 reads

Finals for USA Qualifying for Les Petits As Set for Friday; Liutova, Fakih Advance to Bakersfield W35 Quarterfinals; Suresh, Jodar Reach Lincoln Challenger Quarterfinals; Jones, Vidmanova, Akli Win at W100 in Macon; Spizzirri's First ATP Quarterfinal

The eight under-14s who will represent the United States at the prestigious Les Petits As event next January in Tarbes France were decided today at Tropical Park in Miami Florida.The semifinalists assured themselves no worse than a qualifying wild card, and the two boys and two girls who won the semifinal matches today are already guaranteed a place in the main draw.Tara Guhan defeated top seed

3 months ago | 0 reads

Quarterfinals Set in Les Petits As USA Qualifying; Orange Bowl to Host ITF Junior Wheelchair Masters; ITF Introduces Junior Finals Competitors; Sohns and Penickova Advance at W35s; Florida State Seeking Tennis-related PhD Intern

The annual USA Playoffs for the 14U Les Petits As tournament, which is scheduled for the last week of January 2026, is underway this week in Miami, with the quarterfinals now set after today's completion of round robin play. Only one of the boys quarterfinalists is unseeded, Evan Fan, while all eight of the girls seeds advanced to the quarterfinals. Quarterfinalists at Les Petits As USA

3 months ago | 0 reads