2005 Tournament News Archive
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The Final Match
by Alana Marcu

San Jose, CA Aug. 13, 2005 -- As expected, number one and two seeds Mary Gambale and Alexa Glatch are set to face off for the US Open wild card, Sunday, August 14, 2005 at 10:30 am.While the weight of the seeding alone would be enough cause for upsets among most juniors, Gambale and Glatch were seemingly unaffected and did little to give into outside pressures during this tournament. At 15, Glatch already has the ease of a veteran.  She is extremely poised and compliant when it comes to admirers, media, and coaches all clamoring for a minute of her time.  Whether knowingly or not, she already uses her sweet smile on the court and off to assure others and perhaps herself that things really are as easy going as she wants them to be.  It shows in her languid strokes and fluid game.  It shows in her reserved, careful answers. When asked, "How did you feel playing your doubles partner and friend, Vania, in the semis?"   Glatch hesitantly replied, "We've played each other a lot...especially recently.  Doubles and singles is very different...Vania and I are friends." Very diplomatic.  Very shy. Glatch crushed her friend in a close 6-2, 6-3 match.  Most games tiptoed back and forth from deuce to advantage.  King faced many break/game point opportunities.  But they went unseized.  King admit she made more errors than normal saying, "It wasn't me out there."  Glatch stands out.  Her style is special.  And it's completely different from that of any other.  For most fifteen-yr. olds, this might be an opportunity of a lifetime to play pressure free for a wild card to the Open but Glatch seems to have an awareness that most 15-yr. olds simply don't.While Glatch swiftly makes her way through a crowd or uses her cutting slice to naturally leap to net, Gambale isn't quite as smooth.  It's clear that Gambale is a hard, focused, determined player, but it's also apparent that the sport and everything that comes with it are not as innate.  Not as natural.The match up is interesting because both players have a lot invested in this tournament and both are so diverse.  While Glatch goes for big shots and glides beneath her close to six foot, lanky frame, Gambale's tiny, solid body scrambles all over the court, defying winners and wearing opponents out.  While Glatch wears bright pinks, oranges, and baby blues, Gambale sticks to simple whites, and toned down stripes.  Glatch comes from the flashy west coast state of Southern California and Gambale from the conservative, reserved east coast New England area.  Gambale has already declared herself a professional and this has taken her level of play three steps up compared to her debut to hard courts as an immature, talented, sweet junior two years ago where she was first followed by her Dad, Sister, and Coach trio entourage from Massachusetts as she still is now.  She is after all, the number one seed this year and there is a different prestige or expectation that comes with committing to the pro tour. Gambale digs balls out and she would battle with one arm if the other fell off during a match, but nothing pops out. This 2005 final could be, actually, this 2005 final should be a classic match up of women's (not girl's) but women's tennis at its finest.  Both players have the maturity to make it one.  What actually takes place on the court is always a different story.Glatch has already proved herself worthy of a doubles wild card to the US Open withed, quick-handed, smart final on Saturday, August 13th. Glatch and King, as Marcio and Nguyen later attested to, came ot on fire nailing volleys and overheads out of reach and out of range for the frustrated third seeds. What first looked like a blow out , later became a tight, intense almost three-setter.  Marcio and Nguyen stood their ground making Glatch and King work for each point.  But at 5-5, all it took was a few unforced errors to grant Glatch and King the break and put Glatch in a position to serve for the match and the championship.  She didn't flinch.  Neither did King.  They took their first match point and finished Marcio and Nguyen off once and for all, 6-1, 7-5.Buoyant and smiley after the match, the finalists complimented Glatch and King saying, "They just didn't miss."  Marcio said, "We are just happy that we could play."  Nguyen nodded in agreement saying, "We played well but they really played well."

Day Six Face Offs
by Alana Marcu

San Jose, CA Aug. 13, 2005 -- The tournament's number one and two seeds, Mary Gambale and Alexa Glatch both breezed through their quarterfinal rounds looking more like they had come out to play a routine high school match rather than a premier National event. Gambale dismantled eighth seeded Andrea Remynse in little more than an hour using her characteristic loopy shots and wide, lethal angles to take the match by a score of 6-3, 6-2.  Perhaps the gap in numbers could have been narrowed but Remynse seemed to give in early on.  Body language says a lot in tennis.  Usually a bowed head and sulking pout doesn't do much to lift the spirits and both are pretty visible from four courts down watching or directly opposite the net playing.  Gambale, the only non Southern California girl in the semis, faces sixth seeded Sarah Fansler of Laguna Niguel, CA, who took out Tyler, Texan, Megan Alexander in three long, hard fought out sets:  1-6, 6-4, 6-4 on Friday.Baby face Alexa Glatch seemed to only need three games for a proper warm up before completely controlling the tennis hungry thirteenth seed, Lindsay Burdette.  Glatch found her mellow, easy groove at the start by using her low, attacking slice and perfectly timed ground strokes to force error after error from Burdette's strings.  No stranger to net, Glatch glided in behind her solid set up shots.  She had no trouble closing off points or the match at 6-2, 6-1. Oddly enough, Glatch will go head to head against doubles partner and friend, number three seed, Vania King of Long Beach, CA, in the semis.  King, whose style of play resembles that of the quick-footed bulldog-like Aranxta Sanchez-Vicario lies at the opposite end of the spectrum from Glatch, who is more of a blonde Gabriela Sabatini mixed with a Jennifer Capriati two-handed backhand.  Perhaps hard to picture but probably fun to watch as the two face off in the semifinals, Saturday morning at 10:00 am.The doubles semi-finals proved to be the more unexpected set of matches on Friday.  Not only did the number one team of Jennifer Lee Heisner and Elizabeth Plotkin fall to third seeds, Krysty Marcio and Jessica Nguyen in a lop-sided battle, 6-1, 7-5, fourth seeds Glatch and King faltered a bit as well to number five team, Lena Litvak and Sarah Huah. What started out as another walkover match for the confident duo as they won the first set 6-1, turned into a nail biting grinder once Litvak and Huah began working their aggressive returns and sticking their perfectly set up overheads.  Litvak, who consistently starts three feet in front of the baseline for her backhand return turned it up a notch in the second set granting Huah the opportunity to put away the cross over poach.  Litvak and Huah swiped the break of serve early and strung it along until the tiebreak where they went up 5-1 in no time and eventually won it at 7-3 to push the match to a third and final set. The experience and injury-free advantage of Glatch and King are two key factors that led to their deuce-filled 6-1 victory set in the end according to a bandaged and aching Litvak.  She said, "We played well but could have played better.  They kept drop shotting me because they knew I couldn't run."  Huah agreed as she unraveled the tape from her thigh.

Match Flows
by Alana Marcu

San Jose, CA Aug. 11, 2005 -- The quality of play among singles and doubles seems to have taken two leaps forward in the course of one night, but on paper no one can tell. Free points have become a rarity making almost every game, almost every match a real struggle to earn.  Most scores don't reflect this however and ironically enough, the close two and three setters, though very intense and well-played, are undoubtedly the more lop-sided and erratic match-ups of the bunch. Take number one seed Mary Gambale's round of 16 against unseeded Alison Riske.  On paper, a 6-2, 6-0 result shows.  On court, a thoughtful, risk-taking, skilled match filled with baseline painted ground strokes, wide pulling angles, finishing swinging volleys and congratulatory comments of, "Nice shot,"  makes for one of the more delightful and inspiring matches of the day.Take number one doubles team, Jennifer Heisner and Elizabeth Plotkin against fifth seeds, Jamie Hampton and Anamika Bhargava and see a 7-5, 6-4 victory for the expected duo in the draw.  Take them on the court and see a rapid firing of wild, forehead aiming volleys, ground strokes, and overheads, fist pumping, in-face shouts of, "Come on!" An in-chair umpire to appeal and plea to after every other point, and disparaging unforced error cheering from the observation deck.  Fun to watch?  Of course.  Each exchange whether verbal or physical is more entertaining than the next but very different in terms of momentum shifts and styles from the even flow of Gambale and Riske.  Such is the nature of doubles as opposed to singles, however.  Especially when there are four big games and big personalities duking it out on the same sized court instead of two.Second seeded doubles tandem, Lindsay Burdette and Yvette Hyndman fell to fifth ranked Lena Litvak and Sarah Huah in another tight match up, 7-6(3), 6-3.  The course of the match didn't run quite as colorfully as that of Heisner and Plotkin, but was still equally intense and well played.  Litvak and Huah will try and put an end to Alexa Glatch and Vania King's virtually flawless run to the semifinals on Friday. Those first round jitters are ancient history to these teenage girls now.  They play on emotion, muscle memory, and learned tactics and it seems as if everyone left in singles and doubles is showing exactly what they're made of.  These girls not only have determination, they each have a style they can call their own. 

Maindraw Leftovers
by Alana Marcu  

San Jose, CA Aug. 10, 2005 ---The Wednesday hump is always a tough one to get through no matter what the job.  In the "real world" at least there are only two days left to the "real work week."  In National world, it is the fourth day of competition with four more left.  At this point, the tournament is no longer using two sites to weed out players and pump out matches.  A once 192-singles draw has been narrowed down to 16 spots and doubles only has eight teams remaining.  The backdraw is historically plagued with withdrawals, defaults, retirements, and walkover injuries for one of two reasons.  One, many don't want to muster up the mental toughness and focus after they've already lost.  Two, many experience a physical breakdown after four days of exhausting match play in the hot, San Jose, August sun.  The trainer has  more than her hands full on this year.  On Wednesday, August 10th, she had girls sprawled out in a line covered with ice packs from head to toe, around their necks, backs, and even sides.  A confusing and strange sight for those just coming to watch some big hitting girl's tennis for the first time. In any case, the girls that are left are certainly the cream of the crop.  Their focus is a step above and their rock steady games match it.  While there is no official betting taking place, there is a din of predictions as to why and who will win the 2005 National Hard Court Title and Wild Card to this year's Open. Number one seed, Mary Gambale continues to push through her difficult draw with her solid strokes and firm hands.  She took out Clay Court champion Jamie Hampton on Wednesday in a fairly routine, respectable match winning 6-1, 7-5.  Gambale next faces the only non-seed left, Alison Riske who also won in straight sets, defeating Ragini Archarya, 7-6(2), 6-2.Third seed, Vania King, of Long Beach, CA, seems to be in cruise control having lost a total of only four games so far.  She will go head to head on Thursday against fellow Californian, Kristen McVitty, the number 14 seed who has had anything but an easy time making it to the round of 16. Yasmin Schnack a NorCal, Sacramento girl seeded ten at this tournament definitely has her eye and heart on the Open.  She mixes up her style and changes her strategies against different opponents to have maintained her main draw position this far.  She plays seventh seed, Jennifer Lee Heisner of Miami, Florida, next.The real attention-grabber, however, from Newport Beach, CA, is Alexa Glatch, the tournament's number two.  She is still fifteen and her fluid, long, lean, tan body, untied, bleach blonde hair poking through her sun-warn white hat, her penetrating, elegant, yet dictating strokes, and commanding on-court presence have all eyes on her here in San Jose.  She has lost two games in three days and her relaxed swagger and natural smile makes it look as if everyone should have the same.  Glatch has character and according to most, she is the favorite to take home the coveted singles title this year which would put her in the ranks among Lindsay Davenport, Tracey Austin, and Chris Evert.  A doubles victory is not far from reach either as she and partner Vania King glide through the draw together as unphased as they do individually for singles.  They're a good team.  They're both a good bet.  But Glatch seems to have that edge that wins championships at this point.  She has four more days to prove it.

The Missed Match
by Alana Marcu

San Jose, CA Aug. 9, 2005 --- Usually the story of the day lies with an upset, flagrant display of emotion by a seed, or strange happening on the court of one of the big shots.  Everyone is there to witness it.  Everyone informs those who aren't.  But sometimes just sometimes the story of the day unfolds on the other side of the deck where few people take the time or initiative to catch that pure, unsuspecting, gritty, match fueled by genuine love and knowledge of the sport.  So when everyone clamored around Mary Gambale's round of 64 match, I thought it would be more interesting not to fend for a standing room only spot to catch a glimpse of the tournament's number one virtually blow away her opponent, but to check out the duel across the way, between two unseeded untalked about players, Cosmina Ciobanu of Brea, CA, and Alison Riske of McMurray, PA.   The girls did little to attract attention with their business-like, no nonsense on court attitudes.  They had come prepared to compete with a mutual, mature respect for the game and each other and it showed in their long, thought out, consistent rallies of over 50 balls at a given time.  Ciobanu started off strong with her aggressive ground strokes--fitting for her tiny, muscle-filled, explosive frame.  She hugged the baseline drilling Riske deep into each corner, making sure to step in with her quick feet and move forward for the put away approach.  Riske had no response or retaliation against Ciaobanu's fast pace, unrelenting style of play and in little time the set belonged to Ciobanu by a score of 6-1. The second set took a decidedly different path.  While Ciobanu tried to keep her high-speed momentum going, Riske seemed to want to slow things down and not let herself be dictated by a style which didn't seem to jive with her long, smooth limbs and more careful shot placement.  Even though Ciobanu took a commanding 4-1 lead in the second, Riske remained poised.  She ran down each angle and every drive. Riske not only managed to save Ciobanu's once upon a time winners, she was able to make her own to come back and take the second set 6-4. This paved the way for an unrelenting third set grinder as both girls fought to close out the match.  Ciobanu, again in her characteristic fashion, took control early on with the same sudden burst of energy she had displayed at the beginning of the match.  This put her ahead 4-1 once again and in a position to close out this marathon.  Riske did not comply and Ciobanu did not have any more to give as cramps plagued her suddenly resulting in an early reitirement from this elegant and interesting match.  With little to say after this disappointing, forced loss, Ciobanu ate pickles and chips by the poolside to regain lost salts and minerals.  Neither angry nor deeply saddened, just a little down by the outcome of so much expended energy and nerve, Ciobanu did manage to agree that Riske was one of the nicest players she had encountered at this point in her career and that the match was indeed as clean as it looked.   Riske faces Ragini Acharya of Pulaski, VA, who pulled out the straight set upset against 16-seed, Eleanor Peters of Washington DC in the round of 32. 

Day Two Buzz
by Alana Marcu

San Jose, CA, Aug. 8, 2005 -- Mellow seemed to be the word on most people's lips at the Almaden Valley Athletic Club, day two of the USTA Girls' 18 National Championships.  Between the unusually relaxed atmosphere, the come back upset pulled off by Southern California native Maggie Mello, and a three-set night time doubles thriller, there was definitely a concentrated, electricity in the air for the second day of play which provided a more relaxed, comfortable atmosphere of excitement.  The morning highlight came from a particularly gutsy, focused, and solid young girl named Maggie Mello from Laguna Hills, CA.  Her rock steady hands, aggressive baseline game, and lethal forehand approaches helped her fight back from a 5-7 deficit in the first set against alpha seed Yvette Hyndman of Bradenton, FL, to win the second 6-4.  No tricks.  No tantrums.  No excessive grunting, fist pumping, or injury time outs.  This girl was and is all business on court.  Sure, many times it helps to be the underdog as the pressure is seemingly off, but for Mello her attitude did anything but reflect her perfect tennis stage last name.  Mello grit her teeth and dominated Hyndman mentally and physically in the third set to steam roll her way to a 6-2 victory and into the round of 64 where she faces another familiar Floridian, Whitney Spencer. While the afternoon brewed some tough doubles, it was the evening match up of number five seeds, Kimberly Couts of Bradenton, FL, and Kristen McVitty of Woodland Hills, CA, against New England tandem, Elizabeth Corrao and Lauren McCarthy that had onlookers running to their cars to grab blankets and sweatshirts to stick around.  After clinching the first set, 6-3, the fifth seeds swaggered about as if this would be just another match under their belts.  Corrao and McCarthy battled to prove them wrong.  They bumped their strategy up a notch in the second set, cutting down their unforced errors, making their first serves, and setting each other up to put away hard worked high volleys.  This rattled the favorites who were looking to end the match in straight sets as the sun went down and the night lights came on.  Corrao and McCarthy squeezed through the second set in a tiebreak and the fate of the match was to be determined by a third.  Still confident and strong, Corrao and McCarthy tried to keep their successful streak going but Couts and McVitty used their experience together to remain calm and focused, eventually winning the deciding set 6-3. The New England team couldn't have been more ecstatic by their performance after, even if they had come up short.  McCarthy said, "Doubles is my forte and I really feel as if Liz and I gave them a run for their money...they just had more experience."  Not a typical response among most tennis playing teenage girls after such a hard fought loss.  It just seemed to fit. 

The First Day Show 
by: Alana Marcu 

San Jose, CA, Aug. 7, 2005 ---The first round of a big tournament is one ball of nervous energy ready to bust.  Draw sheets are done.  Scheduling is fixed.  Court monitors know exactly where to stand.  Coaches have their lists of prospects to keep an eye on.  Everything imaginable has been taken care of 1,000 times over by the tournament directors and their armada of 175 volunteers.  It's finally play time and nerves are at their brittle breaking points among all.  So much emphasis is placed on the first day because, well, it's what everyone in tennis land has been waiting for for one year and everyone is finally here.  Of course it's not filled with the nail biting upsets and teeth clenching heartbreaks that come later on in the week when seeds go down and underdogs come up, but simply put, the day is just filled.  Singles and doubles matches shoot out as if on a conveyor belt not only at one site but two!   Girls either fight through the first round shakes and gain confidence for round two or they fall victim into the thick cloud of tension.  It's interesting.  It's exciting.  It's a show in every sense of the word.  The spectrum of player, coach, and parent personalities is a complete one and the dynamics are just as diverse to match.  There's the slew of overconfident primadonnas parading their midriff exposing tankinies and thrice rolled shorts and skirts (apparently those Mary Pierce tight-fitting dresses of the past are out this year).  They are usually accompanied by an entourage of chattery mothers, boastful fathers and or one coach.  If these descriptions seem to fail and it's still tough to spot this type, just look for the girls who aren't carrying their own racquet bags.  This doesn't exactly make for the most graceful on court demeanor.   There are the clicks of girls from each section who usually come as a group with a few parents or coaches in charge of the herd.  They are bubbly and seem to treat the tournament as a social scene off the court.  They are supportive of one another and usually pair off for doubles.  But once faced head to head on the court, anything goes and that same sweet smile and chipper laugh by the poolside is suddenly replaced by frustrated grimaces, snide remarks, and perhaps even a code violation.  Some girls must make the journey to the tournament alone for any array of reasons.  This results in their being housed by tournament committee volunteers.  Most are humble, respectful, and grateful for being taken in and taken care of by this surrogate family for the week.  They establish close, bonding relationships working around each others schedules and keep to themselves and their "tennis business" here in San Jose.  Of course the "housed" tennis player doesn't always fit this profile but overall, this seems to be the established consensus.  No one is exactly carrying anyone's bags or racquets here.  Then there are the college coaches who are like a band of generals picking their line of defense.  They are in a brotherhood, or secret fraternity of their own which almost every girl here is playing her guts out to get in and learn the secrets of.   How all this is shown or how it unfolds during the course of this one week is very different for everyone in their eyes and minds but it's impossible to escape the intensity and weight that comes with this event.  Big decisions are being made under constant adjustments, surprises, and chagrins.  It is, in fact, a culmination of hard work by everyone:  Players, Volunteers, Tournament Directors, Parents, and Coaches alike.   So, why the brief description of what Hard Courts seems like to me?  Well, one reason is because I really couldn't find any specific match or happening that stood out on this generic but uniquely thrilling first day.  And two, because through the years, I have consistently but very differently been touched and amazed on how much heart goes into this one tournament and how many lives change or take different paths as a result of it.  Of course, not solely but it's definitely a catalyst or turning point for many and everyone involved plays a part in making some sort of individual dream a very real and satisfying accomplishment.  Like I said, it is a show in every sense of the word. 

Opening Day Reflections
By:  Alana Marcu

San Jose, CA, Aug. 6, 2005 ---  Opening day of the USTA Girls' 18  National Championships seems to breed a certain sense of jittery emotion, excitement, nuances, and hopefulness which can only take place before competition begins.  Over 200 girls arrive, racquets in hand, shoelaces untied, amiss.  Each one is eager to get a first look at the draw sheet before she steps on the court to get a good hit in and feel for the surface she is about to battle on.   Hard courts, to most, is regarded as the most prestigious national tournament of the summer as it is the last one of the season and the most preferred of surfaces among players in the States.  Each section sends its top girls to try and snatch that one wild card to the US Open.  Almost every major college coach in the country is here recruiting, skillfully watching, and taking notes on each of their potential prospects as they pound tennis ball after tennis ball in the scorching, San Jose sun.  Needless to say, tensions run high not only among these determined, little women but also among the parents and personal coaches who have brought some of them here to perform in this week-long event.  Having been a former junior/Division I college tennis player, I can safely say that hard courts was probably one of the most single, nerve-wracking tournaments of my career.  It is hard to understand why as a junior player.  It is easy to let the pressure consume every thought and stroke when playing under careful, scrutinizing eyes lined up on looming observation decks.  Keiko Tokuda and Erin Burdette, two top nationally ranked graduated Stanford tennis players came as guest speakers to the Mandatory Player Meeting after the College Coach's Forum to share a little bit of themselves and their junior tennis and college experiences with the girls.   Tokuda, who was a finalist here in 1995 at the age of 15 has returned to San Jose from her office in New York City where she is the Marketing Manager of the Sports Supplement Product, Amino Vital.  Tokuda described how her work ethic from tennis stuck with her not only in college in terms of studying and competing but also how she referred back to it after when she "decided to put her racquets down and pursue a carreer in promoting a product she believes in."     Burdette, a doubles champion here in 2001 with Megan Bradley and who is more of a recent graduate from Stanford gave some practical advice on how she made the decision to major in biology in order to go pre-Med.  She talked about how tennis inspired her to stay focused and stick to her studies.  She encouraged and urged the girls to make the college decision for themselves and not to allow outside influences to determine the final choice.  She said, "Go where you want to go...it's important to choose a place and to surround yourself with people that you are comfortable with because parents and coaches won't be there for four or five years---you will."   Eloquent, precise, content, and reflective, Tokuda and Burdette stood on the stage sharing a special bond, understanding, and appreciation of what these junior girls are about to embark on themselves.    

Preparing for The Nationals
July 30, 2005

As the tournament draws near, we want to make sure you’re prepared for The Nationals!

Entry Supplement/Release Form.  If you have not already downloaded this Form and faxed or mailed it to Andrea Norman, please do so now.  The tournament wants to receive this form prior to Registration Day, August 6th. Player Bio for College Coaches.  If you have completed your junior year in high school and are interested in college recruitment, please download this sample Player Bio, complete one on yourself, and return it to Andrea Norman.  Also click on the College Coaches' Forum link to the left to learn more about this important recruiting event. Questions about the Alternate List and Replacing Withdrawing Players.  If you have any questions about the selection and the process for alternates replacing withdrawing players, please go to the Tournament Information Page and in the table of contents, click on “Replacement of Withdrawing Players Before Draw is Made” and “Replacement of Withdrawing Players After Draw is Made.”  If you are an alternate and you have decided you will not be coming to San Jose, please email Andrea Norman as soon as possible so that you can be taken off of the alternate list. Practice Courts. Practice courts will be available at Almaden Valley Athletic Club (AVAC) on Saturday, August 6th.  Players may sign up for practice courts on Saturday, August 6th beginning at 6:45 am when the club opens.  Practice courts must be reserved in person to allow all participants an equal opportunity at reserving court time - no telephone reservations will be taken.  If the courts are impacted, players will be scheduled four to a court.  Practice times end at 5:00 pm on Saturday, the time at which the mandatory players' meeting begins.   There will be no practice courts available during the tournament day at AVAC or the Satellite Site, except that players may be able to get practice time before morning matches are scheduled at both sites.   Practice courts are also available at nearby sites during tournament week.  Please note that the practice courts are not at the same site as our Satellite Site.  Maps to the practice courts will be available at Registration.   Players arriving in San Jose prior to Saturday, August 6th may play on the courts at AVAC, provided they are not in use by club members.  Please check in at the front desk before taking a court.  Dress Code.  All players are required to wear appropriate tennis attire and dress in a manner consistent with being a participant in "The Nationals."  We ask that you consistently dress as well during doubles play as you do during your singles matches.  Running shorts, cut off shorts, or any other attire that is simply recreational and not tennis-oriented is not acceptable.  Players are asked not to alter their attire in a manner that exposes their midriff.  T-shirts are not acceptable on Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and the final Sunday of the tournament.  Players not meeting the dress code may be asked to change prior to going on the court.

Please feel free to contact one of the tournament directors if we can be of any assistance to you: Andrea Norman - Andrean64@aol.com
Jennifer Pitzen - Jenpitzen@aol.com

USTA National Opens Begin July 2nd:
Players Compete for Entry into The Nationals
July 1, 2005

On July 2nd, four concurrent USTA National Opens in the Girls’ 18 division begin. In addition to being the second highest level of competition for American juniors, players who place 1st through 3rd in singles and 1st and 2nd in doubles will qualify for entry into The Nationals. Qualification is subject to the USTA Regulations, eligibility for the tournament, and submission of a timely entry.

Follow the progress at the USTA National Opens by clicking here:
Stone Mountain Tennis Center - Stone Mountain, GA
Lakewood Tennis Center - Lakewood, CA
El Paso Youth Tennis Center - El Paso, TX
Florida State University - Tallahassee, FL

Volunteers are Needed for the 2005 Nationals!
June 16, 2005

The Nationals is the only USTA Junior National Championship in the country that is run entirely by a staff of volunteers - an aspect of the tournament in which we all take great pride.  We are looking for volunteers in the following areas:

• Court Monitors Registration Desk Information Desk College Coaches’ Forum Housing Transportation Refreshments - Volunteer Hospitality Ball Runners
• Kid’s Day

Click here for information on becoming a Court Monitor.Click here for all other volunteer positions.

AVAC NTRP DOUBLES CLASSIC
Fundraiser Tournament a Success
May 31, 2005 

The annual AVAC NTRP Doubles Classic was held over Memorial Day Weekend and by all measures, was a huge success!  Thank you to the more than 400 USTA NorCal members who participated in the tournament.  The event is the largest in Northern California with more than 225 teams competing.  The tournament is a fundraiser for National Tennis Championships and all proceeds go toward the USTA Girls’ 18 National Championships budget, with year-end proceeds benefiting After-School All-Stars.  This year, the tournament raised over $4,500.Congratulations to Ellen Williams who won the drawing for the Nike Adult Tennis Camp.  A resident of Los Altos, Ellen competed with her husband in the 3.0 Mixed Doubles event.Click here to view photos from the event.

After-School All-Stars Tennis Event a Success
May 26, 2005

This week, the After-School All-Stars middle school tennis program supported by National Tennis Championships came to its 8-week conclusion.  On Monday, NTC founders Jennifer Pitzen and Andrea Norman were on hand at Castillero Middle School in San Jose to celebrate with the 60 participants.  Tennis games were organized by the coaches and NTC provided t-shirts and medals to all the kids.  USTA NorCal generously donated “Tennis for Life” rubber wrist bands, and the event was capped off with a BBQ.  Congratulations to all the children who have been introduced to the sport of tennis - we hope to see you on the courts this summer!

Wild Cards for Champions and Finalists Announced by the USTA
May 7, 2005

The USTA has announced the Wild Cards that will be awarded to the Champions and Finalists in the 2005 USTA Girls’ 18 National Championships. The Singles and Doubles Champions will receive Wild Cards into the main draw of the US Open and the Junior US Open. Additionally, the Singles Finalist will receive a Wild Card into the singles qualifying draw of the US Open. Click here for detailed information on the Junior Area of USTA.com.

National Championship Selection List Published by USTA
May 3, 2005 

The USTA has published the National Championship Selection List for the USTA Girls’ 18 National Championships.  The USTA Regulations were amended to change the composition of the National Championship Selection List.  Click here for more information.

Registration for the 2005 College Coaches’ Forum is now open.  Click here for information including Forum registration, the Player Bio Book, complimentary Coach’s reception, and the official College Coaches Forum hotel, The Toll House.  Registration for the Forum is encouraged on or before July 8th.