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BIGGEST PRO TITLE YET FOR SOCAL JUNIOR
Iva Jovic simply knows how to win – especially when she’s playing in San Diego. For the third time this year, the 16-year-old Jovic from Torrance won a significant title just down south via the 405/5 Interstate from where she grew up, capturing the ITF World Tour W75 RSF Open singles crown on Sunday against fellow SoCal native Ena Shibahara.
PAIR OF TENNIS COACHES MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN THEIR COMMUNITIES
As Hispanic Heritage Month comes to a close on October 15th, the following is a closer look at two individuals who are making a difference in their communities on and off the tennis court.
APPLY NOW FOR THE 2024 KRAMER FUTURE CHAMPIONS SCHOLARSHIP
Attention all Southern California junior players, the 2024 Kramer Future Champions Scholarship through the SCTA Foundation is now open and receiving applications.
ADULT LEAGUE SECTIONALS RECAP: 55 & OVER AND MIXED 40 & OVER
Kicking off in September, the seventh and eighth Adult League Championships of the calendar year commenced in Southern California with 55 & Over and Mixed 40 & Over Sectionals.
ADULT TENNIS NEWS
USTA SOCAL ADULT PROFILE: THIS IS… L.A.’S BRENNA OPELKA
With her family’s strong ties to tennis, Brenna is now forging her own path both in her career and on the tennis court, creating a legacy in a sport close to her family’s heart.
THREE WEEKS IN THE BEACH CITIES: 2024 ADULT 18 & OVER SECTIONALS RECAP
For the first time ever, USTA Southern California held its Adult Sectionals over three consecutive weekends, spanning from the final weekend of July until the second weekend in August.
ADULT LEAGUE CAPTAIN SPOTLIGHT: SGV’S EILEEN AND RON YIP
Eileen and Ronald Yip have quickly emerged as two of the sections’ best leaders, captaining their San Gabriel Valley USTA League teams with integrity, professionalism, grit and sportsmanship.
CATHE BAIRD AND JANET LONNEKER NAMED LEAGUE CAPTAINS OF THE MONTH
Congratulations to the outstanding junior players from SoCal who showcased their talent by capturing numerous titles and hardware at various L2 and L3 events throughout the month of June.
ADULT LEAGUE SECTIONALS RECAP: 40 & OVER 3.0 / 4.0 / CAPSTONE
Closing out the month of May, the third Adult League Sectionals event of the calendar year took place, with 40 & Over men and women at the 3.0 and 4.0 levels competing in San Diego.
LEAGUE SECTIONALS RECAP: ADULT 40 & OVER 3.5/4.5 IN SAN DIEGO
More than 600 participants traveled to San Diego for a weekend of tennis, with play varying between the 3.5 and 4.5 levels and sectional champions crowned in four different divisions.
JUNIOR TENNIS NEWS
KATS KUP RECOGNIZES 40-PLUS YEAR CAREER OF MARTHA KATSUFRAKIS
When you ask Martha Katsufrakis about some of the players she remembers most fondly in her 40+ of working tennis in SoCal, she rattles off names like Austin, Sampras, Davenport, and the Bryans
HARD WORK PAYING OFF FOR COVINA’S JUNIOR STANDOUT EMMA ESTRADA
Emma Estrada has never been afraid to take the road less traveled. Instead of the traditional route, the 13-year-old from Covina has always wanted to challenge herself by doing the unexpected.
TORRANCE’S IVA JOVIC WINS SINGLES AND DOUBLES AT USTA GIRLS’ NATIONALS
Over the past two weeks, nearly 400 of the nation’s top junior tennis players competed at the USTA Billie Jean King Girls’ 16s and 18s National Championships in San Diego.
JUNIOR TOURNAMENT DIRECTOR SPOTLIGHT: MICHAEL MARQUEZ
For nearly two decades, Avila Bay Athletic Club & Spa Director of Tennis Michael Marquez has been helping transform the landscape of the Central Coast, both on and off the tennis court.
SOCAL JUNIORS SHINE AT USTA NATIONAL CLAY COURT CHAMPIONSHIPS
When Allie Glover shared the news that she been diagnosed with the rare disease Late Onset Tay-Sachs in January 2022, she was overwhelmed by the reaction of her Bruin family.
SOCAL JUNIORS HAVE A GREAT MONTH, CLAIM NATIONAL HARDWARE
Congratulations to the outstanding junior players from SoCal who showcased their talent by capturing numerous titles and hardware at various L2 and L3 events throughout the month of June.
COMMUNITY TENNIS NEWS
BJK BECOMES FIRST WOMAN AWARDED CONGRESSIONAL GOLD MEDAL
Last week, President Biden signed into law legislation to award Billie Jean King the Congressional Gold Medal, making her the first female athlete to be awarded this honor.
COURTS INITIATIVE MEANS MORE PLAY TIME FOR SOCAL TENNIS PLAYERS
In an effort to make the game more accessible, USTA SoCal has launched a new courts initiative that will focus on helping facilities refurbish older courts from disrepair and more.
TENNIS IS A NEWFOUND PASSION FOR SAN DIEGO ENTREPRENEUR TONY LEY
Antonio Ley founded Club Raquetas, a cross-border athletic and social club with the goal to grow tennis in the South Bay region, particularly within the Mexican-American community.
FREE HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH EVENT IN LA TO SHOWCASE INCLUSION
Set for Saturday, September 21, from 10 am to 1 pm at the Cal State LA Tennis Complex, this free event is a celebration of tennis accessibility and community engagement.
SAN DIEGO TENNIS HALL OF FAME CLASS OF 2024 INCLUDES SIX HONOREES
The San Diego District Tennis Association took time out to honor six of its finest as a new Hall of Fame class was inducted in an afternoon ceremony at the Balboa Tennis Club.
EXPERIENCE THE US OPEN LIVE IN SOCAL WITH COSM LOS ANGELES
COSM is bringing the excitement of the US Open to SoCal with a cutting-edge experience that immerses you in the crowd alongside all the fans in Ashe Stadium, without the New York airfare.
COLLEGE TENNIS NEWS
LONGTIME AZUSA PACIFIC COACH BOHREN NAMED ITA COACH OF THE YEAR
For his nearly 30-year coaching career, Azusa Pacific University coach Mark Bohren has made it a top priority to give SoCal juniors a chance to stay home and compete in their own backyard.
SOCAL’S RODITI, BOWEN LEAD TCU TO NCAA NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP
Junior rivals growing up in Orange County, then teammates at TCU, Dave Roditi and Devin Bowen have come full circle to lead the Horned Frogs to their first-ever NCAA team championship.
AFTER 70 YEARS, THE OJAI TOURNAMENT SAYS GOODBYE TO THE PAC-12
It was a bittersweet ending as the venerable Ojai Tennis Tournament said goodbye to the Pac-12 Conference during the playing of the 122nd tournament at Libbey Park the last week of April.
SOCAL TEAMS AND PLAYERS GEAR UP FOR NCAA D1 CHAMPIONSHIPS
Teams that punched their ticket to the NCAA tournament are ready for play to begin this week. Selections have also been announced for the singles and doubles championships.
CONFERENCE TOURNAMENT TIME FOR SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA SCHOOLS
As the regular college tennis season reaches its climax, the excitement escalates among teams and players preparing for the pinnacle of competition: the Conference Championships.
UC-SAN DIEGO WINS TENNIS ON CAMPUS SECTIONALS IN CLAREMONT
UCSD claimed the TOC sectional title for the first time in a decade by beating UCLA in the finals and clinched a bid to 2024 Nationals in Georgia to represent SoCal alongside four other schools.
PRO TENNIS NEWS
USTA PRO CIRCUIT RETURNS TO SOCAL IN TEMPLETON, RANCHO SANTA FE
Two prominent SoCal clubs will host ITF World Tour and USTA Pro Circuit W75 tournaments offering $60,000 in singles and doubles prize money over the next two weeks.
TAYLOR FRITZ REACHES FIRST CAREER GRAND SLAM FINAL AT 2024 US OPEN
Defeating fellow American Frances Tiafoe in the semis of the US Open, SoCal’s own Taylor Fritz made history on Friday, clinching his first career appearance in a Grand Slam final.
US OPEN PREVIEW: CATCH ALL THE ACTION AS PLAY BEGINS ON MONDAY
A long list of #TeamSoCal names will be playing in this year’s US Open, led by Iva Jovic of Torrance, who won Girls’ Nationals, received a wild card into the main singles draw.
LEARNER TIEN TAKES FOURTH 2024 SOCAL PRO SERIES TITLE IN LAKEWOOD
The Learner Tien Express roared through Lakewood on Sunday as the 18-year-old phenom from Irvine won his 25th consecutive match and fifth straight professional title.
PASADENA’S KINARD ADVANCES TO SOCAL PRO SERIES SEMIFINALS
For Tori Kinard, playing pro tennis continues to be a dream that will not die. Over the past 18 years, the 36-year-old has played in close to 300 ITF tournaments in search of a first pro singles title.
LEARNER TIEN EXTENDS WINNING STREAK TO 21 AT LAKEWOOD PRO SERIES
On a day when Learner Tien made his return to the SoCal Pro Series and won his 21st straight match, he was joined by some of SoCal’s top teenagers in moving on to the second round.
