April 24th, 2014
Entries Open for 66th USTA Florida ‘Bobby Curtis’ Jr. State Tennis Championships
A young Andy Roddick with Bobby Curtis
In age divisions 18 through 10, it is a champion’s list that every Florida junior tennis player dreams of adding their name to.
It is also the most competitive USTA Section junior championships in the U.S., spawning the most players of any USTA Section to go on to the professional circuit and rank No. 1 in the world.
On June 7-11, 2014, the 66th edition of the USTA Florida ‘Bobby Curtis’ Junior State Championships will be held in age divisions 18-10 at four Central Florida tournament sites — the Florida Tennis Center in Daytona Beach, Sanlando Park in Altamonte Springs, Red Bug Lake Park in Casselberry, and at the Ormond Beach Tennis Center. Tournament entry opens April 24, and the deadline for entry is May 25, 2014.
In 2012 the tournament was renamed the USTA Florida ‘Bobby Curtis’ Junior State Championships in honor of legendary Florida junior tennis organizer Bobby Curtis. In 30 years of service to USTA Florida, Curtis touched the lives of thousands of Florida juniors over the years, including many who went on to pro careers such as Jim Courier, Andy Roddick and Mary Joe Fernandez, and helped launch what would become the national USTA Jr. Team Tennis program.
Last year’s championships were highlighted by University of Alabama commit Bennett Dunn of Plantation winning the Girls’ 18s title on the heels of the Girls’ 16s title the previous year; celebrated junior Hurricane Tyra Black of Boca Raton winning her first state title in the Girls’ 12s; Coral Gables’ Alfredo Perez winning his second consecutive Boys’ 16s title; and Noah Makarome of Wesley Chapel adding the Boys’ 14 title to his previous Boys’ 10s and 12s championships.
Former “Bobby Curtis” champs who have gone on to rank No. 1 in the world on the ATP and WTA rankings:
- Chris Evert (1971 Girls’ 18, 1970-69 Girls’ 16, 1968 Girls’ 14, and 1966 Girls’ 10 champion)
- Jennifer Capriati (1986 Girls’ 12 champion)
- Jim Courier (1986 Boys’ 18 champion)
- Andy Roddick (1996 Boy’s 14, 1994 Boys’ 12 champion)
Other notable winners over the years have been current WTA player Bethanie Mattek-Sands (1998 Girls’ 14 champion); three-time Grand Slam runner-up, two-time Olympic gold medalist and current U.S. Fed Cup Captain Mary Joe Fernandez (1983 Girls’ 14, 1982 Girls’ 12); former world No. 8-ranked Carling Bassett (1980 Girls’ 12); former world No. 7 and current USTA National Coach Kathy Rinaldi (1980 Girls’ 14, 1979 Girls’ 12); former world No. 7 and current USTA National Coach and U.S. David Cup Coach Jay Berger (1985-84 Boys’ 18, 1983 Boys’ 16); former world No. 3 and two-time Slam doubles winner Brian Gottfried (1970 Boys’ 18, 1966 Boys’ 14, 1963-64 Boys’ 12); former world No. 5 and two-time French Open semifinalist Eddie Dibbs (1969 Boys’ 18, 1967 Boys’ 16, 1965 Boys’ 14); and former ATP player and legendary tennis organizer Charlie Pasarell (1958 Boys’ 15, 1957 Boys’ 13).
Draw sizes for boys’ and girls’ 18s, 16s, 14s, and 12s divisions will be 64. The draw size for boys’ and girls’ 10s will be determined by the number of entries. All divisions are considered a Sectional event for Florida ranking points, except the 10s division which have no age-group rankings in the Florida Section. The 10s division will feature full 78-foot court using the lower compression “green ball” and scoring/rules from the USTA 10 and Under Tennis format, played at Red Bug Lake Park in Casselberry, Fla.
COLLEGE NIGHT AND COACHES Q&A: The championships will host a College Night on Saturday, June 7 at Holiday Inn-LPGA Blvd., where players and parents can learn the ins and outs of obtaining college scholarships and playing college tennis. From 5-7 p.m. will be a College Coaches Q&A, from 7-8:30 p.m. a College Info Session, and from 8:30-9:30 p.m. a College Coaches Q&A. Last year saw more than 25 college men’s and women’s coaches descend on the Florida Tennis Center from universities such as Florida, Florida State, Michigan, Tennessee, Florida Gulf Coast University, Navy, Missouri, Stetson and Dartmouth.
ON SOCIAL MEDIA: Players and fans can follow the event via social media by joining the conversation on Twitter @USTAFlorida with the hashtag #BobbyCurtis2014, follow on Facebook at USTAFlorida.
TOURNAMENT ALERTS: Download the USTA Florida app from the Apple or Android app store for push alerts during the tournament.
To view last year’s finalists and the tournament wrap-up CLICK HERE.
For more 2014 tournament information go to:
