Florida Players Prepare for USTA Billie Jean King Girls’ 16s & 18s National Championships

One of the most prestigious junior tournaments for girls, the USTA Billie Jean King National Championships, starts on August 5, and runs through August 13. Taking place in San Diego, California, at the Barnes Tennis Center, over 350 girls are getting ready to battle for a week straight to close out their summer with a seat on top of the tennis throne. 

There is a lot on the line for these players. In addition to winning a National Championship, the top finishers will earn some additional prizes, like a spot in the US Open, which starts on August 28. Below are the following Wild Cards that will be awarded to participants. 

Girls are fighting for a spot in the US Open later in August.

• 18s Champion: US Open Main Draw, US Open Junior Main Draw, and Singles qualifying draw of the Cymbiotika San Diego Open WTA 500 
• 18s Finalist: US Open Qualifying and US Open Junior Main Draw 
• 18s 3rd Place: US Open Junior Main Draw 
• 18s 4th & 5th Place: US Open Junior Qualifying 
• 18s Doubles Champions: US Open Doubles Main Draw 
• 16s Champion: US Open Junior Main Draw 

With a spot in the US Open Main Draw on the line, the Girls are ready to come with their best tennis of the year. This tournament is also really special for many of the competitors as this event typically marks the first time in the year that these athletes have faced off against one another. The atmosphere is filled with excitement, friendship, anxiety, sportsmanship, competitive spirit, all of which is certain to deliver some great tennis. 

USTA Florida is going to be well represented at this event, with 34 girls on the entry list. Of those 34, 18 of them are in the 16s Draw, while the other 16 will compete in the 18s Division. Many of the athletes will be playing in both Singles and Doubles. 

Former Bobby Curtis Champ, Natalie Block, will compete at the Billie Jean King National Championship.

Of the players competing from Florida, there are some former Bobby Curtis winners like Lillian Santos, Anita Tu, Natalie Block, Mary Boyce Deatherage, Claire Shao, Lauren Kettlewell, and many others who have reached the finals of Florida’s famous junior tournament. 

You can view all the Florida players set to take the court down below:

Florida Entry List for 16s 

• Bella Payne, Bradenton 
• Anita Tu, Melbourne 
• Addison Bowman, Naples 
• Katie Spencer, Orlando 
• Alba Martinez, Weston  
• Ishika Ashar, Boca Raton  
• Georgia Kulevich, Bradenton  
• Alex Ackman, Stuart  
• Lauren Kettlewell, Doral  
• Daniela Chica, Miami  
• Abigail Gordon, Boca Raton  
• Sara Shumate, Bradenton  
• Berklie Simmering, Fort Myers  
• Lillian Santos, Lake Worth  
• Kendall Smith, Port Saint Lucie  
• Abra Boonswang, Palm Beach Gardens  
• Lyla Messler, Largo  
• Adla Lopez, Boynton Beach  

Florida Entry List for 18s 

• Sophia Webster, Bonita Springs  
• Savannah Webster, Bonita Springs  
• Akasha Urhobo, Fort Lauderdale  
• Natalie Block, Plantation  
• Polina Krumkachev, Bradenton  
• Ahmani Guichard, Seminole  
• Monika Ekstrand, Delray Beach  
• Mary Boyce Deatherage, Maitland  
• Victoria Osuigwe, Bradenton  
• Taly Licht, Hollywood  
• Kate Kim, Boca Raton  
• Claire Shao, Boca Raton  
• Lily Pradkin, Naples  
• Linda Ziets-Segura, Wesley Chapel  
• Sophie Llewellyn, Tarpon Springs  
• Qavia Lopez, Boynton Beach