Preview: 2018 USTA Florida ‘Bobby Curtis’ Jr. State Tennis Finals to be Broadcast Live

Four former “Bobby Curtis” winners have gone on to rank No. 1 in the world, the most of any USTA section — who will be the next world champion out of Florida?

The answer comes next month when for the first time the USTA National Campus in Orlando hosts all divisions of the 2018 USTA Florida “Bobby Curtis” Junior State Singles Championships. Florida’s top junior tournament will be contested in girls’ and boys’ age 18-12 divisions on June 9-13.

All courts will be streamed live from the USTA National Campus, and for the first time the boys’ and girls’ 18s finals will be broadcast live with commentary on the tournament’s final day (see streaming and broadcast info below).

Can Orlando’s Alana Wolfberg make it three “Bobby” titles in a row? Coming off winning the Florida state high school championships last month, Wolfberg won the “Bobby” girls’ 18s division last year, and the previous year won the  girls’ 16s title.

She will attempt to join Courtney Bergman (2000-99), Bonnie Gadusek (1981-80), Wendy Overton (1965-64), and Carol Ann Prosen (1959-58) as “Bobby Curtis” back-to-back winners in the girls’ 18s division. All went on to play pro tennis. The former world No. 1 junior Overton won nine WTA doubles titles, and Gadusek ranked in the WTA Top 10 in singles.

Last year’s division winners and finalists (seeds in parenthesis):

Boys’ 18: (3) Michael Heller (Boca Raton, FL) d. (1) Evan Bynoe (Parkland, FL) 7-6(1), 1-6, 6-3
Girls’ 18: (1) Alana Wolfberg (Orlando, FL) d. (9) Ysabel Gonzalez Rico (Miami, FL) 6-4, 6-7(3), 6-2
Boys’ 16: (4) Logan Zapp (Fleming Island, FL) d. (8) Matthew Segura (Apopka, FL) 6-4, 6-1
Girls’ 16: Demi Snyder (Ft Lauderdale, FL) d. (10) Molly Heber (Boca Raton, FL) 6-1, 6-1
Boys’ 14: (1) Jack Anthrop (Orlando, FL) d. (3) Jonah Braswell (Sarasota, FL) 6-4, 6-4
Girls’ 14: (1) Emily De Oliveira (Bradenton, FL) d. (8) Elaine Chervinsky (Boca Raton, FL) 6-2, 6-0
Boys’ 12: (1) Yannik Rahman (Miami, FL) d. (2) Leanid Boika (Delray Beach, FL) 6-2, 6-3
Girls’ 12: (3) Grace Levelston (Vero Beach, FL) d. (1) Lara Smejkal (Boca Raton, FL) 6-1, 6-2

The 70th edition of the “Bobby Curtis” will have upwards of 50 of the country’s top college tennis coaches and scouts in attendance. June 8 will feature player early check-in, the Player Party, and a College Coaches Panel with guidance for players and parents.

June 8 Schedule at the USTA National Campus:

4-7pm — Early Check-In (Welcome Center)
5:30pm — Pizza Party and ping-pong, corn hole, etc.
7-8:30pm — College Coaches Panel

For additional info go to www.ustaflorida.com/bobbycurtis2018playerparty.

The tournament is annually a launching pad for future college stars and pros. The USTA Florida “Bobby Curtis” Junior State Championships is 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.

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 Boys’ 14, 1994 Boys’ 12 champion)

Other notable winners over the years have been current WTA players Bethanie Mattek-Sands (1998 Girls’ 14 champion) and Danielle Collins (2011 & 2009 Girls’ 18, 2006 Girls’ 12) ; three-time Grand Slam runner-up and two-time Olympic gold medalist 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 U.S. Fed Cup Captain Kathy Rinaldi (1980 Girls’ 14, 1979 Girls’ 12); former world No. 7 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).

In 2012 the tournament was renamed the USTA Florida “Bobby Curtis” Junior State Championships in honor of legendary Florida junior tennis organizer Bobby Curtis.

Live streaming of all courts will be available beginning on June 9 at www.ustanationalcampus.com/en/home/watch.html. Players and parents can stop by the Innovation Lab in the lobby of the USTA National Campus Welcome Center for more details on Playsight and its functions.

Live broadcast of the girls’ and boys’ 18s finals with commentary will be on June 13 beginning at 10 a.m. at www.ustaflorida.com/livestreams.

Results will be posted daily in the front page news section at www.ustaflorida.com.

For more info, including links to draws and entry lists, go to www.ustaflorida.com/event/2018-usta-florida-bobby-curtis-junior-sectional-championship-boys-girls-12s-18s.