Top Junior Players in Florida Compete at Prestigious 16s/18s 2024 Bobby Curtis Junior State Championships

It’s that time of the year again as the best junior athletes competed at 2024 Bobby Curtis Junior State Championships for 16s and 18s. Players from across the state gathered at the USTA National Campus in Lake Nona for this prestigious event. 

There is a ton of rich history with this event, with plenty of former champions going on to have successful careers on the pro tour. While inclement weather gloomed over the courts, the spirit for tennis and competition shined brightly.  

It was an intense five days of tennis action with champions being crowned, dreams coming true, and athletes pushing themselves to the absolute limit. This year, we saw four brand-new champions named. Let’s look at how the top performers from each division did, who etched their name in Bobby Curtis history, and what names to look out for moving forward. 

Boys’ 16s 

All the competitors left everything they had on the courts in the 16s division. There were tons of close matches with lots of tiebreaker sets needed to settle the action. 

Gabriel Valdes and Teodor Davidov were getting the best of everyone, though. Gabriel won his first three matches rather convincingly, but the quarter and semifinals were no easy task. He was pushed to the limit against Ajinkya Karnataki (Boca Raton), who took the opening set. However, Gabriel forced the tiebreaker and won to set up a semifinal date with William Freshwater (Naples). These two went back and forth, trading game for game, and it took three sets, where Gabriel found himself a two-point victory. 

Teodor was also strong throughout the week, taking down FHSAA State Champion Caleb Chow (Miami). Much like Gabriel, his quarter and semifinal matchups were difficult. He was pushed to a third set against Oscar Puyplat (Ocean Ridge), where Teodor edged out a 10-8 win. This led him to a showdown with top seeded Maddox Bose (Winter Haven). The two battled and left it all on the court, all three sets went the distance, but in the end, Teodor rallied a few in a row to advance to the finals. 

The championship match between Gabriel and Teodor wasn’t played, and Gabriel took it via Walkover.  

Championship: Gabriel Valdes (Miami) d. Teodor Davidov (Bradenton) Walkover 

Third/Fourth Place: Maddox Bose (Winer Haven) d. William Freshwater (Naples) 3-6, 6-3, 14-12 

Fifth Place: Seiryu Kato (Valrico) 

Sixth Place: Oscar Puyplat (Ocean Ridge) 

Consolation Winner: Navneet Raghuram 

Girls’16s 

Sophia Osipova (Left), Aarini Bhattacharya (Right)

On the Girls’ side, the matches were fierce, with tons of top junior players battling it out for the championship plate.  

Sophia Osipova found herself in the finals, taking down some tough foes along the way. In her second match, Sophia grinded out an intense three-set match against Isabella Bawa (Boca Raton). And in the quarterfinals, Emily Morgan (Boca Raton), put up a great fight as the two traded sets. However, Sophia went on a run to win the tiebreaker 10-0. She dominated her semifinal match to reach the championship. 

Her opponent, Aarini Bhattacharya also defeated some of Florida’s best. In her third match, she matched up with Jessica McLean (Pembroke Pines), who fought hard. They traded the first two sets, forcing a tiebreaker. Aarini found her stride, winning a few points in a row and taking the match. Aarini carried that momentum into the next two matches, winning both and only dropping eight games across four sets, to reach the championship. 

The finals were set, with Sophia and Aarini playing some great tennis to reach this point. However, Sophia came out strong, riding her momentum all week long and dominated the championship, winning 6-1, 6-1, to become Bobby Curtis Champion! 

Championship: Sophia Osipova (Ormond Beach) d. Aarini Bhattacharya (Boynton Beach) 6-1, 6-1 

Third/Fourth Place: Filipa Delgado (Boca Raton) d. Serafima Elizarova (Cape Coral) Walkover 

Fifth Place: Emily Morgan (Boca Raton) 

Sixth Place: Daniela Shubianok (New Port Richey) 

Boys’ 18s 

Benjamin Saltman (Left), Kyle Chesman (Right)

With the best junior Florida tennis in attendance, the Boys’ 18s was a fun watch all week long. While tons of players shined, there could only be one Bobby Curits winner. 

Kyle Chesman started his campaign off very strong, winning his first three matches and only dropping 11 games in the 6 sets that he played. However, every match after was super intense, with them all coming down to the wire. Nicholas Rizzo (Sarasota) and the top-seeded Jaden Brady (Palm Beach Gardens) put up strong fights. Against Nicholas, Kyle squeezed out a super close three-set win, taking the tiebreaker by just two points. It was the same story against Jaden, as he took the three-set match by just three points. His hard work on the court rewarded him with a spot in the finals. 

Determined as ever, Benjamin Saltman had his eyes on the prize. He rolled through his opening matches, looking strong against everyone he faced. In the quarterfinals, he pulled out a perfect match, winning 6-0, 6-0. This set up an intense match with Nikolas Stoot (Miami), as the two went point for point the entire match. They traded the first two sets, both in 6-4 fashions. The tiebreaker was nail-biting as once again neither side would give an inch. It took a late rally, but Benjamin won a few points in a row to take it 10-7 and advance to the finals. 

Kyle and Benjmain played some top tier tennis all week and they didn’t let up in the finals. Benjamin jumped out first, with a hot 6-1 opening set. But Kyle answered right back with the same fire, winning it 6-1 and forcing the final-set tiebreaker. They traded points, but Benjamin rattled off a few in a row and won 10-6, becoming the 18s Bobby Curtis Winner. 

Championship: Benjamin Saltman (Winter Haven) d. Kyle Chesman (Port Saint Lucie) 6-1, 1-6, 10-6 

Third/Fourth Place: Jaden Brady (Palm Beach Gardens) d. Nikolas Stoot (Miami) 6-1, 6-1 

Fifth Place: Steffan Correa (Miami) 

Sixth Place: Martin Macias (Miramar) 

Consolation Winner: Henry Stoller (Coral Gables) 

Girls’ 18s 

Shravani Chennamsetty (Left), Berklie Simmering (Right)

The top girls in the state were battling it out throughout the week, as some of the best tennis was on display.  

Berklie Simmering was clutch all week, as most of her matches were going the distance, and she played great tennis in those high intensity moments. She won her first three matches in straight sets and showed incredible composure. In the quarterfinals, Charlotte Narti (Palm Beach Gardens) gave her a good run. The girls traded the first two sets, but Berklie didn’t let that bother her, winning the tiebreaker set. In the semifinals, she played the second-seeded Sabrina Jaramillo (Orlando). Sabrina took the first set, but Berklie responded by winning the second and final set tiebreaker to advance to the finals. 

Her opponent would come in riding a ton of momentum. Shravani Chennamsetty was strong throughout the entire tournament. She got a walkover win her first match and dominated her second one. In her third match, she was pushed to a third-set tiebreaker, as Shradha Grover was looking strong. However, Shravani bounced back and took the final set 10-4. Shravani carried that confidence over and in her next two matches, she dominated her opponents, winning both in straight sets and setting up a date with Berklie for the championship. 

The clash of titans got off to an exciting start, as Shravani and Berklie traded some games. In the first set, Shravani was able to find a break and take the set 6-4. However, being composed all week long, Berklie didn’t back down and stormed back in set two to win 6-1. The 10-point tiebreaker was all that separated these two girls from the prize. They left everything they had on the court, but in the end, Shravani found her groove and won 10-5, becoming Bobby Curtis Champion. 

Championship: Shravani Chennamsetty (Weston) d. Berklie Simmering (Fort Myers) 6-4, 1-6, 10-5 

Third/Fourth Place: Sabrina Jaramillo (Orlando) d. Hayley Roberts (Bradenton) Walkover 

Fifth Place: Charlotte Narti (Palm Beach Gardens) 

Sixth Place: Meadow Garcia (Orlando) 

Consolation Winner: Lyla Messler (Largo) 

This was the first week of the Bobby Curtis Sectional Championships. Taking place June 15 to June 19, the 14s and 12s divisions will be in play as four more competitors will be crowned Bobby Curtis Champions.