Juniors

SAN DIEGO, CA — Shristi Selvan captured the Girls’ 16s singles title at the USTA Billie Jean King Girls’ 16s National Championships, defeating JTCC teammate Aarini Bhattacharya 4-6, 6-4, 6-4 in an all-JTCC championship match on Saturday in San Diego.

Selvan, the No. 1 seed, earned the prestigious USTA Gold Ball and a main draw wild card into the US Open Junior Championships, while Bhattacharya, the No. 14 seed, earned the Silver Ball.

JTCC High Performance players Yared Alfred and Shaun Fernando have been awarded 2026 USTA Foundation College Scholarships in recognition of their achievements on the court, in the classroom, and in their communities.

The prestigious scholarships are awarded annually to student-athletes who have demonstrated success both on and off the court while preparing for higher education and future careers.

For brothers Cody and Coy Gray, this spring was a familiar feeling of euphoria. The pair of JTCC High Performance players helped lead DeMatha Catholic High School to an historic season this spring as the Stags captured back-to-back Washington Catholic Athletic Conference (WCAC) Championships in dominant fashion.

After opening 2026 with her first Gold Ball at the USTA Winter Nationals, Shristi Selvan returned to the national stage at the Easter Bowl in Indian Wells, CA with the confidence of a champion and the hunger for more.
The 15-year-old didn’t just recreate that sense of déjà vu—she elevated it, returning to the winner’s circle on March 29 and taking it a step further by capturing both Girls’ 16s singles and doubles titles.

It didn’t take long for Shristi Selvan to define excellence in 2026, opening the year with a truly momentous achievement.

The 15-year-old delivered a masterclass performance at the USTA Level 1 Girls’ 16s National Winter Championships in Orlando, FL, capturing the singles title and securing her first Gold Ball with a commanding 6-3, 6-1 victory over fourth-seeded Olivia Lin in the final.

What began more than a decade ago in Orange Ball programming on JTCC courts has now culminated in two players competing on one of the premier stages in Junior tennis. This week, Shristi Selvan (15) and Nico Pedraza (16) are competing in the prestigious Junior Orange Bowl, a testament from the early days when both trained in the JTCC Orange Ball programs.

High Performance player Nico Pedraza led a strong JTCC contingent at the USTA Level 1 National Indoor Championships that concluded on December 1, earning a coveted Silver Ball for reaching the finals in the Boys’ 16s Doubles division. This was Pedraza’s fifth career National Ball in Junior competition.

“My partner and I played really well together and had some good chemistry. We complement each other’s games really well,” Pedraza stated. “We had some long days where we ended up playing doubles later in the afternoon, so to stay focused and have high energy late in the day really gave us the edge.”

Fifteen-year-old High Performance player Shristi Selvan received the surprise of a lifetime when she was named the second recipient of the Keith Robert Larson Scholarship fund which provides need-based scholarships for players committed to excellence on and off the court.

“I’m very grateful for this, and it will help me achieve my dreams in the future at the highest level,” Selvan stated. “I will continue to strive for top 10 National rankings in the Girls’ 16s & 18s.”

Four JTCC High Performance players Shristi Selvan, Stefanie Smart-Abbey, Shaun Fernando, and Yared Alfred had a week to remember when they took part in the USTA Foundation Haber Career Week/Amex Cup.

Held from August 30 – September 5, the prestigious program gave student-athletes the opportunity to combine on-court development with enriching off-court learning experiences in New York City. JTCC players joined 24 peers from National Junior Tennis & Learning (NJTL) chapters across the country for a week filled with tennis, education, and career exploration.

Four rising stars from across the DMV represented JTCC and earned a moment in the spotlight on July 27, capturing first place at the Stars of Tomorrow Tournament held at Rock Creek Tennis Center—the same courts where the Mubadala Citi DC Open professionals competed. 

Accompanied by JTCC Director of Junior Champions Mira Vlcek, the team of Milan Smith (DC), Chloe Stillwagon (MD), Knowlton Atterbeary (MD), and Mia Robles (VA) competed in the 10U Green Dot division. The tournament featured a unique team format: co-ed doubles matches played in a round-robin structure, with a singles tiebreaker if matches were tied.

JTCC went undefeated in Group 2 play, advancing to face the winners of Group 1 in the championship match. With strong teamwork and clutch performances in tight moments, they came out on top to claim the title.

High Performance player Nicholas Mekhael led the JTCC contingent of players competing July 6-13 at the Level 1 USTA National Clay Court Championships, earning a coveted Bronze Ball for his 3rd place finish in the Boys’ 18s Singles division in Delray Beach, FL. Mekhael also reached the Boys’ 18s doubles semifinals, ultimately finishing fourth, capping off a standout week of elite-level play.

Ten JTCC High Performance players competed in March in the prestigious USTA Level 1 FILA Easter Bowl tournament in Indian Wells, CA. Often referred to as the “Super Bowl of Junior Tennis,” the Easter Bowl is known for jumpstarting the careers of Hall of Famers Andre Agassi, Tracy Austin, John McEnroe, and JTCC alumnus and former world #10 Frances Tiafoe.