Ray Benton has informed the Board of Directors of his intention to retire as CEO and Board member of the Junior Tennis Championship Center (JTCC) as of December 31, 2025.

Benton was recruited in 2008 to lead JTCC by founder Ken Brody whose vision was to build JTCC into an organization that uses the game of tennis to better lives with a focus on developing a world-class training program that produces champions both on and off the court.

JTCC was transformed for an unforgettable evening on April 29 to salute tennis visionaries Billie Jean King and Ilana Kloss at the GEICO Champions Celebration presented by Amazon, Umana Family, & Erin and Robert Thomson.

JTCC is excited to announce the opening of its first location in Virginia at the Westfields Marriott Washington Dulles Hotel in Chantilly, VA.

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.

“Houston we have a problem” applies only to Frances Tiafoe’s early round opponents in the Fayez Sarofim & Co. U.S. Men’s Clay Court Championship in Houston, TX because the Hyattsville native continues to destroy opponents on his way to three consecutive finals at the ATP 250 event.

The Para Standing Championships held March 1-2 brought together 15 exceptional athletes from the United States and Chile and featured a remarkable display of talent across multiple competitive categories including Men’s and Women’s singles and doubles.

For two and a half weeks, JTCC Director of International Operations Asaf Yamin embarked on an incredible journey to China, bringing the JTCC training philosophy and High Performance mindset to the next generation of tennis players. His mission was to share JTCC coaching principles with players and coaches across China while building lasting connections within the international tennis community.

Kemit-Amon Lewis’s journey back to competitive tennis is a testament to resilience, innovation, and the power of community. His connection with Wilson and JTCC has been instrumental in his return to the sport, allowing him to push past barriers and redefine what is possible in Para Standing tennis.

In a moment that will be etched in University of Virginia tennis history, freshman and JTCC alumnus Stiles Brockett delivered a heroic performance to clinch the decisive point in the Cavaliers’ thrilling 4-3 upset over #1-ranked University of Texas on February 2.

JTCC alumnus Jakob Esterowitz has transformed his skills on the court into a groundbreaking venture off the court. Jakob founded Orobor, a company repurposing old tennis strings into sustainable polyester pellets. His journey reflects the unique blend of athletic and personal growth fostered at JTCC.

JTCC High Performance Player Shristi Selvan set a personal goal in 2024 to become a “top 25 player in the country” in Girls’ 14s by the end of 2025. Just 30 days into the new year, Selvan now can aim even higher, having now achieved a career-high USTA national ranking of #15.

At 15-years-old, Kalista Papadopoulos is quickly making a name for herself in the tennis world. A relative newcomer to competitive tennis, Kalista began taking the sport seriously only after COVID-19 disrupted her involvement in other team sports such as lacrosse and field hockey. What started as casual rallies with her older brother Jordan during the pandemic has now evolved into a dedicated pursuit of excellence on the court.

After an outstanding junior and professional career that left an indelible mark on the sport, JTCC alumnus Denis Kudla has officially retired from tennis after an impressive 14 years on the tour.

Throughout the year, JTCC participants and alumni continued to leave inspirational memories for the entire community.

A record number of nearly 300 students ages 5-18 participated in nine weeks of JTCC’s Community Champs (formerly Game On!) Session I learning tennis fundamentals and gaining invaluable life skills in a rewarding experience filled with rallies, laughter, and growth.

JTCC High Performance Players Reiley Rhodes and Kalista Papadopoulos both captured their first Junior ITF titles at the J60 Arequipa Open that took place last month in Peru.

Just one month after JTCC alumni Ayana Akli and William Woodall secured their first professional doubles titles, alumnus Andrew Fenty followed suit on November 10, securing his maiden pro crown at an ITF M15 tournament in Guatemala.

After attaining the status as one of the most coveted Juniors in the nation, JTCC High Performance player Kase Schinnerer has chosen the University of North Carolina as his next destination to pursue his athletic and academic dreams.

More than 6,500 miles apart, two JTCC alumni experienced euphoria on October 6 by claiming their first professional doubles titles.

Eighteen proud Military Veterans came together September 20-22 to compete in the first JTCC Veterans Tennis Championships for a memorable weekend dedicated to honoring those who have served our country.

JTCC players certainly didn’t let any grass grow under their feet at Wimbledon as three alumni raced to victories on the hallowed grass courts. Robin Montgomery fought through three matches in qualifying to earn her first entry into the women’s singles main draw. She followed up with an impressive first round defeat of Olivia Gadecki, 6-4, 6-4, to achieve a personal milestone winning her first Grand Slam main draw match.

JTCC High Performance Coach Ali Agnamba made history earlier this month by training the Togolese women’s team as they prepared for their country’s first appearance in the Billie Jean King Cup!

Thirteen JTCC graduates in attendance were dressed to impress in front of the more than 100 proud parents, families, alumni, and friends who gathered in the JTCC lobby for the May 29 graduation ceremony for the Class of 2024. The new alumni received their diplomas and portraits which will hang on the JTCC Walk of Fame hallway. This year’s class included four additional graduates who were unable to attend. The group joined the more than 330 other successful alumni.

The tennis journey of JTCC MedStar athlete Madeleine-Camille Preuninger was transformed overnight when she was the surprise recipient of a free custom-fit sports wheelchair six months ago. The Hartford, a leading provider of disability insurance that has dedicated itself for the past 30 years to making adaptive sports and equipment more accessible, awarded the wheelchair to Preuninger making an indelible impact on the tennis enthusiast who began playing at JTCC in 2021.

Thirty-two of the top wheelchair tennis players in the nation competed earlier this month in the USTA L4 JTCC Wheelchair Tennis Championships presented by MedStar NRH. The largest wheelchair tournament in program history with 32 competitors, the event featured 16 JTCC/MedStar players, including 13-year-old Spencer Davis, 38-year-old Bryce Doody, and 48-year-old Michael Flores, who were all crowned champions in their respective brackets.

JTCC Para Standing players Nicky Maxwell and Ken ‘Rocket’ Rodriguez had the opportunity of their lifetime when the duo competed in a Para Standing Doubles match in Arthur Ashe Stadium preceding the US Open Women’s Singles Final on September 9.