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Junior Tennis Champions Center

Tennis For Everyone

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Our History

Founded in 1999 as a nonprofit with the mission of providing tennis training for college-bound athletes, the Junior Tennis Champions Center (JTCC) has since expanded its offerings to individuals of all ages and skill levels. JTCC’s USTA-recognized High Performance Program stands out for its exceptional success in producing numerous top-tier collegiate players and ATP professionals who have collectively achieved multiple junior Grand Slam and NCAA Championship titles.

Building upon this foundation, JTCC extends its impact through diverse outreach programs, reflecting its core belief in “Tennis for Everybody.” These initiatives range from empowering underserved youth to providing adaptive tennis opportunities for veterans and individuals with disabilities, demonstrating JTCC’s commitment to making the sport accessible and impactful for everyone. Explore JTCC’s history timeline below to learn more about our work and impact over the past 25 years.

Founding JTCCJTCC Opens and The Early YearsGrowth and USTA RecognitionBenton's Leadership ArrivalYouth Outreach Program LaunchesPonkka Honored, Special Olympics LaunchedA Year of Triple TriumphNational Acclaim and Player BreakthroughsRising Star and Distinguished CoachingUS Open Para Debut & Fenty's AwardAlumni Shine: JTCC at 25
  • 1999
  • 2000–2003
  • 2004–2008
  • 2008
  • 2009
  • 2011
  • 2013–2017
  • 2018–2021
  • 2022
  • 2023
  • 2024–2025

  • From Vans to Victory: The Founding Story of JTCC

    In 1999, University of Maryland alum Ken Brody founded the Junior Tennis Champions Center (JTCC) with a vision to help young athletes develop skills and earn college scholarships. Supported by the Prince George’s County government and Maryland Capital Park and Planning, 15 acres of parkland near UMD were secured.

    Before a permanent facility existed, Brody and current President Vesa Ponkka began recruiting high performance players. Their start was humble: no center, no courts. That first winter, they used three vans nightly to transport players an hour to a distant bubble for late-night training. This dedication, Ponkka recalled, emphasized that “work ethic and dedication will make the program a success.”

    This early commitment cultivated a strong first generation, including future top doubles player Treat Huey and national No. 1 Jason Pinsky. Ponkka stressed the power of a supportive environment. With his investment, Brody established the “coach-mentor” model, defining JTCC’s enduring mission: “transforming lives through senior coaching,” fostering both tennis excellence and character development.

  • Infrastructure, Impact, and a Grand Slam Debut

    From 2000 to 2003, JTCC established its core. Early efforts focused on accessible programs in College Park, fostering diverse youth pathways. The coach-educator model integrated tennis skills with character development. In 2000, the completed JTCC facility opened, featuring 15 indoor and 17 outdoor courts, alongside an on-site school. In 2001, JTCC received the USTA Outstanding Tennis Facility Award, recognizing its excellence.

    In 2003, Phillip Simmonds became JTCC’s first Grand Slam champion, winning the Junior Australian Open doubles, achieving the #1 ITF World Junior Doubles ranking, and attaining high ATP rankings.

  • JTCC’s National Recognition and Program Expansion

    From 2004 onward, JTCC experienced significant growth, refining its programs and expanding its reach. The Champions Program, designed to nurture elite junior players, gained prominence. JTCC prioritized accessibility, ensuring diverse youth could excel in tennis, solidifying its reputation as a leading development program.

    In 2004, JTCC was named the USTA’s first Regional Training Center, a testament to its exceptional training and commitment to global excellence. This designation underscored JTCC’s 100% success rate in developing top-tier talent and further solidified its leadership in youth tennis development.

  • Benton’s Leadership: JTCC’s Rise to National Prominence

    Ray Benton became CEO of JTCC in 2008. His leadership has been pivotal, with JTCC graduates securing over $25 million in dollars earned by JTCC alumni in college scholarships and financial aid. The organization has also earned USTA’s Development Program, Organization, and Facility of the Year awards.

    Benton’s tennis career includes founding ProServ, a sports management firm representing Arthur Ashe and Michael Jordan. He directed the Volvo Grand Prix and Volvo Masters and created the Nuveen Tour, featuring John McEnroe.

    Before JTCC, Benton was the first National Executive Director of the National Junior Tennis League, growing it from three to 50 chapters. Inducted into the Mid-Atlantic Tennis Foundation Hall of Fame in 2005, he also served on ATP and WTA boards. His expertise has elevated JTCC’s impact in tennis.

    Also in 2008, JTCC coach Frank Salazar is named Tennis Development Coach of the Year by the US Olympic Committee.

  • Beyond the Court: JTCC’s NYO Program Transforms Young Lives

    In 2009, recognizing the critical issues of truancy and low graduation rates among youth of color in Washington, D.C., and Prince George’s County, JTCC launched the Neighborhood Youth Outreach (NYO) Program. This initiative delivers free, weekly, eight-week after-school sessions at schools and recreation centers in underserved communities across Washington, D.C., Prince George’s County, and Montgomery County. 

    To date, NYO has reached over 7,000 children, providing a comprehensive program that combines tennis instruction with academic and healthy lifestyle enrichment. Currently, 50% of NYO sites integrate academic enrichment, reinforcing math, reading, and writing skills through tennis-related activities. Examples include analyzing the legacy of tennis legend and civil rights activist Arthur Ashe, creative writing exercises, designing tennis equipment, and exploring the geometry of the tennis court.

     

  • Coaching Excellence and Special Olympics: JTCC Makes a Double Impact

    In 2011, Vesa Ponkka was selected as the National Developmental Coach of the Year by the US Olympic Committee. His students have won numerous professional and national titles, achieved the #1 ITF Junior World Ranking, and earned several #1 USTA National Rankings and NCAA All-American honors.

    JTCC also started its Special Olympics Tennis program. High-performance player Nick Bayh led this, establishing weekly tennis clinics for Special Olympics athletes. JTCC High Performance players volunteered for the program, providing athletic development and tennis skills to individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities while fostering community service among the JTCC players. This highlighted JTCC’s commitment to using tennis for positive social impact and giving back.

  • The Rise of two Champions and USTA Award

    In 2013, JTCC alumnus Francis Tiafoe became the youngest boys’ singles champion in the 67-year history of the Orange Bowl International, winning at 15.

    Also in 2013, JTCC alumnus Mitchell Frank led the University of Virginia to victory in the NCAA Division I Team Championship, completing an undefeated season with a remarkable 30-0 record and becoming the first ACC school to win a men’s tennis NCAA title. Frank was also the 2013 ITA All-American champion.

    In the same year, JTCC earned further recognition as the USTA Team USA Developmental Program of the Year. This award highlighted the organization’s robust training programs and significant contributions to youth tennis development, taking into account player progress, coaching expertise, quality of facilities, and community engagement.

  • Tiafoe’s Breakthrough and Montgomery’s Rise Highlight JTCC’s Impact

    2018 was a notable year. Frances Tiafoe won the Delray Beach Open, the youngest American man to win an ATP event since 2002. JTCC also received the USTA’s USA Developmental Program of the Year Award for the second time, affirming its strong youth tennis training.

    In 2019, Robin Montgomery, from JTCC’s GEICO Game On! outreach, won the Orange Bowl at 15, demonstrating the program’s impact on youth talent development.

    2021 saw Montgomery win the Junior US Open Girls’ singles and doubles titles at 17. Her progression from Game On! to the WTA Tour highlighted JTCC’s ability to nurture talent from community programs to professional levels.

  • JTCC: From Local Courts to Grand Slam Glory

    In 2022, Frances Tiafoe, who began playing tennis at JTCC at the age of four, defeated 22-time Grand Slam champion Rafael Nadal at the 2022 US Open. By 2023, he became the third African American man in the ATP top ten. 

    In 2022, JTCC received the USTA Outstanding Tennis Facility Award for the third time.

    Coach Ali Agnamba was named the United States Olympic Committee’s Tennis Development Coach of the Year, the third JTCC coach to receive this honor, largely for his work with Robin Montgomery, highlighting JTCC’s coaching quality.

  • JTCC Champions: Para Standing Breakthrough & Fenty’s Pro Dream Fueled

    In 2023, JTCC became the first U.S. facility to establish an ongoing Para Standing tennis program, serving athletes with physical disabilities. JTCC athletes Nicky Maxwell and Ken “Rocket” Rodriguez quickly gained national recognition, competing in a landmark Para Standing doubles exhibition at the US Open’s Arthur Ashe Stadium.

    In 2023, JTCC alumnus Andrew Fenty, the winningest player in the history of the University of Michigan tennis program, received the 2023 Universal Tennis Foundation Hurd Award, a $100,000 grant to support his transition to professional tennis.

  • JTCC Celebrates 25 Years of Champions On and Off the Court

    In 2024, the Junior Tennis Champions Center (JTCC) celebrated its 25th anniversary with a landmark gala honoring alumnus and ATP player Frances Tiafoe and University of Maryland President Darryll J. Pines. In a meaningful full-circle moment in 2024, Frances Tiafoe, who began playing tennis at JTCC at age 4, donated $50,000 through his charitable fund with the USTA Foundation.

    The event raised over $580,000 for the Community Champs program, supporting JTCC’s mission to provide tennis access to underserved youth in Washington, D.C., and Prince George’s County. Since 2009, more than 300 JTCC student-athletes have earned over $25 million in scholarships and financial aid to 110 universities—including Ivy League and Division I schools.

    Also in 2024, Ayana Akli, an ITA All-American in both singles and doubles, reached a career-high No. 3 in the ITA Division I singles rankings while competing for the University of South Carolina. She has been coached for two decades by her father, Oliver Akli—one of JTCC’s most experienced and accomplished staff members—who joined the organization in 2000 and now serves as Senior Director of Coach Development. Ayana was named to the 2022 All-SEC First Team, SEC Academic Honor Roll, and recognized as an ITA Scholar-Athlete.

    JTCC celebrated another milestone in January 2025 when alumnus Denis Kudla retired from the ATP Tour after 14 years and began his coaching career with current ATP player Reilly Opelka.

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