COLLEGE PARK, Md. — Two JTCC alumni will take center stage during the final weekend of the 2026 US Open as Frances Tiafoe competes for a spot in the men’s singles final and Robin Montgomery plays for her first women’s Grand Slam title.

“Both Frances and Robin’s work ethic, love for the game and mental toughness have enabled their progression along with their amazing teams. We are so proud of the way they represent themselves, their families and JTCC,” said JTCC CEO Martin Blackman.

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.

Fresh off helping the University of Virginia capture the NCAA National Championship, JTCC alumnus Stiles Brockett recently returned home to add his framed championship picture to the Ray & Nina Benton Walk of Fame.

JTCC alumnus Frances Tiafoe delivered a career-defining week in Halle, Germany, capturing the Terra Wortmann Open title and checking off a series of firsts along the way.

Tiafoe defeated fellow American Taylor Fritz 6-4, 6-4 in the final to win his fourth career ATP Tour title and first at the ATP 500 level.

JTCC alumna Robin Montgomery’s journey to her first career WTA title has been defined by resilience.
After reaching a career-high world #95 ranking in June 2025, Montgomery was forced to step away from competition for nearly 10 months due to injury. This week, the 21-year-old completed a remarkable comeback by capturing the Libéma Open in s’Hertogenbosch, earning the biggest victory of her professional career.

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.

The University of Virginia are NCAA National Champions once again — and JTCC has fingerprints all over the trophy.

JTCC alumni Stiles Brockett and Stefan Regalia played key roles throughout the season in helping the Cavaliers secure their third NCAA title in the past five years on May 17 in Athens, GA. Adding to the full-circle moment, UVA Assistant Coach Treat Huey is also a JTCC alumnus who trained at the club from 2000-04.

Alumna Hailey Baptiste stunned Aryna Sabalenka at the Madrid Open on April 28, becoming the first JTCC alum to defeat a reigning World No. 1.

Having saved six match points, Baptiste sealed her first Top 5 victory in style winning 2-6, 6-2, 7-6 (8-6) on her first match point with an unreturnable forehand.

After three years of her father feeding her balls, Raveena Kingsley’s passion for tennis was born—but it was time to find a place to elevate her game.

Kingsley joined JTCC at age 10, and from 2009–14, JTCC became more than just a training ground—it became home.

It was a powerhouse March for JTCC alumni on the global stage. Frances Tiafoe surged back into the world top 20 following an ATP 500 final and deep runs in the Sunshine Double, while Hailey Baptiste secured her first Top 10 win en route to a maiden WTA 1000 Quarterfinal and a career-high ranking of No. 33.

The momentum extended across the board with Andrew Fenty reaching consecutive ITF finals, Ayana Akli making her WTA 500 debut, and Robin Montgomery successfully returning to professional competition. Whether at the elite Masters level or the ITF circuit, these athletes continue to showcase the world-class impact of JTCC training.

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.

For alumnus Frances Tiafoe, last week marked a significant step toward excellence at the start of the 2026 season when he reached his third ATP 500-level final in Acapulco at the Abierto Mexicano Telcel.

The Hyattsville native won four matches en route to his 11th ATP Tour final which included two three-set victories along the way over countrymen Aleksandar Kovacevic and Brandon Nakashima.

JTCC alum Benjamin Kittay is quickly establishing himself on the worldwide professional doubles tour, highlighted by his recent appearance at the Delray Beach Open. The Potomac, MD native made the most of his main draw wild card, reaching the finals in his ATP 250 tournament debut.
“I am just happy to be playing,” Kittay said. “My team and I are trying to get better every week, and it’s been great.”

Sofia Johnson was all smiles February 22 when she secured her first professional title at the ITF W15 Palm Coast in Florida by knocking off #1 seed Thaisa Pedretti, 6-4, 6-2, in straight sets.

From JTCC courts to the world tour, Ryan Colby is making his presence felt.

The 22-year-old has carried his game seamlessly into the professional ranks since turning pro in November with a stellar 19-5 record in that span, most recently reaching the finals at the M15 Palm Coast in FL on February 8.

One tournament can change everything on the professional tour, and for Hailey Baptiste, the Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open marked that moment.
The JTCC alumna vaulted to a career-high ranking of world #39 on February 9 after her first run to the semifinals of a WTA 500 the week prior.

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.”

Holidays are a time for returning home and reconnecting with family and friends, and at JTCC, this is no exception. The building was buzzing the week of November 17 with more than 15 alumni returning to the courts to train together again where their journeys began.

Adding to the excitement, world #9 Ben Shelton stopped by for an energetic practice with alumnus Frances Tiafoe as the two pushed each other for more than three hours.

No amount of rain could dampen Ryan Colby’s spirits as the JTCC and Laurel Springs alumnus turned a weather-interrupted week into a career breakthrough.

The Virginia native captured his first professional title November 9 at the M15 Orlando tournament on the USTA Pro Circuit.

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.

JTCC alumna Kallista Liu capped her standout college career by being named the ITA National Most Improved Player of the Year, recognizing her steady rise to the top of collegiate tennis at the University of Maryland.

“Kallista’s journey is the epitome of this award,” said Maryland Head Coach Katie Dougherty. “She came in playing No. 6 singles and left playing No. 1 as a unanimous All-Big Ten selection. After not cracking the doubles lineup her first two years, she finished playing No.1 and ranked nationally. This is a huge and well-deserved honor.”

Alumnus Frances Tiafoe made headlines in Paris with four consecutive straight set victories enroute to his first appearance in the Roland Garros quarterfinals.

The #15 seed was joined by compatriot Tommy Paul marking the first time since 1996 that there were two American men in the final eight. Both players lost in quarterfinal encounters with clay court specialists Lorenzo Musetti and Carlos Alcaraz, respectively.

Alumna Hailey Baptiste is catapulting her career to new heights after a run to the Round of 16 at Roland Garros—her best result ever at a Grand Slam.

Hailey starting making waves in the first round with an upset victory over #23 seed Beatriz Haddad Maia, followed by wins over Nao Hibino and Jessica Bouzas Maneiro. She has surged from a previous career-high of #98 to #70—and currently sits at #58 in the live rankings—securing entry into the highest level of WTA Tournaments and setting the stage for success at Wimbledon in the main draw four weeks from now. 

For most of his life, all Denis Kudla has known is playing tennis.

From a precocious Junior player who ascended to the #3  ITF World Junior ranking after winning the prestigious Orange Bowl 16’s, to a respected tennis professional whose 16-year career included representing the USA at the Rio Olympics and Davis Cup, Kudla and tennis have been inseparable. 

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.

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.

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.

In preparation for the Junior Boys’ and Girls’ US Open, 200 of the Top Junior players in the world from 35 different countries battled at JTCC and competed in the J300 ITF Wayne K. Curry Prince George’s County International Junior Tennis Championships presented by Laurel Springs School.

Demonstrating the skills that make him one of the world’s top players, JTCC alumnus Frances Tiafoe advanced to the US Open semifinals for the second time in three years earning him the distinction of being the only American man to reach the semifinals two times since 2000.

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.

Three former JTCC players and two alumni had strong showings at the NCAA Division I Championships in Stillwater, OK recently, with Alexa Noel capturing the Women’s Singles Championship. Noel rallied from a set and 3-1 down to capture the title with an impressive 4-6, 7-5, 6-3 come-back victory over Georgia’s Anastasiia Lopata.

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.

Imani Jean’s freshman season at Howard University was memorable and one for the history books. The JTCC alumna, who finished her first collegiate season 13-3 overall in singles, was recognized for her stellar performance being named Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference’s (MEAC) 2024 Rookie of the Year and was a MEAC First Team selection.

Leaving behind her family and hometown of Yonkers, NY, Stefanie Smart-Abbey, at 13-years-old joined JTCC’s Full-Time High Performance program in late 2022 to pursue her dream to be the best player she could be. Smart-Abbey’s father, a seasoned tennis coach from Ghana, taught his 10-year-old daughter how to play tennis. She began making her mark at a young age in local tournaments by holding her own and competing in older age groups despite having only two years of tennis experience.

The dreams of seven hard-working student-athletes have been fulfilled with their commitments to play college tennis at prestigious institutions in the fall. A signing day ceremony was held at JTCC on Thursday, January 11, with players, family members, and media in attendance.

The past and present collided during winter break at JTCC when several alumni returned from college to train together with current High Performance players. The holiday training sessions featured thrilling rallies, powerful serves, and a joyful camaraderie that showcased the success of the JTCC pathway.

For JTCC High Performance players Kase and Erik Schinnerer, their dominance on the court shouldn’t be a surprise. Born into a family of athletes, with their mother Lessia, a former professional tennis player, and their father Dan, a four-year letter winner at Yale University, the Schinnerer brothers have quickly forged an identity of their own at JTCC.

JTCC High Performance player Stiles Brockett started training at JTCC in 2020 with a goal “to become the best player he could be”. Three years later, Brockett not only is one of the country’s best junior players and Boys 16 National champion, but he recently verbally committed to join one of the best collegiate programs in the country at the University of Virginia.

JTCC alumnus Frances Tiafoe’s outstanding run at the 2023 US Open not only showcased his immense talent, but his continued ascent in the world of professional tennis. With his impressive quarterfinal appearance, Tiafoe solidified his status as one of the top players on the global ATP Tour.

The extreme heat couldn’t stop the excitement that emanated from Pershing Square Stadium court at JTCC on Thursday, July 27 when Frances Tiafoe and the USTA Foundation (USTAF) announced the launch of the Frances Tiafoe Fund. Hundreds of JTCC supporters filled the court to applaud the creation of the Frances Tiafoe Fund whose mission is to make tennis more accessible to youth in Prince George’s County and underserved communities nationwide.