JTCC (Junior Tennis Champions Center)

Breaking barriers on and off the courts, two JTCC adaptive tennis players were featured in a Washington Post article this past Friday documenting their selection for their high schools’ tennis teams this year.

A testament to their exceptional skill and unyielding determination, freshmen Spencer Davis and Maya Gareri have joined their respective teams at Langley High School in McLean, VA, and Eleanor Roosevelt High School in Greenbelt, MD, since the season began earlier this spring.

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.

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.