MOBILE, Ala. (WALA) – Over the last week, the Mobile Tennis Center has been playing host to a prestigious tennis tournament bringing some of the top talent to the Port City.
The USTA Southern 18s Tennis Tournament brings 320 young tennis players to Mobile every year. These participants are traveling junior players from the nine USTA southern states which includes North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Tennessee, Alabama, Kentucky, Arkansas, Mississippi and Louisiana.
The tournament began on June 6th and will conclude tomorrow with the boys’ and girls’ singles finals.
The Mobile Tennis Center’s general manager Scott Novak says it’s been a packed house for this year’s event.
“It’s been jam packed. We probably had anywhere from 400 to 500 spectators each day. The parking lot has been full, and it has been hard to find a parking spot in this place.”
Players range from 15 to 18 years old, and this tournament provides these young athletes a chance to gain exposure from college programs. The tennis center hosted a college coaches’ night before day one of the tournament which allows players and coaches the opportunity to connect.
“It’s a hotbed for college coaches,” says Novak. “I think we’ve had about 60 college coaches here throughout the week. Most of these players are going to become great division I, division II, and division III college tennis players around the country.”
Not only is this tournament a chance to connect with colleges, but Novack says there are two more incentives these athletes play for as well.
“One of the boys and one of the girls will both get a wildcard into a pro event later on in this calendar year so that’s kind of a big thing for the winner. Then the top 16 finishers out of the boys and the girls get to go on to the national tournament. The boy’s national tournament is in Kalamazoo, Michigan in August and the girls is in San Diego, California at about the same time.”
18-year-old Franchesca Brown from Augusta, Georgia was honored with this year’s sportsmanship award. It’s a prize she did not expect.
“I really don’t get this a lot but overall, I know I’m a good person on and off the court. When I got it, I was a bit surprised, but I was very excited for it.”
It was a hot one out there today in Mobile for the boys’ and girls’ doubles finals but that didn’t stop these junior tennis players from showing their best stuff.
As the tournament comes to a close, Novack is proud of what it does for the Mobile community.
“It’s fun for us that we get to help promote the city so all the hotels and restaurants are full because of tennis players, and they sure appreciate it and it’s nice to have people visit Mobile to show off all the tourism things you can do in the city.”
The tournament wraps up tomorrow at the Mobile Tennis Center with boys’ and girls’ singles.
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