Junior Team Tennis: 2023 Eastern Sectional Championships
Long Island-based teams swept all four divisions at the 2023 USTA Eastern Junior Team Tennis (JTT) Sectional Championships, held June 17-18 at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. Squads from the Game Set Match Tennis Academy in East Setauket, N.Y. claimed victory in both 14 & Under (14U) Advanced and 18 & Under (18U) Advanced competition, while contingents from Sportime Lynbrook, in Lynbrook, N.Y., took home the championship hardware in both the 14U Intermediate and 18U Intermediate categories. The 18U champions in both divisions will now represent USTA Eastern at the World TeamTennis Junior Nationals, to be held July 17-20 at the USTA National Campus in Orlando, Florida.
“Chemistry was big,” said 18U Intermediate Sportime Lynbrook captain Pat Mosquera in reflecting on his team’s victory. “These kids play [together] all year round. Off the court and on the court they’re all great friends, so it’s a lot of fun for them.”
Indeed, teamwork was a hallmark of the weekend overall. In JTT competition, one or two members of each team face off in five one-set matches: boys’ and girls’ singles, boys’ and girls’ doubles, as well as one mixed doubles match. Although one team wins each match, every game earned is what ultimately counts toward the final score. Sahara Ahmad—who helped Sportime Lynbrook ease past the YMCA Acers (of USTA Eastern’s Northern Region) in the 18U Intermediate final with wins in both the girls’ singles and doubles matches—said the format made the event uniquely exciting, given how individualized the game can normally be.
“Tennis can be such a lonely sport,” she said. “Even in doubles, it’s just one other person. Just the fact that you have teammates to cheer you on, I really like that aspect.”
Members of the YMCA Acers compete in a mixed doubles match at the 2023 USTA Eastern Junior Team Tennis Sectional Championships. Credit: New York Tennis Magazine
Her teammate, Zecheng Fang—who contested boys’ singles for Lynbrook—echoed that sentiment, also noting that the team element served as a motivating factor on court as he battled the Acers’ Vincent Devito in the final. Fang had the edge for most of the contest, but the pair played multiple lung-busting rallies at critical moments that tended to finish in Devito’s favor. Hearing cheers from his teammates helped Fang gut out the win.
“You’re not just playing for yourself,” he explained. “You’re playing for the team. [So] I had to stay focused, especially on bigger points, just trying not to make any easy mistakes.”
Although he ultimately lost his bout with Feng, Devito stepped back on the same court minutes later to contest the mixed doubles match with partner Bella Kaldy. Thanks in part to some strong shotmaking at the net from Kaldy, the pair came back from a break down to claim the match 7-5. The duo said that having the opportunity to compete in mixed added to the excitement of the event overall.
“Usually you’re either playing boys’ doubles, girls’ doubles or singles [at a tournament], so it’s nice to change it up a little,” said Devito, who, no stranger to versatility, will actually play for his school’s soccer team when he heads to college in the fall.
Kaldy agreed.
“I think it’s different and fun,” she said. “We’ve actually gotten to play together all season, so we’re used to it by now. And it’s helpful because [Vincent] knows how to calm me down when I miss!”
Another exciting facet of JTT Sectionals for participants: getting to compete on the same courts as professional players who contest the US Open each year. It was particularly meaningful for Devito and Kaldy’s teammate Riley Schmitz, the reigning New York State Section II girls’ singles champion.
“My family is a very big tennis family, and my siblings are a lot older,” she said. “The one time a year that we all get to talk and be together is here at the US Open. So it’s really fun to be in this environment. It brings up a lot of good memories.”
2023 USTA Eastern Junior Team Tennis Sectional 14 & Under Advanced Champions: Game Set Match
2023 USTA Eastern Junior Team Tennis Sectional 14 & Under Intermediate Champions: Sportime Lynbrook
2023 USTA Eastern Junior Team Tennis Sectional 14 & Under Intermediate Finalists: Cary Leeds Center
2023 USTA Eastern Junior Team Tennis Sectional 18 & Under Advanced Champions: Game Set Match
2023 USTA Eastern Junior Team Tennis Sectional 18 & Under Advanced Finalists: Harlem Junior Tennis & Education Program (HJTEP)
2023 USTA Eastern Junior Team Tennis Sectional 18 & Under Intermediate Champions: Sportime Lynbrook
2023 USTA Eastern Junior Team Tennis Sectional 18 & Under Intermediate Finalists: YMCA Acers (Saratoga)
She’ll continue to create good memories, according to Mosquera. “I’ve been doing this for over 30 years,” he said “The kids that I taught 30 years ago are playing with me now on a USTA League team. They’ve been together 30 years, and as adults they’re still competing. The friendship goes past tennis. 30 years from now, I may not be here, but these juniors will still be here playing. That’s the beauty of the sport.”
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