Eastern 3.5 team scores podium finish at 2026 USTA League National Championships

Capping the first weekend of action off with a spot on the podium. Eastern’s 18 & Over 3.5 Men’s squad—based out of New York, N.Y.—scored a third-place finish during Week 1 of the 2026 USTA League National Championships, held October 10-12 in Surprise, Arizona. 

“It felt bittersweet,” said Day Yundan, who captained the Eastern squad to the top result. “It was exciting knowing that all the work we put in behind the scenes was rewarded. [But] it’s also heartbreaking knowing that this chapter with all these amazing people was over. We accomplished something special together…it was hard to say goodbye to a team that made the journey so memorable.”

Indeed, just the journey over the course of the weekend was quite memorable. Right out of the gate, struggling to adjust to the oppressive Arizona heat, the team lost their first round robin match in a close battle against USTA Mid-Atlantic 2-3. (The 18 & Over 3.5 division plays two singles courts and three doubles courts per match.) The result didn’t mean they’d definitely miss out on the knockout stages of the event, but Yundan knew they had very little room for mistakes as they faced their next three opponents.

Despite the successful strategy and strong form, Eastern’s semifinal berth wasn’t guaranteed as they headed into the final round robin matchup with USTA Missouri Valley, as they needed to emphatically claim all five courts to clinch it. And at first, it looked like they might go 4-1, with Yundan and Andy Nguyen down 9-4 and five match points in the third-set match tiebreaker of their doubles battle.

“At this point there were other spectators besides just our group,” Yundan recalled. “I noticed Northern California and Southwest team colors there because those teams were both 3-0 before they faced each other in their final match. I realized one of the three of us could potentially be knocked out depending on the outcome of this court.”

With decibel-soaring cheers emanating from the crowd, Yundan and Nguyen fought off every single match point to even the score, then finally had their own chance to close it out at 9-10.

And that is ultimately what Yundan will remember when he reflects on his 2026 USTA Leagues campaign: The hard work, the fight and the camaraderie they developed working toward a shared goal.

“The biggest highlight has to be seeing all the work we put in throughout the season rewarded by coming in third place in nationals,” he said. “Getting to compete against the best teams in the country was also great. [But] this experience also gave us memories beyond the matches themselves. Not only did we get to enjoy each other's company on the court, we got to understand each other off the court, sharing meals and enjoying side activities together. Spending that time with each other, talking about our performances and what we can each improve on was very special.”