Katrina Scott
keeps perspective at Jr. Fed Cup
Arthur Kapetanakis | September 29, 2019

You could forgive 15-year-old Katrina Scott for "feeling herself," as the kids say. After notching a US Open women’s singles qualifying win in August (she later made the quarterfinals in the girls’ singles event), she is now leading Team USA as their No. 1 singles player at the 2019 Junior Fed Cup.
But the Woodland Hills, Calif., resident is managing to keep it all in perspective.
“I definitely gained some confidence after that [US Open qualifying] win,” she said. “But I didn’t want it to get to me too much because you have to keep moving forward, you can’t just get stuck in the same place. I’m just working hard every day so I can keep continuing to get those good wins.”
As the leading lady for the U.S. Junior Fed Cup team, which is seeking its third straight title, Scott has compiled a 3-1 singles record and a 1-0 doubles mark in leading her country to its sixth straight final in the under-16 competition. ADVERTISEMENT She credits the team around her—her best friend Robin Montgomery, Connie Ma, and captain Jamea Jackson—for helping her find her best tennis at the USTA National Campus in Orlando, Fla.
“It’s definitely an honor to play No. 1 for the USA. I don’t feel pressured at all,” she said of the responsibility. “My team is very supportive of me. We’re all a team, we’re all the same.”
After she leaves Orlando, hopefully with a Junior Fed Cup trophy in tow, Scott plans to continue playing a mix of professional and junior tournaments. Though she is still working out her 2020 schedule, she plans to play the junior Slams and some Grade A events, in addition to competing on the USTA Pro Circuit. While she has not yet made a decision on turning pro, the high school sophomore is currently leaning that was, as opposed to the college route.
“Going pro is obviously my No. 1 decision, but I haven’t signed anything. I’m still waiting because you never know what can happen.”
Frequent training visits to the USTA National Campus have given Scott an inside look the training regimens of many top American professionals.
“Usually when we train here, we get to see them and we get to see all the hard work that they’re putting in. It just shows that hard work pays off and that it doesn’t matter how long it takes, it’s going to pay off.”
It may not be long until Scott joins the likes of former Junior Fed Cup stars Sloane Stephens and Coco Gauff on the pro tour, but for now, her focus is on Sunday’s Fed Cup final against the Czech Republic.
Tennis Channel will feature live coverage of the match, with live streaming, scores and full schedules are available on the USTA National Campus Junior Davis and Fed Cup homepage. For more information, visit the ITF website.
Highlights and more can be viewed on the USTA's Twitter page.
Related stories:
U.S. girls, seeking Junior Fed Cup three-peat, reach sixth straight final
Doubles delight for U.S. in quarterfinals
Team USA boys, girls advances to knockout rounds