PLAY UNDERWAY AT 18U JTT NATIONALS

CAYCE, S.C. -- With the 18U Advanced and Intermediate Junior Team Tennis National Championships underway at the Cayce Tennis and Fitness Center, teams worked together to not only play at their best, but also to have fun and show good sportsmanship on and off the court.

Many of the players are at the National Championships for the first time and are simply thrilled to be here and play with other kids from around the country.

The Southern Advanced team, SDTUA, Inc., (pictured above) from Atlanta currently holds the highest percentage of wins after Day 1 of play, winning 120 games and losing 26. The team raised more than $7,000 to make it to the National Championships.

For the fifth year in a row, Matt Barnhart, National Manager for USTA Junior Team Tennis, has made his way to Cayce for the JTT National Championships. He knows the players are in for a true treat when it comes time for the event, as they have access to award-winning facilities, high level of competition and great weather.

“Every time we come to Cayce, it is truly a wonderful experience and I know that the staff, players, families and coaches will feel the same way, whether it is their first time at the Championships or their fourth time,” said Barnhart. “Over 400 matches are played throughout the weekend between the 32 top teams in the country, making for some great action on the courts.

“Junior tennis focuses on way more than solely the results on the court. In fact, team spirit, friendship, sportsmanship and having fun is what JTT is really all about and we have seen this generation of junior tennis players take those aspects of the game very seriously. Off of the court, there are a lot of side features we try and provide to everyone that participates in the Championships – from the player party to team spirit and sportsmanship awards – we want everyone to have the best experience possible and leave them with a want to come back next year.”

ADVANCED FLIGHT STANDINGS