Mississippi NJTL enjoys US Open Net Generation Kids on Court Experience

The USTA partnered with various youth tennis organizations and community groups that select their players to participate in Net Generation experiences at the US Open.

The US Open can be an overwhelming experience for even the most seasoned tennis fan. Imagine the trip being your first time leaving your home state, first time on an airplane and the first trip away from your family.

Such was the case when 24 kids from Mississippi, mostly from the Golden Triangle NJTL in Columbus, Miss., flew to the Big Apple and had the time of their lives at the 2025 US Open, led by Executive Director and Coach of Golden Triangle Tennis CTA and NJTL Vanita Phinisey.  This was all part of the US Open Net Generation Kids on Court Experience, which offers a unique, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for young tennis players to play on US Open courts shortly before the pro matches began. 

Additionally, the kids' experience included meeting players and getting autographs, participating in educational and learning zones and kids' play areas. They also got tickets to see the US Open first-round matches.

NYC bound!

"We flew in on Monday the 25^th. ‘Experience Day’ was the 26^thand then most flew back out on the 27^th" explained Phinisey.

Each excited child and their guardian received a grounds pass to the day's matches. Net Generation guides gave tours and a group member was selected to participate in the coin toss for the Victoria Jimenez Kasintseva/Maya Joint main draw first-round singles match. Nine-year-old Skylar Powers. of Columbus, Miss., had the honor.

The kids were able to participate in drills on Court 5 before the Tuesday matches.

"What was great was the on-court time the kids received before the match. The kids loved getting involved and they had low compression balls, so the kids really enjoyed it," Phinisey, a long-time USTA Southern volunteer on the Schools & After School Committee, said.

An education on and off the court

Phinisey said the kids appreciated how special this opportunity was. Many flew on an airplane for the first time and received complimentary wings from the flight attendants. There was an educational component. The kids were missing school, so they all had to keep a journal of their experiences.

"The kids loved New York. They got to see some of the city and do some things (that day) before they left. The Net Generation people were impressed and thought everything went as planned."

Lasting effect

The trip was an accumulation of three experiences for each of the 24 kids.

Phinisey explained, "To be among those 72 experiences, we were proud. We are a year-round program and since New York, the kids have been inviting more friends out to practice."

To make something like this happen, fundraising is key.

"For a student and a guardian to make a trip like this, we had to raise funds," stated Phinisey. "It's not something we could attempt to do on a yearly basis, but I'd love to consider it every other year."