BROWN, CRAWLEY NAMED TO USTA JUNIOR LEADERSHIP TEAM

Lucas Brown and Fiona Crawley have been named to the third annual USTA Junior Leadership Team, which recognizes America’s finest junior tennis players who exhibit leadership, sportsmanship and character on and off the court.

Brown, of Plano, Texas, and Crawley, of San Antonio, are among more than 30 players nationwide named to the USTA Junior Leadership Team. Each player was nominated by his or her USTA section for their excellence in tennis and in the community.

“These players are our future leaders, and the values they’ve shown to embody both on the court and in the community are evidence that our future will be in good hands,” said Lew Brewer, the USTA’s Director of Junior Competition. “They are the perfect role models that represent our nationwide Net Generation efforts, and they truly deserve to be recognized with the USTA Junior Leadership Team.”

Brown, 13, was ranked as the No. 1 12-and-under player in the USTA boys’ national standings in 2017 and now ranks in the Top 40 of the 14-and-under national standings. He won the USTA Boys’ 12s National Championship on hard courts and clay courts in both singles and doubles in 2017 and was awarded sportsmanship awards at the USTA National Winter and Indoor Championships in 2017. See page 2 for his own words.

Crawley, 16, is the No. 1-ranked 16-and-under player in the USTA girl’s national standings and is No. 13 in the 18-and-under division. She won the singles title at the 2017 USTA Girls’ 18s National Winter Championships and the 16-and-under singles title at the National Clay Court championships last summer. She represented the U.S. in the Junior Fed Cup international team competition qualifying rounds in April, helping the team advance to the Finals in September.

Each year, more than 120,000 players compete in USTA junior tournaments. Players compete in levels of competition through earned advancement in the 10s, 12s, 14s, 16s and 18s age divisions. USTA junior tournaments help kids take their game as far as they want – high school, college or pros – or just have fun competing.

In his own words...

Lucas Brown: Tennis was first introduced to me in a preschool clinic. Unlike my peers, I was actually making contact with the ball. The instructor encouraged my mother to consider placing me in the sport. I immediately went home and began hitting against the wall in our garage. Ever since then, tennis has been a major part of my life.

As we all know, tennis can be a frustrating sport at times. Fortunately, I am surrounded by mentors who understand this. That is why from a young age, the emphasis has always been on having fun and competing with sportsmanship. People will remember more how you act on the court than how you play.

Above all, tennis has humbled me. At the age of 8, I became a Super Champ in Texas. I triple-crowned for 11 consecutive tournaments. But I also remember asking my mom one day when I would win a match. This taught me how to lose, for I am a very competitive individual.

Tennis is, and will always be, the sport for me. It helps take my mind away from the outside world and into a place where I can enjoy myself. As long as this remains the same, then I will continue to pursue the sport.