TEXAS

Texas Teams Shine at USTA Battle of the Sections

Binh Tran | Agosto 25, 2026

Battle of the Sections Girls Championship Roster - Girls 16: Enya Hamilton, Bentley Sparks, Reena Alavalapati, Kshetra Jinukala - Girls 18: Autumn Xu, Lauren Nolan, Emily Golovanov, Kayden Johnson

USTA Texas juniors recently showcased their talent, heart, and teamwork at the Level 1 USTA Battle of the Sections, facing off against the nation’s top regional talent in both the Boys and Girls divisions. Classified as a USTA Level 1 event—the highest national designation awarded in junior tennis—the Battle of the Sections serves as a marquee, high-stakes prelude to the USTA National Championships.

Squads are meticulously constructed by each of the 17 USTA sections, which select their absolute top-ranked juniors across the 16s and 18s divisions using the USTA National Standings List, head-to-head records, and World Tennis Numbers. Under the guidance of section-designated coaches, players compete in a multi-day format of singles and doubles matches where every point contributes directly to their section's overall standings

Saltar anuncio

Girls 16 & 18: Pure Dominance in Claremont

At The Claremont Club in Claremont, California, the Texas Girls 18s Intersectionals team put on a masterclass, capping off an undefeated run by sweeping USTA Northern California 7-0 to take home first place.

Led by long-time team leader Coach John Nallon—a Texas A&M alumnus, Performance Specialist at Lakes Tennis Academy in Frisco, and national high-performance coach—the team showcased elite competitive drive and undeniable unity.

"There are certain coaching experiences that you know you’ll remember for the rest of your career, and this was certainly one of them," Nallon said.

"Winning the Battle of the Sections was an amazing accomplishment, but what made it even more meaningful was watching this group grow closer, fight for each other, and create memories along the way... I couldn’t be more proud of what these ladies accomplished."

Girls Championship Roster

Girls 16: Enya Hamilton, Bentley Sparks, Reena Alavalapati, Kshetra Jinukala
Girls 18: Autumn Xu, Lauren Nolan, Emily Golovanov, Kayden Johnson

SEE RESULTS

Boys 16 & 18: Battling to a 4th-Place Finish in Kalamazoo

Over at Western Michigan University, the Texas Boys team fought their way to an impressive 4th-place finish under the guidance of 18-time USTA Texas National Team Coach Neil Adams.

The tournament featured high-stakes competition, including a thrilling fixture against Missouri Valley that came down to the wire. Longtime veteran Will McEwan and rising standout Sebastian Zavala proved crucial to the team's engine, clinching a sudden-death tiebreaker to secure the doubles point before Zavala locked in a singles victory to level the matches at 3-3.

Coach Adams highlighted the passing of the torch within the squad, noting that McEwan has been a cornerstone of the Texas team for three consecutive years as he prepares to head to Harvard, while Zavala is poised to step up into that leadership role following a stellar tournament record.

Boys Squad Roster