SAN DIEGO – (original publish July 19, 2018) – Cori Gauff, the current No. 1 ranked player in the International Tennis Federation junior rankings, is among the Girls’ 18s entries in the USTA Billie Jean King Girls’ 18s and 16s National Championships presented by adidas, scheduled for August 4-12, 2018 at the Barnes Tennis Center.
At 14 years and 4 months, Gauff, a resident of Delray Beach, Fla., is the youngest ever junior world No.1. Earlier this year she captured the French Open girls’ singles title with a thrilling 1-6, 6-3, 7-6 (1) victory over 16-year old Caty McNally of Cincinnati, who is also entered in next month’s tournament.
Other top entrants in the Girls’ 18s division include 16-year old Whitney Osuigwe of Bradenton, Fla., and 15-year old Alexa Noel of Summit, N.J. Osuigwe, currently the No. 2 ranked junior in the world behind Gauff, has been competing on the USTA Pro Circuit this year and is ranked No. 412 in the WTA singles rankings. Noel, who was born in Scottsdale, Ariz., is currently No. 6 in the ITF junior rankings.
This past April, the USTA renamed the USTA Girls’ 16s & 18s National Championships to honor tennis icon Billie Jean King. Tournament officials have announced that King, a member of the International Tennis Hall of Fame, is scheduled to attend the final two days of the tournament.
“With the best junior tennis players coming from around the country to play in this event, we are anticipating an incredible week of high-level junior tennis,” said Tournament Director Lornie Kuhle. “All of these players have worked very hard to get into this national tournament. We encourage the local community to come watch and support these amazing young athletes.”
A strong group of local players is entered in this year’s tournament. Among the local entries is Nicole Mossmer of La Jolla, Calif., the 2016 USTA 16s National Champion, who is competing in the Girl’s 18s division this year and Elizabeth Goldsmith of Chula Vista, Calif., the 2017 CIF San Diego Section singles champion.
To view the current list of tournament competitors in the 16s and 18s divisions, please click here.
Over 400 of the top junior tennis players in the country, aged 16 and 18 and under, will compete for the title of National Champion, as well as a wild card entry into the Women’s Singles main draw of the 2018 US Open (for the 18s Champion) and a wild card into the 2018 US Open Junior Championships (for the 16s Champion). The 18s Doubles Champions will also receive a wild card into the US Open Women’s Doubles main draw.
The Girls’ 16s event will begin on Saturday, Aug. 4 and conclude with the singles and doubles finals on Saturday Aug. 11. The Girls’ 18s tournament will get underway on Sunday, Aug. 5 and conclude with the 18s singles championship on Sunday, Aug. 12. Both divisions will feature 256-player singles draws with the top 32 players receiving a first-round bye. There will also be 128-team doubles draws with the top 16 teams getting first-round byes.
The starting time for each day of the tournament will be 9 a.m. (PDT). The Opening Ceremony for the USTA Billie Jean King National Girls’ 16s & 18s National Championships is scheduled for 5 p.m. (PDT) on Saturday, Aug. 4 at the Barnes Tennis Center. (Starting times subject to change)
Early-round tournament matches will also be played at San Diego State University’s Aztec Tennis Center, 5375 Remington Rd., San Diego, CA, 92115 and the Balboa Tennis Club, 2221 Morley Field Drive, San Diego, CA 92104 from Saturday, Aug. 4 through Wednesday, Aug. 8.
Admission and on-site parking at the Barnes Tennis Center is free each day of the tournament. For fans watching matches at SDSU and the Balboa Tennis Club, admission is free. There is a nominal charge for on-campus parking at SDSU. Parking regulations at the university will be strictly enforced. Parking is free at the Balboa Tennis Club.
For additional information on the USTA Billie Jean King Girls’ 16s & 18s National Championships, please go to the tournament website at: http://www.ustagirlsnationals.com/