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The 2023 Universal Tennis JNP Nationals took place in San Diego on July 28-30, featuring 18U boys and girls divisions. Players from all over the nation traveled to the Barnes Tennis Center for a weekend of matches and the chance to win national titles, catch the eye of college coaches, and earn UTR Pro Tennis Tour wild cards.
The Junior Pathway was launched by Universal Tennis in 2021 as a college-exposure-focused pathway to allow players to get scouted by college coaches, learn about the college and pro tennis experience, win national titles, and improve their UTR Ratings. Matches are live-streamed, so family and coaches can watch from afar.
Barnes hosted a men's and women's $25K UTR Pro Tennis Tour (PTT) event during the same week, quite literally showing the juniors what the next level looks like.
Want to learn more about the Junior Pathway? Watch this.
Junior Nationals in San Diego was the last stop of the 2023 Junior National Pathway, which started in February with 16 Regional events taking place at college campuses around the U.S. Draws included a co-ed 13U and boys' and girls' 18U division. Winners of the 18U divisions qualified for nationals and the draws were filled out by at-large registrations (based on UTR Rating).
Lee Captures 18U Boys' National Title
Carson Lee (UTR Rating 10.96) secured the boys' 18U title with a win over Dylan Charlap (11.60). Lee was leading 6-3, 5-2 when Charlap retired with an injury. Lee is on heading toward his college tennis career at UC San Diego in the fall, while Charlap will compete for the Duke Blue Devils.
Lee had been out with a foot injury for the last six months, with the JNP National Championship marking his first title of 2023. He'll receive three wild cards into UTR Pro Tennis Tour events, while Charlap will get two. Each semifinalist receives one wild card.
"It’s just great to come back out and play, especially winning something like this," Lee said. "
Chen Wins 18U Girls Junior Nationals
Sunday's 18U girls' final action pitted Yilin Chen (8.55) against Alysa Lansky (8.48) on stadium court. Chen, a local to San Diego, won all of her matches in straight sets up until her bout with Lansky, which she won 4-6, 6-0, 7-5. Lansky, who hails from Redondo Beach, Calif., also won all of her matches leading into the final in straight sets.
"It feels pretty good," Chen said. "I'd say I liked this match the most because it was the first third set I won."
To learn more about the Junior National Pathway, click here.
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