December 2025 Newsletter - USTA Southern California
December Newsletter
Junior Tennis

2026 USTA National Junior Tournaments Information

The new year is just around the corner, and it’s time to start planning your 2026 tournament season! The official dates and deadlines and national tournament calendar are now available online.

Don’t miss a chance to showcase your skills on the national stage!

2026 USTA Southern California Level 1 Wildcard Quota Criteria

Each section has two “wildcard” quota spots available for the National Championships, an exciting opportunity for players to earn a spot at Nationals even if they haven’t qualified through ranking or tournament results. Learn more about the criteria below!

Junior
Battle of the Sections

2026 Level 1 Battle of the Sections Team SoCal Selection Criteria

The USTA SoCal Junior Competition Committee has officially approved the 2026 Team SoCal selection criteria for the Level 1 Battle of the Sections!

This is an incredible opportunity for talented juniors to represent Southern California on August 1-5, 2026, compete against other USTA Sections. We can’t wait to see our future stars in action!

123rd Annual Jim Hillman Doubles Sectionals Results

Congratulations to our top performers at this year’s 123rd Level 3 Jim Hillman Junior Doubles Sectionals!

See the full results and highlights below.

Junior Tennis
Daniela Borruel

2025 Junior Awards Banquet Honorees

We recently celebrated the achievements of our juniors in 2025 at the Junior Awards Banquet in Long Beach. Read the full recap below!

Transition from Feefo to Medallia

We’re updating our tournament feedback process. Tournament surveys will now be conducted through Medallia.

After each event, you’ll receive a short, confidential survey. Your input helps the Junior Competition Committee award new bids and enhance our events, thank you for your participation!

Juniors
Juniors

Discounted L7 Tournaments

In an effort to provide play and tournament opportunities focusing on the underserved or underrepresented areas, the USTA SoCal staff has added a number of discounted Level 7 tournaments. These tournaments are nearly free; once players play the tournament to completion, they will receive a refund minus fees (approximately $4.25). 

Below is the schedule for 2025 and 2026 and links to register (if available):

December 6-7: Calexico High School
December 13-14: Palm Desert Resort Country Club
December 20-21: Cal State Los Angeles
January 4: Trabuco Hills High School, Mission Viejo
– February 14-15: Cypress High School
– March 21-22: Palm Desert Resort Country Club
– June 13-14: Irvine Valley College
– November 14-15: Lakewood Tennis Center

Additional dates will be announced as they are confirmed. Register early to secure your spot!

Ultimate Sportsmanship Challenge Q2 Winners

We’re proud to highlight two junior players who stood out in Quarter 2 for their positive attitude, respect for opponents, and commitment to fair play on and off the court.

Emi Kato (Girls’ – 10 Years Old)
Emi consistently displayed poise and grace under pressure. Emi’s nomination stood out for her kindness throughout the quarter. One of the nominators stated Emi is an “Awesome player! So sweet and fair with all calls.”

Gralin Lee (Boys’ – 14 Years Old)
Gralin earned his nomination through multiple observations of his respectful demeanor, willingness to help others, and strong competitive integrity. His behavior has made a lasting impression on tournament staff and fellow players alike. A nominator insisted Gralin was a “Polite, fair, and respectful player.”

Each winner receives a $100 Tennis Warehouse gift card and a special package in the mail. Thank you, Emi and Gralin, for representing the values of USTA SoCal. We’re proud to have you leading the way!

Junior Tennis
Community

Level Up Your Game with 10 & Under Early Development Camps

USTA Southern California Early Development Camps are the first step in the USTA Player Development Pathway. Our goal is to bring together SoCal 10 & Under players, who currently compete in Junior Circuit tournaments in order to practice and play together. Early Development Camps are developed and designed by the USTA High Performance Player Development and utilize local USTA trained coaches. 

This two-day camp emphasizes fundamentals and overall athletic development in a fun, educational environment while giving players an opportunity to earn playtracker points through match play. Players with excellent work ethic, commitment, talent, and attitude are encouraged to participate. 

Register for upcoming Early Development Camps with the links below. It’s the perfect chance to level up your game!

December 13-14 at Claremont Club, Claremont

Impersonating USTA SoCal on Social Media

Recently, we’ve noticed several unofficial accounts using the USTA SoCal name, branding, and/or content. While we understand that many of these accounts are created with positive intentions, using the USTA SoCal name, logo, or any part of our official branding without authorization does constitute a trademark violation. These protections are in place to ensure the safety of our players, parents, and staff maintain organizational integrity, and prevent confusion about which accounts represent our section.

To avoid any issues, we kindly ask that families refrain from using the USTA SoCal name or logo in usernames, profile images, or account branding unless you have received written approval from our organization. If you have any questions about what is or isn’t permitted, please feel free to reach out. We appreciate your cooperation in helping us maintain a safe and consistent online presence for our community.

Junior Tennis

Team SoCal Junior Webinars

Join us for the Team SoCal Webinar on December 17 at 6:30 PM PDT! Next month, we’ll dive into “Equipment Technology: Racquets, Strings, and the Transition from Junior to Adult.”

Special guest Matt Previdi will be joining the conversation.

We’ll also discuss age-appropriate strength and conditioning for junior players and learn how off-court training can support player development, performance, and injury prevention.

Recent Junior Results

Southern California Juniors Shine at October 2025 USTA National Level 2 Tournaments

October/November ITF Results 

L3 Sugar Bowl Results

– Grace Malhotra: Girls’ 12s Singles Finalist
Daksh Bharadwaj & Duncan Woodard (New England): Boys’ 14s Doubles 3rd Place 
– Peter Jorniak: Boys’ 18s Singles Champion
– Peter Jorniak & Peyton Barrett: Boys’ 18s Doubles 3rd Place

Junior Tennis

Become a USTA Official

Want to help keep tournaments fair and fun? We are looking for certified officials at every level from local matches to professional events.

USTA officiating opportunities at tournaments include Roving Umpire, Line Umpire, Referee, and Chair Umpire.

Junior

We Are Here to Support You

> PARENT RESOURCES: Explore guides on tennis etiquette, sportsmanship, SafePlay, frequently asked questions, and more to help you and your player succeed. View them HERE.

> PLAN AHEAD: The 2026 USTA SoCal Level 2-5 calendar is live! Start planning your 2026 tournament schedule. Registration links will be added as they become available. VIEW THE CALENDAR

> JUNIOR FORMS & INFORMATION

Tournament Schedule

CLICK HERE FOR THE DECEMBER 2025 TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE!

More tournaments may be added if there is a need for them so please check the USTA website for the most up-to-date information.

Deadlines are staggered by level so please make sure you are not double entering in tournaments.