Southern California juniors headed to the East Coast last week for some fierce competition. The USTA 2024 National Clay Court Championships were held July 6 through July 14 at varying locations across the country. The Boys’ 16s and 18s, along with the Girls’ 14s and Boys’ 12s, showcased their skills on the sunny courts of Florida. Simultaneously, the Boys’ 14s and the Girls’ 14s and 16s made their mark in Alabama. North Carolina welcomed the Girls’ 12s, while the Girls’ 18s competed in South Carolina. This is one of the most prestigious tournaments of the year as talent from around the country gathers to become the Kings and Queens of Clay.

Southern California was well-represented across the 12U, 14U, 16U, and 18U Boys’ and Girls’ Singles and Doubles Draws, including some Junior Sectionals Champions from this year and previous years.

The week-long competition saw the best players battling it out daily. When the dust settled, USTA Southern California celebrated four victorious players: Daniel Gardality, Gwyneth Britton, Emery June Martin, and Reagan Levine.

San Diego’s Daniel Gardality, who clinched the Boys’ 12s Junior Sectional Doubles Championships in Orange County last fall with Andy Wu, delivered a stellar performance at the USTA National Campus in Orlando, capturing both singles and doubles titles. As the No. 1 seed in singles, Gardality advanced to the quarterfinals without dropping a set. There, he faced the No. 13 seed, Max Smith of Florida, and after losing the first set, triumphed with a 4-6, 6-1, 6-1 victory. In the semifinals, Gardality encountered a formidable challenge—his doubles partner, David Bender of Florida. Demonstrating resilience, Gardality overcame Bender with a 3-6, 6-3, 6-1 win. Later that day, the two teamed up as the top seeds to defeat Evaan Mohan and Cavan Donnelly 3-6, 6-4, 6-2, securing the doubles title. In the final, Gardality faced No. 6 seed Blount Williams from North Carolina, winning decisively with a 6-3, 6-2 straight-sets victory.

Whittier’s Gwyneth Britton has enjoyed a successful run over the past few months, with wins at the L4 43rd Annual Woody Hunt Junior Tournament in singles, and the L2 in Long Beach singles and doubles. She showcased her dominance at her first clay court tournament, the Girls’ 12 USTA National Clay Court Championships in Greensboro, North Carolina. Britton and NorCal’s Tara Guhan paired up for the week to claim the Gold Ball. The California duo, seeded No. 6, knocked out the No. 1 seeds Ava Chua and Leala Kramer in a straight-sets victory, 6-3, 7-5, in the quarterfinals. They faced the No. 3 seeds in the semis, emerging victorious 6-1, 4-6, 6-2. They took home the title after defeating Alexandra Hu and Capri Butera 6-4, 6-1 in the final. Gwyneth also won the Northeast Draw in singles with a 6-2, 7-5 defeat over Christina Li.

“This was only my third Level 1 tournament and I have learned that it’s important to re-focus every day and maintain good routines throughout the week. I really tried to just concentrate on one match at a time and was able to win the Northeast Draw in singles,” recalled Gwyneth Britton. “In the doubles we had to overcome the No. 1 seeds and the No. 3 seeds on our way to the victory. My partner Tara Guhan was super supportive and we had a great time. On championship point I was able to serve and volley just like we did in CTC. Then it hit me that I had just won a Gold Ball, my racquet fell from my hand and I started crying. I don’t think I understood how much it would mean to me to win a championship like this one. I’ve had my share of success but to do it at a national level has me really excited to see how far I can go.”

Emery June Martin of Los Angeles achieved a remarkable milestone by winning her first USTA Gold Ball at the Girls’ 14 USTA National Clay Court Championships, partnering with Reiley Rhodes from Maryland. The dynamic duo dominated the tournament, conceding a mere 14 games over six matches and maintaining a flawless record without dropping a single set. This victory is a significant leap from 2022 when Martin secured a USTA Bronze Ball in the Girls’ 12 USTA National Clay Court Championships with Florida’s Welles Newman.

The 16s age division demonstrated outstanding success, with multiple players securing top-four finishes in singles. Mission Viejo’s Lani Chang, a Bronze Ball winner at the Girls’ 14s USTA National Doubles Championship last August, showcased her formidable skills by breezing through matches leading into the quarterfinals. Among the final eight players, Lani displayed remarkable resilience, overcoming a set deficit to defeat Kennedy Drenser-Hagmann 1-6, 6-3, 6-3, and advancing to the semifinals. There, she delivered a commanding straight-sets victory over Priscilla Sirichantho, 6-3, 6-0. In the final, Lani valiantly contended but ultimately fell short against Olivia Traynor, proudly earning the prestigious Silver Ball.

In an all-SoCal showdown for the Girls’ 16s doubles title, Reagan Levine of Laguna Beach teamed up with Georgia’s Addy Rogin to secure the victory over sisters Lexi and Kingsley Wolf. Out of six matches, Reagan and Addy managed to drop only one set in pursuit of the trophy. This win marks Reagan’s first USTA Gold Ball and seventh overall, having already won two Silver and four Bronze Balls at USTA National events.

Reagan, who also won a Silver Ball in singles, reflected on her victory, “It was really exciting to win my first Gold Ball, it has motivated me to work harder and achieve more. Being able to compete successfully against the top players in the nation is why we spend so many hours training on court. I wish I had played a better semis in singles, but I was proud of myself for playing a great final match to earn a Bronze Ball.”

Andy Johnson has had a spectacular year, most recently capturing L1 singles and doubles titles at the prestigious FILA Easter Bowl in Palm Desert. In true Andy fashion, the Rancho Palos Verdes native advanced to the finals without dropping a set, showcasing his dominance by defeating fellow SoCal standouts Ilias Bouzoubaa and Adrien Abarca along the way. In the singles finals, Andy demonstrated remarkable tenacity and skill. Despite his strong effort, he narrowly missed victory against NorCal’s Gus Grumet. Andy’s impressive performance throughout the tournament underscores his exceptional talent and unwavering determination, marking another high point in an already stellar year. 

AJ Abarca of Chula Vista faced a challenging path in the tournament, defeating multiple seeded players, including Wesley Cotton (No. 17), Jacob Lee (No. 33), and fellow SoCal natives Benjamin Berger (No. 17) and Justin Riley Anson (No. 10), before meeting Johnson (No. 16) in the semifinal. Abarca’s journey through these tough matches showcased his resilience and skill, setting the stage for an exciting showdown in the semifinals.

In the men’s doubles, Justin Riley Anson of Laguna Niguel teamed up with NorCal’s Gus Grumet as the formidable No. 1 seeds. Emulating the prowess of many Team SoCal members at the USTA Clay Court Nationals, Anson showcased his dominance by advancing to the semifinals without dropping a set. His impressive journey, alongside Grumet, culminated in earning the prestigious Silver Ball after a hard-fought semifinal against the No. 12 seeds, Arjun Prbhakar and Gabriel Jessup, who ultimately claimed the Gold Ball.

We are thrilled to extend our heartfelt congratulations to the outstanding junior tennis players from Southern California who showcased their exceptional talent and determination. These young athletes have demonstrated remarkable skill, sportsmanship, and dedication, making their mark on the courts and bringing pride to our tennis community. Their achievements are a testament to their hard work, passion for the sport, and the unwavering support of their coaches, families, and friends.

Below are the top Southern California finishers at National Clay Court Championships:
 

GIRLS’ 12s: 

• • Gwyneth Britton: Girls’ 12s Singles Northeast Draw Champion, Greensboro, NC

• • Gwyneth Britton & Tara Guhan (Northern California): Girls’ 12 Doubles Champions, Greensboro, NC
     

BOYS’ 12s: 

• • Daniel Gardality: Boys’ 12 Singles Champion, Orlando, FL

• • Daniel Gardality & David Bender (Florida): Boys’ 12 Doubles Champions, Orlando, FL
     

GIRLS’ 14s: 

• • Armira Kockinis: Girls’ 14s Singles Consolation Semifinalist, Plantation, FL

• • Emery June Martin & Reiley Rhodes (Mid-Atlantic): Girls’ 14 Doubles Champions, Plantation, FL
     

GIRLS’ 16s: 

• • Lani Chang: Girls’ 16 Singles Finalist, Huntsville, AL
  • Reagan Levine: Girls’ 16 Singles 3rd Place, Huntsville, AL

• • Reagan Levine & Addy Rogin (Southern): Girls’ 16 Doubles Champions, Huntsville, AL

• • Alexandra Wolf (Lexi) & Kingsley Wolf: Girls’ 16 Doubles Finalists, Huntsville, AL
     

BOYS’ 16s: 

• • Andrew (Andy) Johnson: Boys’ 16 Singles Finalist, Delray Beach, FL
  • Adrien (AJ) Abarca: Boys’ 16 Singles 4th Place, Delray Beach, FL
  • Justin Riley Anson & Gus Grumet (Northern California): Boys’ 16 Doubles 3rd Place, Delray Beach, FL