November 28th, 2017

Preview: 11th “Little Mo” Internationals Tennis in Palm Beach Gardens Next Week

Youth Tennis News

Akasha Urhobo

The Maureen “Little Mo” Connolly Brinker Tennis Foundation (MCB) will host the 11th “Little Mo” Internationals, featuring boys and girls age 8-12 from 50 countries, in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., on Dec. 1-6, 2017.

The PGA National Resort & Spa will welcome more than 450 players hoping to join former champions such as Madison  Keys, Taylor Fritz, Donald Young, Steve Johnson and Andy Roddick.

On Dec. 1 players will line up for the traditional Player Parade, parading onto the stadium court carrying their country flags. Chris Evert will be the guest speaker at the Opening Ceremony, and Brenda Brinker Bottum, MCB vice president and daughter of Maureen Connolly Brinker, will also speak to players and parents.

Matches will begin on Saturday, Dec. 2 and will continue through Wednesday, Dec. 6. Players will be competing in singles, doubles, and mixed doubles on Har-Tru clay courts at the PGA National Sports & Racquet Club, Eastpointe Country Club, and Palm Beach Gardens Tennis Center.

Akasha Urhobo of Lauderhill, Fla., will compete for the “Little Mo” Slam in the girls’ 10s, attempting to win the internationals after winning “Little Mo” Internationals titles in New York and California. She would become the first player to win two “Little Mo” slams after first accomplishing the feat last year.

The “Little Mo” tournaments are in memory of Maureen Connolly, the first woman to win the Grand Slam in 1953 — winning all four major tournaments (Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon, and US Open) in the same year — at the age of 18. Connolly was also known for her good sportsmanship on and off the court, and the tournament offers colorful “Mo Coins” to players who display good sportsmanship and are respectful and kind. It is also a “Little Mo” tradition that players exchange a small gift that represents their city, state or country with their first-round opponent. 

For more info including draws and schedules go to www.littlemoflorida.com.

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