Preview: Champs Return to Defend at 2016 USTA Florida ‘Bobby Curtis’ State Doubles Tennis

Florida juniors will have a chance to add their names as champions to a long list of college stars and pro tennis players this weekend when the 68th USTA Florida “Bobby Curtis” Junior State Doubles Championships are held on Sept. 17-19, 2016, at Sanlando Park in Altamonte Springs (18s-16s age divisions), and at the Florida Tennis Center in Daytona Beach (14s-12s divisions).

It is one of the few major tournaments in the country that combine boys’, girls’, and mixed doubles in the same event. Tennis Warehouse is the presenting sponsor of the 2016 USTA Florida “Bobby Curtis” Junior State Doubles Championships.

Former champions returning to the field after claiming titles last year are:

Mixed 18 Doubles — Anna Bright (Boca Raton) won last year, and returns to the division again with a different partner, Boca Raton’s Jourdan Kast. Last year was the third career state doubles title for Bright, who also won the Girls’ 16 and Girls’ 14 titles.

Boys’ 16 Doubles — Twins Harry and Grey Cacciatore (Gainesville) won their first state doubles title last year as an unseeded team, and this year take their talent up a level to the Boys’ 18s. Their previous best effort had been a runner-up in the Boys’ 14 division, also as an unseeded team.

Boys’ 14 Doubles — Thomas Lake (Davie) won his third career state doubles title last year, adding the Boys’ 14 title to his Mixed 12 and Boys’ 10 crowns. This year he brings his talents to the Boys’ 16 field with a different partner, two-time state doubles title winner (Boys’ 10, Mixed 10) Harrison Gold of Aventura, Fla.

Girls’ 14 Doubles — Last year Kensie Cricchio and Emma Shelton (Gainesville) captured the Girls’ 14 title, the first state doubles win for each. This year Cricchio returns for another G14 doubles attempt, this time with sister Cade Cricchio, while Shelton moves up to the G16 level, partnering with Sydney Sforzo of Lakewood Ranch. Shelton is the daughter of former ATP pro and current University of Florida men’s coach Bryan Shelton.

Mixed 14 Doubles — Ayshe Can (Weston) and Esteban Sierra (Miami) won the Mixed 14 title last year, a first state doubles title for both, and this year move up to the Mixed 16 field as a team.

Girls’ 12 Doubles — Maya Rukosuev (Altamonte Springs) won her first state doubles title in the Girls’ 12 division last year, and this year moves up to the Girls’ 14 with a different partner, Mia Gonzalago of Plantation.

Mixed 12 Doubles — Jack Anthrop (Orlando) and Juliette Finch (Delray Beach) won their first titles respectively at the state doubles, and this year take their talents up a level to the Mixed 14 division.

“Players and parents can join us this Friday for practice courts opening at noon, early check-in starting at 4 p.m., and some ‘Cardio, Offense/Defense, Doubles Fun’ from 5-6 p.m.,” says Tournament Director and USTA Director of Competitive Tennis Jason Gilbert. “We’ll wrap up the day with a pizza party for all players from 6-7:30 p.m.”

The tournament is annually a launching pad for future college stars and pros.

Former “Bobby Curtis” State Doubles winners include current two-time NCAA champ Danielle Collins (Girls’ 18s-2010, Mixed 12s-2005), former Florida State University stars Terrance and Terrell Whitehurst (Boys’ 18s-2012), and at the pro level former WTA doubles world No. 1-ranked and Wimbledon winner Corina Morariu (Girls’ 16s-1992, Girls’ 14s-1991) and former ATP player Wayne Odesnik (Boys’ 14s-1999).

Former world No. 1s Chris Evert, Andy Roddick and Jim Courier are among the players that have raised trophies in singles at the USTA Florida “Bobby Curtis” Junior State Singles Championships, previously known as the USTA Florida Jr. State Closed. Florida’s top event was renamed to honor the legendary Florida junior tennis organizer Bobby Curtis in 2012.

Results will be posted daily in the news section on the front of the USTA Florida website at www.ustaflorida.com.

For complete age 12s and 14s draws, results and seedings, CLICK HERE.

For complete 16s and 18s draws, results and seedings, CLICK HERE.