Preview: Florida Tennis Jr. State Doubles This Weekend

The top junior tennis players in the state of Florida will take to the courts this weekend to determine the year’s state doubles champions when the 66th USTA Florida Bobby Curtis Junior State Doubles Championships is held on Sept. 20-22, 2014, at Sanlando Park in Altamonte Springs (18s-16s age divisions), and at the Florida Tennis Center in Daytona Beach (14s-10s divisions).

The USTA Florida Bobby Curtis Junior State Doubles Championships represents some of the best junior tennis players in the strongest of the 17 USTA sections across the country. It is one of the few major tournaments in the country that combine boys’, girls’, and mixed doubles in the same event.

Wilson Sporting Goods is the presenting sponsor and official ball of the 66th USTA Florida Bobby Curtis Junior State Doubles Championships.

Defending champions returning to the field after claiming titles last year are Naples’ Chase Burton and Alan Sweet (Boys’ 16 Doubles winners), Palm Coast’s Davey Roberts and Deerfield Beach’s Taylor Russo (Mixed 16), Tampa’s Henry Patrick Cacciatore and Sarasota’s Antoine Sanchez (Boy’s 14), Weston’s Andrea Amortegui and Hypoluxo’s Amanda Meyer (Girls’ 14), Boca Raton’s Christian Alshon and Sarasota’s Sophia Edwards (Mixed 14), Miami’s Matthew Fung and Randy Wilson (Boys’ 12), Parkland’s Madison Leal and Boca Raton’s Charlotte Owensby (Girls’ 12), Davie’s Thomas Lake and Leal (Mixed 12), and Weston’s Katie Heller (Girls’ 10).

Miami’s Adriana Reami and Russo, who will be competing in the Girls’ 18 Doubles, won a USTA Gold Ball this summer at the USTA Girls’ 16 Nationals.

Other notable players include Coral Gables’ Katerina Stewart who reached the US Open junior girls’ semifinals in singles earlier this month; and Palm Beach Gardens’ Chloe Gullickson, sister of 2010 US Open mixed doubles champion Carly Gullickson.

Former Bobby Curtis State Doubles winners include former WTA doubles No. 1 and Wimbledon winner Corina Morariu (Girls’ 16s-1992, Girls’ 14s-1991), and current 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. The tournament is annually a launching pad for future college stars and pros.