The monthly USTA Player Development Player and Coach Honor Roll recognizes the top performing young Americans and their coaches each month.
Here is a look at some of the most outstanding performances turned in by American tennis players ages 20 and younger in March:
Helen Abigail Altick (May 20, 1998), Monroe, La. – Altick won the singles title at the ITF Junior event in Trinidad & Tobago, defeating three straight Americans in the quarterfinals, semifinals and final, where she defeated Caroline Turner (June 7, 1996, Dallas). She is coached by Mark Wellington.
Louisa Chirico (May 16, 1996), Harrison, N.Y. – Chirico captured the singles title at the Banana Bowl ITF Junior event in Itajai, Brazil. She works with USTA National Coach Jay Gooding.
Lauren Davis (Oct. 9, 1993), Boca Raton, Fla. – Davis, as a lucky loser, reached the third round of the Sony Open in Miami, taking No. 32 seed Alize Cornet to three sets. She trains at the Evert Tennis Academy with Carlos Zapata.
Victoria Duval (Nov. 30, 1995), Delray Beach, Fla. – Duval, the reigning USTA Girls’ 18s National Champion, advanced to the second round of the Sony Open in Miami, a WTA Premier event, defeating No. 66-ranked Andrea Hlavackova in the first round. She works with USTA National Coach Juan Todero.
Michaela Gordon (July 26, 1999), Los Altos Hills, Calif. – Gordon only lost one set en route to winning the girls’ singles title at the USTA Claremont ITF Junior tournament in Claremont, Calif., defeating Peggy Porter (Nov. 10, 1995, Dallas) in the title match. She works with Greg Shearer at Eagle Fustar, John Hubbell and USTA National Coach Leo Azevedo.
William Griffith (Sept. 28, 1995), Fresno, Calif. – Griffith won nine straight matches at the USTA Claremont ITF Junior tournament in Claremont, Calif., qualifying and defeating Gage Brymer (Feb. 7, 1995, Irvine, Calif.) for the singles title. He is coached by Brad Stine.
Madison Keys (Feb. 17, 1995), Rock Island, Ill. – Keys advanced to the second round at both the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, Calif., and the Sony Open in Miami. She works with USTA National Coach Juan Todero.
Allie Kiick (June 30, 1995), Plantation, Fla. – Kiick captured her second USTA Pro Circuit title at the $10,000 event in Gainesville, Fla., then qualified for the Sony Open in Miami, a WTA Premier event, before falling to Madison Keys in the first round. She is coached by Harold Solomon.
Stefan Kozlov (Feb. 1, 1998), Pembroke Pines, Fla. – Kozlov performed well in several ITF Junior events in South America, reaching the singles final of the Copa Gerdau event in Brazil and winning two doubles titles, both with Spencer Papa (Oct. 22, 1995, Edmond, Okla.), at the Asuncion Bowl in Paraguay and the Banana Bowl in Brazil. As a 15 year old, Kozlov began April ranked No. 21 in the world among junior players ages 18 and younger. He works with USTA National Coach Nicolas Todero.
Kaitlyn McCarthy (Dec. 4, 1997), Cary, N.C. – McCarthy won the USTA Girls’ 18s National Spring Championship singles title as the No. 15 seed, defeating top-seeded Brooke Austin (Feb. 12, 1996, Indianapolis) in the final. She is coached by Jake Lester.
Grace Min (May 6, 1994), Atlanta – Min qualified and reached the first round of the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, Calif., a WTA Premier event. She works with USTA National Coach Troy Hahn.
Elliott Orkin, Marietta, Ga. – Orkin captured the USTA Boys’ 18s National Spring Championship singles title as the No. 3 seed, defeating No. 6 seed Roy Lederman (March 31, 1995, Miami) in the title match in Mobile, Ala. He is coached by Stephen Diaz.
Alex Rybakov (Jan. 27, 1997), Coral Springs, Fla. – Rybakov won the boys’ singles title at the Panama Bowl ITF Junior event. He is coached by his father Nick.
Sloane Stephens (March 20, 1993), Plantation, Fla. – Stephens reached the round of 16 at the Sony Open in Miami. She works with USTA National Coaches David Nainkin and Troy Hahn.
Taylor Townsend (April 16, 1996), Chicago – Townsend, the No. 1-ranked junior in the world at the end of 2012, earned her first WTA Premier-level victory at the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, Calif., upending then-No. 57 Lucie Hradecka in the first round en route to a second-round appearance. She works with USTA National Coach Juan Todero.
Sachia Vickery (May 11, 1995), Hollywood, Fla. – Vickery qualified and reached the semifinals of the USTA Pro Circuit $25,000 event in Innisbrook, Fla. She works with USTA National Coach Kathy Rinaldi.