Boys’ 18 & Under Results | Girls’ 18 & Under Results
TEMPE, Ariz. – The future stars of our sport were on display at the 2026 USTA Boys’ and Girls’ 18s National Championships, played from August 7-16 across Kalamazoo and San Diego, many of whom bring future commitments to collegiate tennis programs.
The most prestigious junior tennis event on the calendar for American players, the winners of the singles and doubles draws received a wildcard entry into the main draw of the US Open.
In the Boys’ 18s singles draw, incoming University of Virginia freshman Jack Kennedy claimed the title at Stowe Stadium in Kalamazoo. The nation’s top recruit and No. 1 seed Kennedy dominated, completing a perfect 7-0 run to win the esteemed singles title. A 6-3, 6-1 semifinal victory against the No. 9 seed Jack Secord (Stanford verbal commit) set up a championship bout against the No. 6 seed Jordan Lee (2026 Wimbledon Boys’ Singles Champion), who retired in the first set due to injury.
“As a college coach, when you travel the world to recruit, you are always looking for that player who values world-class academics, loves your sport with a passion, represents all of the best qualities of your team culture and competes with the mentality of a champion,” Virginia head coach Andres Pedroso said following the signing of Kennedy in November 2025. “We found that and more in Jack Kennedy.”
Across the country in sunny San Diego, a pair of soon-to-be SEC rivals teamed up to win the Girls’ 18 & Under doubles draw at the Barnes Tennis Center. Bella Payne (Georgia) and Sara Shumate (Oklahoma), both incoming freshmen at their respective programs, were phenomenal all week, cruising to a doubles title in which they never played a match into the third set. Their run culminated on Sunday with another straight-sets victory, this time against Jordyn Hazelitt/Welles Newman in the final, 6-2, 6-1.
“Her heart, her grit, and her love for this sport shine through in everything she does,” Oklahoma head coach Audra Cohen said upon Shumate’s signing in November 2025, “and I’m proud she chose to be a Sooner. I can’t wait to help her grow on and off the court.”
Both five-star prospects, Payne is the No. 6 nationally ranked prospect, while Shumate is listed at No. 27 in the country.
Back in Kalamazoo, future Georgia men’s tennis teammates Yannik Alvarez and Noah Johnston joined forces to win the Boys’ 18 & Under doubles crown. The Bulldog tandem defeated Ryan Cozad (Virginia verbal commit)/Gavin Goode in Saturday’s championship action, 6-4, 6-1.
Johnston, who’s entering his sophomore season in Athens, impressed as a rookie under head coach Jamie Hunt, going 24-7 in singles and 20-7 in doubles in 2025-26. Previously the country’s top-ranked recruit, Johnston was a pivotal piece in the Bulldogs’ postseason run, largely playing at No. 5 singles (10-3) and No. 3 doubles (16-4) this past season. He was named the Southeast Region Rookie of the Year in addition to earning a spot on the SEC’s All-Freshman Team.
Alvarez, the No. 5 recruit in the 2027 class and No. 2 in the state of Georgia, previously won the Boys’ 16 & Under doubles title. He announced his commitment to the Bulldogs in November 2025.
