Our Junior Media Playday will be in the afternoon on a couple of side courts. It'll be alongside the Mid-Cities matches, but not part of the tournament. And, just as all Junior Media Playdays, IT IS FREE.

Junior Media Playdays are for juniors of all levels. They are two hours of fun, no-pressure hitting. If you are a ZAT, Champ or SuperChamp, or none of the above, we encourage you to come play with us, because it's for juniors of all levels. It's a place to play casual tennis with your friends without scorekeeping, coaching or any of the usual formalities.

I want to meet you there, and I don't care if you've played once or 1,000 times. Just tell me what you've been doing tennis-wise and what you're looking forward to. I want to know why you play tennis and to keep in touch with as many of you as possible. That's why we call these tennis meetups "Junior Media Playdays": You are the juniors having a no-pressure playday, and I'm the media person who gets to interview you and take lots of pictures for this website.

If you are playing in the Mid-Cities event, you'll come play with us afterwards on the designated "Junior Media Day" courts. You'll hit with other juniors, just for fun, so you can get to know each other and try different shots, and when you're not playing you'll come chat with me on the sidelines.

I'll get to interview you all and take pictures for another huge Junior Media Playday photo gallery, such as the last one, which has had more than 1,500 hits! Just show up; there's no need to sign up. And if you want, you can friend me on Facebook.

McLeland Students Isaac Kil and Charlsie Lee Parks Reach Cotton Bowl Finals

Eighth-grader Isaac Kil, a student of Edward Leija's at McLeland Tennis Center, reached the Boys 14s final at the Cotton Bowl Classic from Dec. 26-Jan. 1. He also won the recent Lakes ZAT in Boys 14 Singles.

"I am very proud of him for doing so well at both competitive tournaments," Leija said, explaining that Isaac had Champed up upon reaching the semis of the ZAT, then wound up winning the whole tournament.

Fort Worth's Charlsie Lee Parks, who played in the Cotton Bowl’s Girls 14s SuperChamps division, upset No. 1 seed Audrey Spencer of Wichita Falls in the semifinals, 6-3, 6-2. In the final, which was played indoors at Brookhaven Country Club in Farmers Branch, Charlsie Lee lost to No. 2 seed Morgan Nix of McKinney, 7-5, 6-3.

“She played an all-court game, from the baseline grinding out strokes off of both wings and finishing points at the net with her skill set and volleys,” said her father, Richard Parks, via Facebook message. He ended his message by calling himself, “A very proud tennis dad, Richard.”

Thanks, Richard, for taking the time to tell TennisFortWorth.com about your daughter’s performance. We appreciate it any time a parent or friend keeps us abreast of what’s happening with area players.

We are proud of you, Charlsie Lee and Isaac. Play well, and have fun.

See for yourself who played and how they did. Click on the "Results" tab.


Former Fort Worth Star Wins Winter Nationals

Anna Bright, the prodigious Fort Worth player whose family moved to Boca Raton last year, won a gold ball in the Girls 12s singles division at the USTA National Winter Championships, also known as Winter Nationals. In her last three matches, she had to come back from a set down. The tournament was Dec. 27-Jan. 2 in Tucson, Ariz., and the surrounding cities.

Anna's father, Kris, says Anna played power tennis as well as mixing it up. That means she is adding a new element to her game: power. Holy smokes: That means she's getting even better.

Watch out, Boca. Watch out, everyone. Talk about a bright star...


Mansfield's Kweisi Kenyatte & other Locals Triumph at Walnut Creek Major Zone

Unseeded Kweisi Kenyatte, a poised 12-year-old whose family followed his coach here from Detroit last year, won the Boys 12s Singles White Division at the Walnut Creek Championship Major Zone on Jan. 7-8 in Mansfield. He defeated top-seeded Dylan Payne of Houston, 6-0, 6-1, in the final.  Fort Worth's Caroline Kung defeated Carrollton's Natalie Landa, 6-2, 6-3, in the Girls 16s White Division final, which we're proud to say was all-local.

Fort Worth's Paulina Lanasa and Peter Lanasa, and Flower Mound's Tom Weir, also won. Arlington's Armaan Ahuja and Fort Worth's Nicholas Gelvez, Nash Hill and Reece Ringnald also had strong performances.

In case I'm leaving out some locals--and I'm sure I am, but I'm doing my best to learn who is whom around here--TennisLink has all the results. Click on the "Results" tab.

I met Kweisi and his father at our first Junior Media Playday last November at McLeland Tennis Center. Kweisi's coach, Sam Poole, is now a pro at Walnut Creek, so Kweisi plays there most of the time. With home-field advantage, Kweisi played great at the major zone, making him champ of the Champs--and now he has Champed up to SuperChamp. TennisFortWorth.com is thrilled for you, Kweisi.

Great job by Sam as your coach. It speaks volumes about Sam's coaching that your whole family would uproot itself just to follow him here. I have a feeling Sam's schedule is going to get very busy, if it isn't already jam-packed.


Mansfield’s Korinek, Trophy Club’s Chang Win at SuperChamp Excellence Tourney

Mansfield’s Andrew Korinek, the reigning Class 5A state champion, defeated Dallas’ Grant Solomon, 6-3, 3-6 (10-4), in the Boys 18s singles final of the USTA Texas Section Super Championship Excellence tournament, held Jan. 14-16 in Waco. Wichita Falls’ Connor Curry won the Boys 16s, and Fort Worth’s Eric Rutledge reached the Boys 14s semifinals.

Trophy Club’s Hada Chang, the top seed, fought off Houston’s Racquel Lyn, 4-6, 6-1 (10-3), in the Girls 14s final. Top-seeded Ellie Douglas of McKinney defeated Plano’s Adrienne Vesely, the second seed, 6-2, 6-0, in the Girls 12s final. Houston’s Domonique Garley, who still counts as an honorary resident of Fort Worth in our book, reached the Girls 18s quarterfinals, losing a tough match to top-seeded Rhiann Newborn of Houston, 6-3, 6-4.

Here’s the tournament link. Just click on the "Results" tab.

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