The 2024 USTA Billie Jean King Girls’ 16s and 18s National Championships are entering the final weekend at Barnes Tennis Center.
Thursday’s 16s matches saw multiple upset wins, including the top seed falling. Ninth-seeded Nicole Weng of South Pasadena, advanced to the 16s semifinals after top-seeded Bella Payne of Bradenton, Fla. retired from the match due to injury.
No. 14-seed Lyla Middleton of Santa Fe, N.M. beat second-seeded Thara Gowda of Rochester Hills, Mich., 2-6, 6-1, 6-2 in one hour and 53 minutes.
Third-seed Iva Jovic of Torrance beat No. 12 seed, a 2023 16s singles finalist, Anita Tu of Melbourne, Fla. 6-3, 6-3. Jovic will play 17th-seeded Ariana Pursoo of Bay Shore, N.Y. in the quarterfinals.
“It’s kind of home court for me. I’m only two hours away. It’s as local as it gets. I’m happy to be here and playing some good tennis,” Jovic said. “I’ve been doing a good job of taking care of business. I’m glad I didn’t have to fight too hard. I did a good job of being aggressive.”
In Friday’s 18s quarterfinals, top-seeded Clervie Ngounoue of Orlando, Fla. will face 15th-seed Alexis Nguyen of El Dorado Hills. Second-seeded Akasha Urhobo of Fort Lauderdale, Fla. will face 17th-seeded Mia Slama of Boca Raton, Fla.
In more 18s quarterfinals matches, fifth-seeded Valerie Glozman of Bellevue, Wash. will face fourth-seeded Tyra Caterina Grant of Miami Beach.
Saturday and Sunday’s matches will both start at 10 a.m.
Singles and doubles draws for each age division can be found here.
