As the world's best compete on the grass courts of Wimbledon, some of America's brightest young stars will take the clay courts in Charleston with dreams of following in their footsteps.
LTP Charleston will once again host the prestigious USTA Girls' 18 National Clay Court Championships, one of the premier events in American junior tennis, July 5-12, 2026. The tournament runs through the same weekend Wimbledon crowns its 2026 champions, a fitting overlap for an event built around developing the sport's next stars. Held at LTP Mount Pleasant, LTP Daniel Island and the Daniel Island Club, the USTA Level 1 National Championship will feature more than 200 of the nation's top junior players competing in singles and doubles, including LTP Academy standouts Julie Seversen and Alice Thompson.
Players to Watch
- Maria Navarro (Palm Beach Gardens, FL) enters the tournament as the top seed. A Blue-Chip recruit in the class of 2027 from Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., Navarro attends The Benjamin School and is ranked 18th nationally after a 26-12 record over the past year. She still has one more year of junior eligibility remaining and is considered one of the country's top rising prospects.
- Calla McGill (Alexandria, VA) brings a 59-32 record and a No. 30 national ranking into the draw. A 5-Star recruit in the class of 2026, who trains at OSSA Tennis Academy, McGill is also a past recipient of the USTA National Junior Sportsmanship Award in the Girls' 18s. She is expected to begin her collegiate career this fall, making this championship one of her final junior events.
- Shristi Selvan (Howard County, MD) carries perhaps the most compelling story in the draw. Selvan began training at the Junior Tennis Champions Center five years ago and has climbed the national rankings rapidly since. She won a Gold Ball at the USTA Winter Nationals in the Girls' 16s and is a recipient of the Keith Robert Larson Scholarship, a need-based award for players committed to excellence on and off the court. Selvan is also notably young for this field. At 16, she is competing against players up to two years older, a gap that makes her run through the draw one worth following.
- Julie Seversen (Charleston, SC) provides the hometown storyline. A Blue-Chip recruit in the Class of 2028, Seversen trains at LTP Academy and enters the tournament as the highest-ranked local player. Ranked No. 19 nationally in her class, she posted a 48-24 record over the past year and competed in April's ITF J100 Charleston, hosted by LTP.
- Rounding out the top of the draw are Reese Frank, Lyla Middleton, Reagan Levine, Sadira Ouyang and Emily Morgan, several of whom carry tournament champion designations from past national events.
- Also competing is LTP Academy player Alice Thompson, giving the host academy two players in this year's championship draw.
The tournament has long served as a proving ground for future collegiate All-Americans and professional players, giving Charleston tennis fans a rare opportunity to watch elite junior talent before they reach the biggest stages in the sport. Many past competitors have gone on to successful collegiate careers and professional tours, making the championship one of the country's premier showcases for future tennis stars.
In addition to championship competition, LTP will host a College Coaches Forum, providing tournament participants and their families an opportunity to meet with college coaches from programs across the country. The free educational session reflects LTP's commitment to supporting junior athletes as they navigate the collegiate recruiting process.
"Hosting this championship is about more than great tennis," said Hieber. "It's an opportunity to support these athletes at an important stage in their development while showcasing Charleston as one of the country's premier destinations for junior tennis. We're proud to see two LTP Academy players competing in this year's field, a reflection of the work happening here every day. Whether you're a lifelong fan or simply looking for something fun to do this week, you'll see an incredible level of competition."
Admission is free throughout the week, giving fans a unique opportunity to watch the next generation of American tennis stars up close.