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What does American junior tennis really look like up close?
What’s it’s like to observe a few hundred of the best American junior players battling it out from close range? Intense, very intense. And inspirational. And also, illuminating when it comes to technical and tactical styles.
The Easter Bowl has been a premier showcase for American junior tennis for decades. It’s the 40th event, founded by New York marketing and event executive Seena Hamilton, when her son was in the juniors.
It’s the only event of its kind because the Easter Bowl has the boys and girls in the 14s, 16s and 18s, all at the same place at the same time. Entries have always been limited to American juniors, and now it is a USTA national championship, as well an ITF championship in the 18s. It’s a huge event, with over 600 kids, plus their families and coaches.
In the early years, the Easter Bowl was played in Manhattan with about 100 kids in all 6 divisions, including a stint at courts in a bubble under the 59th street bridge. In subsequent years as the event grew, it’s been across the country and back: Florida, Arizona, back to Florida,…
