Author: Steve Jones

Rhode Island may be the smallest state, but its junior players get something valuable: a tight-knit tennis community where kids are known by name, first tournaments feel friendly rather than intimidating, and the entire New England tournament circuit is within an easy drive. Your USTA Section: New England Rhode Island is part of USTA New…

Pennsylvania is a junior tennis heavyweight: two major metro scenes (Philadelphia and Pittsburgh), strong suburban club networks, and the USTA Middle States section running a deep, competitive calendar. Whether your child is trying a first tournament or climbing the sectional rankings, the infrastructure here is excellent. Your USTA Section: Middle States Pennsylvania belongs to USTA…

Oregon junior tennis is centered on Portland, with a tournament scene shaped by one defining feature: rain. Families here become experts at indoor tennis, flexible scheduling, and making the most of the glorious — if brief — outdoor summer. The Pacific Northwest section provides a solid competitive structure underneath it all. Your USTA Section: Pacific…

Oklahoma junior tennis runs through Oklahoma City and Tulsa, with a friendly tournament culture and the full backing of the USTA Missouri Valley section. It's a state where a new tournament player can get real match experience quickly — and where wind will teach your child more about adaptability than any drill. Your USTA Section:…

Ohio is a junior tennis workhorse state: big cities with deep club networks, a strong USTA Midwest section behind it, and a tournament calendar that runs year-round thanks to abundant indoor facilities. Whether you're in Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati, Toledo, or Dayton, competitive opportunities are close by. Your USTA Section: Midwest Ohio is part of USTA…

Junior tennis in North Dakota is a small, hardy community. The outdoor season is short, the distances are real, and the families who play here tend to know each other well. That intimacy is actually a strength — first tournaments feel welcoming rather than overwhelming, and kids get genuine match experience without big-city pressure. Your…

North Carolina is one of the best states in the country to be a junior tennis player. The weather cooperates most of the year, the USTA Southern section runs a deep and well-organized calendar, and the Charlotte, Raleigh-Durham, Triad, and Asheville areas all host regular events. Whether your child is brand new to competition or…

New York is enormous — geographically and in tennis terms. From Long Island and the five boroughs to Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse, and Albany, junior players here have access to one of the deepest tournament calendars in the country. The key is knowing your section and your region, then building a schedule that fits your family's…

Junior tennis in New Mexico has its own flavor: high-altitude courts, big skies, and a tournament scene centered on Albuquerque with strong ties to the broader Southwest. If your child is starting out here, you'll find a welcoming community and a clear path from first tournament to sectional competition. Your USTA Section: Southwest New Mexico…

New Jersey packs one of the densest junior tennis scenes in the country into a small state — but there's a catch every Garden State tennis parent needs to know: New Jersey is split between two USTA sections. Get that sorted first, and the rest falls into place. Your USTA Section: North vs. South —…