The USTA announced that eight of the country’s top tennis players ages 13 and 14 will participate in a USTA Player Development Camp in Austin, Texas, July 5-10. The camp will be run in conjunction with the Davis Cup quarterfinal tie between the U.S. and Spain. The camp participants include Jake Devine of Boca Raton, Fla., Stefan Kozlov of Pembroke Pines, Fla., Catalin Mateas of Braintree, Mass., Eduardo Nava of Woodland Hills, Calif., Reilly Opelka of Palm Coast, Fla., Tommy Paul of Greenville, N.C., Aron Pierce of Houston, and Henrik Wiersholm of Kirkland, Wash., and the camp will be conducted by USTA Director of Coaching Jose Higueras and USTA National Coaches Michael Sell and Kent Kinnear.

 

The campers will take part in drills and seminars designed to help the improve in all facets of the game, with particular focus on practice approach and work ethic, match preparation, and the mental rigors of tennis. Coaches and players will also discuss what it means to represent the U.S. in events such as Davis Cup. The campers will have the opportunity to attend the Davis Cup matches, and watch the U.S. team practice.

 

"This Davis Cup tie provides a unique setting for our player development camp," said Patrick McEnroe, General Manager, USTA Player Development. "Not only will the players improve their games by working with USTA National Coaches, but they will be afforded the rare chance to observe the best American professionals as they prepare for such an important event in Davis Cup. Having the opportunity to watch and emulate guys like Mardy, Andy, and the Bryans will be a positive learning experience, and hopefully will help them become the best players that they can be."

 

Devine, a 14-year-old from Boca Raton, Fla., reached the quarterfinals at the USTA Boys’ 14s National Championships in 2010. Devine resides full-time at the USTA Training Facility in Boca Raton, Fla., and is currently No. 29 in the USTA Boys’ 14s National Standings.

 

Kozlov, a 13-year-old from Pembroke Pines, Fla., has won back-to-back titles at the AEGON Teen Tennis Tournament in Bolton, England, one of two premier international events for players ages 14-and-under that are held annually in Europe. He also won the 2010 USTA Boys’ 14s Winter National Championships, and is currently No. 2 in the USTA Boys’ 14s National Standings.

 

Mateas, a 14-year-old from Braintree, Mass., won a USTA Boys’ 14s National Open in November, 2010, and also won the 2010 Labor Day Championships on Long Island. He trains full-time at the USTA Training Center-Headquarters in Boca Raton and is currently No. 16 in the USTA Boys’ 14s National Standings.

 

Nava, a 14-year-old from Woodland Hills, Calif., won a USTA Boys’ 14s National Open in Long Beach, Calif., in July, 2010, and was one of four American boys selected to compete at the AEGON Teen Tennis tournament and Les Petits As, two premier international events for players ages 14-and-under. Nava is currently No. 8 in the USTA Boys’ 14s National Standings.

 

Opelka, a 13-year-old from Palm Coast, Fla., won the 2010 USTA Boys’ 12s Spring National Championships and has reached the semifinals of two USTA Boys’ 14s National Opens thus far in 2011. He trains full-time at the USTA Training Center-Headquarters in Boca Raton, Fla., and is currently No. 20 in the USTA Boys’ 14s National Standings.

 

Paul, a 14-year-old from Greenville, N.C., captured the 2009 USTA Boys’ 12s National Clay Court Championships, and has reached the final at three USTA Boys’ 14s National Opens in 2011. He is currently No. 6 in the USTA Boys’ 14s National Standings.

 

Pierce, a 14-year-old from Houston, achieved his best career result in February, 2011, when he won a USTA Boys’ 14s National Open in Louisiana, after reaching the semifinal of a similar event in November, 2010. He is currently No. 30 in the USTA Boys’ 14s National Standings.

 

Wiersholm, a 14-year-old from Kirkland, Wash., won Les Petits As in February, 2011, becoming the first American boy to win the prestigious 14-and-under tournament since 2005 and just the seventh American boy to win since the tournament’s inception in 1983. He also reached the final of the 2010 USTA Boys’ 14s National Championships, and is currently the top-ranked player in the USTA Boys’ 14s National Standings.