ATA PLAYER WINS FIRST INTERNATIONAL TITLE

Friday, the 13th of January was anything but unlucky for ATA player Kenna Erickson. That was the day Erickson and her doubles partner, Linda Ziets Segura, won the doubles title in the J4 ITF tournament held in San Jose, Costa Rica.

Erickson also made it into the semi-finals in singles of the same tournament. The doubles championship is the first title she’s captured outside of the United States thus far in her junior tennis career. In the past 14 months, Erickson has won two Gold Balls – one at the 2022 Easter Bowl and the other at the 2021 National Indoors – as well as two Bronze Balls – one at the 2022 National Clay Courts and the other at the 2021 National Indoors – among a number of junior tournaments in Texas as well as around the country.

“Kenna Erickson continues on the journey to reach the junior grand slam tournaments,” said Jack Newman, CEO/Owner of Austin Tennis Academy. “Her goal is to play the Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon, and U.S. Open as a junior and to go on to be a pro competitor. That road requires you to travel to reach the international competitors who are trying to reach that same goal.”

“If it wasn’t for Jack Newman and the foundation (Austin Athletics Scholarship Foundation) Kenna may not have the opportunity to chase her tennis dreams,” said Jon Erickson, Kenna’s father. “Thank you to her coach Ashley Weinhold for her coaching and for traveling with her. Thank you to her team for preparing her, Coach Jack Newman, Coach Doug Davis and fitness Coach Migdoel Miranda, as well as the team of coaches and teachers at Austin Tennis Academy. What a community that we are so grateful to be a part of!”