EVENT INFO
We would like to welcome all players and collegiate coaches to the 59th anniversary of the USTA BOYS’ 18 & 16 NATIONAL CLAY COURT CHAMPIONSHIPS hosted by the City of Delray Beach (July 5 - 12, 2026). This prestigious event consists of over 400 of the top-ranked Boys 18s & 16s in the United States and will create two highlight television shows, one for each event (B18 & B16). Click for Past Champions.
DRAWS/TIMES: Click here for draws/times
SITES OVERVIEW: Click here for details - Multiple sites used
PLAYER HANDBOOK: The 2026 Player Handbook listing local restaurant favorites, things to do in the area, and more.
WILDCARDS AWARDED
Boys 18's Singles Champion- MD - Junior ITF J500 Orange Bowl International Tennis Championship; MD - Men’s USTA M15 Boca Raton (week of Nov 11)
Boys 18's Singles Finalist- Q - Junior ITF J500 Orange Bowl International Tennis Championship
Boys 18's Singles 3rd place- Q - Junior ITF J300 Bradenton
Boys’ 18’s Singles 4th Place- MD - Junior ITF J60 Corpus Christi
Boys’ 18's Singles 5th Place- Q - Junior ITF J60 Corpus Christi
Boys’ 16’s Singles Champion - Q - Junior ITF J500 Orange Bowl International Tennis Championship
Boys’ 16’s Singles Finalist- MD - Junior ITF J60 Lexington
DOUBLES INFO / DEADLINE
DOUBLES DEADLINE - IMPORTANT (Mon., June 29, 2026 @ Noon EST). All singles players may play doubles….Even if you registered with a partner online, you must still re-register by emailing the doubles pairing to [email protected].
If you know your doubles team, e-mail the team/division to Elad Yair at [email protected] by the deadline. Important: make sure we reply back to you to confirm receipt of the e-mail. If we do not hear from you before then, WE WILL NOT place you in the doubles draw.
If you do not have a partner, and would like to be paired with another player, email [email protected] (make sure you receive an email confirmation) — we will do our best to pair you with another player (with a similar ranking).
Players may only play doubles in the same division as they are playing singles.
Boys 18s & 16s Doubles begins on Sunday, July 5, 2026... Doubles begins no earlier than 1pm daily.
Seeding: Based upon National Individual Doubles Seeding List
Inviting / Accepting a Doubles Partner (When Registering). Click here
DRAWS POSTED + TV HIGHLIGHT SHOW + PRESS RELEASES
Draws & Schedule: posted by Fri., July 3, 2026 @ 6pm.
Player Registration & College Expo: Click here for info.
TV Coverage: Two highlights shows will be produced and televised, highlighting each event (Boys 18s & Boys 16s). Televised Highlight Shows:
2025 Boys 16s Television Show
Press Releases: Coming soon.
IMPORTANT: MANDATORY FORMS
MANDATORY FORMS: Please check in 20 minutes before your match time as ALL PLAYERS must submit the following and show their confirmation emails to the Site Director or they will be unable to participate:
EVENT INFO
USTA LINKS
Level 1 - Player registration and acceptance policy
2025 USTA Junior Tournament Regulations
FORMAT
SINGLES (Ad-Scoring): 192 players per division, Feed-in event which includes the losers through the quarterfinals and a playoff for 3rd/4th Place. Main draw and 3/4 playoff format is the best of 3 Tie-Break sets, regular scoring. Consolation format is two tie-break sets with a 10-point Match Tiebreak in lieu of a 3rd set.
DOUBLES (No-Ad Scoring): 96 teams per division, Single Elimination, includes a playoff for 3rd/4th Place. Best of three tie-break sets used in the Semifinals, Final and 3rd and 4th Playoff. All other doubles matches shall use the best of 3 tie-break sets with a 10-point match tiebreak in lieu of a 3rd set… Doubles 1st round will take place on Day 1, not before Noon.
Surface: Clay Courts
National Ranking Level: Level 1
Tournament Ball: Wilson Regular Duty
Weather Updates: Will be communicated via Serve Tennis Software.
Players of the Day: Sponsored by Baptist Health Featured E-News Blasted
Tournament Facebook Fan Page: Click here
Hitting Lessons/Clinics: Click here for multiple match / practice sites
Lateness Penalty per USTA Rules: .01 – 5 minutes (1 game & loss of toss); 5:01 – 10 minutes (2 games & loss of toss); 10:01 – 15 minutes (3 games & loss of toss); 15:01 minutes or more (Default)
Officials: We will have roving officials (ratio 4:1) and will chair the following matches: Quarterfinals – Finals (Singles) and Semifinals – Finals (Doubles).
National Ranking Points Breakdown: Coming soon
Match warm-up: Match warm-ups will be 5-minutes unless advised otherwise.
USTA Program Guide: Coming soon
COACHING
All matches that consist of Best of 3 tiebreak sets will receive a 10-minute rest period* after splitting sets. The players may leave the court and may receive coaching. It is the responsibility of players to be back and ready to play within 10 minutes.
All matches that consist of 2 tiebreak sets with a 10-point match tiebreak will receive a 3-minute rest period after splitting sets. Coaching is allowed at the fence with the coach on the outside of the fence and the player on the inside.
When play is suspended for 10 minutes or more during the 2nd set, only a mandatory 3-minute rest period will be provided.
Rest period between matches: Up to 90 minutes and up to 2 hours if the prior match lasted 2 or more hours.
USTA Sportsmanship Award in Honor of Jeff Rothstein: A sportsmanship award will be distributed to one Boys 18s and one Boys 16s player.
STRINGER
Delray Beach Tennis Center
Palm Beach Gardens Tennis Center
The Country Club at Mirasol
TRAINER
Baptist Health Orthopedic Care is the official provider of athletic training services for the event. Baptist Health’s Sports Medicine Manager, Zachary Mendez, and the Baptist Health team are synonymous with maintaining healthy amateur and professional athletes in the Tri-County area. Baptist Health provides state-of-the-art therapy and performance technology for specific treatments and recovery sessions; they will be available before, during and after the event to address players’ needs. Getting started is as easy as emailing Zachary at [email protected] or calling their sports medicine direct line @ (561) 765-3240. We encourage you to consult with Zachary and his team on their program, which assists players with achieving maximum performance pre-match, during-match, post-match and in-between tournaments.
Athletic trainers will be located at the following venues on the following dates 30 minutes before matches begin until matches have completed. Reminder: If seeing a trainer at a site other than his match site, it is the player’s responsibility to be ready to play at his match time at his match site.
Sunday, Day 1 - Wednesday (Day 4): Boys 18s (Delray Beach Tennis Center, Boca Swim & Racket Club) & Boys 16s (Palm Beach Gardens Tennis Center & The Club at Mirasol)
Thursday, Day 5: Boys 18s (Delray Beach Tennis Center) & Boys 16s (Palm Beach Gardens Tennis Center)
Friday, Day 6 - Sunday, Day 8: Delray Beach Tennis Center (B18s & 16s)
ALTERNATE INFORMATION
Singles on-site alternates: Need to check-in on Day 1 & Day 2 and be ready to play.
- B18: Check in at Delray Beach Tennis Center, (check in by 8am).
- B16: Check in at Palm Beach Gardens Tennis Center, (check in by 8am).
- They must also have transportation to immediately go to another site, if required. Only the players that have 1st round byes may potentially be replaced by an on-site alternate on Day 2.
Doubles on-site alternates:
Day 1: B18 sign in @ Delray Beach Tennis Center by 1:30pm… B16 sign in @ Palm Beach Gardens Tennis Center by 1:30pm.
Day 2: B18 sign in @ Delray Beach Tennis Center by 1:30pm…B16 sign in @ Palm Beach Gardens Tennis Center by 1:30pm.
Replacing a Singles Main Draw Player: Replaced with the next player on the alternate list (posted online).
On-Site Alternates: Players on the published alternates list that sign in on-time, will be chosen based on their position on the alternate list posted online.
WEATHER, SAFETY AND MATCH PROTOCOL
Weather: For updated weather details and/or possible match delays, we will communicate / update the USTA Serve Tennis Event website with any new times/schedules. Draw times will only be changed in the evening (if applicable), not during the day. Serve Tennis website page.
Be prepared to play up to 3 matches per day if there are weather issues.
CHECK-IN: All players must check in (in person) at the on-site Tournament Desk at least 15 minutes early. We will send your matches to the courts 10 minutes early. This is to reduce your time on-site, as well as for the daily matches to stay on schedule.
DURING MATCH:
Raise your Racket to get the attention of a tennis umpire.
No Coaching is allowed.
Players should clearly verbalize the score at the start of each point.
The Server should clearly call out the score loudly before every point.
COMPLETION OF THE MATCH:
Leave the court promptly, clean up your trash and take your belongings with you.
Pick up your used tennis balls and drop them in the used balls box at the Tournament Desk.
SPORTSMANSHIP & ETIQUETTE:
Good Sportsmanship is expected from a players and guests
Players should NEVER spit on the court.
Inappropriate and unsportsmanlike language, bullying and taunting will not be tolerated and will be coded.
Spectators who display inappropriate behavior may be removed from the tournament area for the remainder of the tournament. Thank you for your
cooperation.
Players are NOT allowed on the other side of the net, even if invited by their opponent.
If you need a ball mark inspection, then ask a tennis umpire for help.
The USTA Point Penalty System, Lateness Rule and Junior Tournament Regulations are in effect.
MEDIA
Tournament Press Releases:
Coming Soon!
Photography:
YourGameFace is offering Digital Action Photos by request.
Let them capture this moment in your players tennis history.
See Samples on Instagram: @yourgameface
Cost is $150 for a Digital Set of Action Photos. (Normally 200-300 photos).
3 WAYS TO SIGN UP FOR THE DIGITAL ACTION PHOTOS:
1. Click this online Order Form - https://square.link/u/2YedPFY1
2. Text YourGameFace cell phone: 214-543-5437
3. Visit the Photo-Tent at the main site.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Inviting/Accepting a Doubles Partner: Click here
Selection: A player may be entered in up to two age divisions of USTA National Championships when entries close. The USTA will select players for these divisions in the following order 18s, 16s, 14s and 12s. If a player is entered in two age divisions and is selected into the older division, that player shall not be eligible for selection into the younger division. If a player is not selected for the older division, that player is eligible for selection in the younger division and is eligible to be an alternate in the younger division, but not the older division.
Click here for USTA Resources for Players (ie Seeding Criteria, Selection Process, Quota Process, Entering Multiple Divisions)
Wildcard Application: Click here for information about applying for a Wildcard. Deadline: No later than five days after the tournament entry deadline.
ITF College Connect. Click here for info about.
- Junior players now have access to a new college candidate awareness feature called College Connect on their private USTA profiles.
- Thanks to the USTA’s partnership with the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) and the ITA’s recent adoption of the ITF World Tennis Number (WTN) as the official global rating system of college tennis, College Connect allows junior players within a specific ITF WTN rating range to explore college tennis playing opportunities and even compare their skill levels to current college players!
WITHDRAWALS – REFUNDS
There are no refunds after the entry deadline. If a player needs to withdraw, please call us as soon as possible so the next alternate can make travel arrangements.
We look forward to hosting you at one of the premier amateur sporting events in the United States and feel free to call the tournament office @ 561.330.6003 if you have any questions. GOOD LUCK!
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