Carlsbad’s Pareja among top seeds at Billie Jean King Girls’ National Championships

SAN DIEGO – Seeded players have been announced for the United States Tennis Association Billie Jean King Girls’ 16s and 18s National Championships. which began Saturday at Barnes Tennis Center.

Tournament officials named Akasha Urhobo, 18, of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., as the No. 1 seed in the Girls’ 18s singles division. Urhobo has competed on the International Tennis Federation World Tennis Tour and USTA Pro Circuit this year. She is currently ranked No. 429 in the WTA singles rankings after reaching a career-high No. 282 earlier this year.

Local entrant Julieta Pareja of Carlsbad is the No. 2 seed in the Girls’ 18s singles draw. Pareja, 16, is No. 1 in the ITF junior rankings. She reached the Wimbledon Girls’ singles final this year.

The No. 3 seed is Monika Ekstrand, 18, of Delray Beach, Fla., who is currently ranked No. 355 in the WTA singles rankings.

Carlota Moreno, 16, of Knoxville, Tenn., is the Girls’ 16s top seed. She is currently No. 1 in the USTA Girls’ 16s rankings. Earlier this month, Moreno captured third-place in the Girls’ 18s singles competition of the USTA National Clay Court Championships in Mount Pleasant, S.C.

Armira Kockinis of La Habra Heights is seeded second and Welles Newman of Boca Raton, Fla., third.

To view the complete list of seeded players for all tournament divisions, click here.

“With such a strong player field, we are anticipating another great tournament this year at Barnes Tennis Center,” said tournament director Lornie Kuhle. “Fans will have an opportunity to watch the tennis stars of the future. These are the best of the best players in the United States and we look forward to nine days of amazing competition.”

Nearly 400 of the top junior tennis players in the country, aged 16 and 18 and under, will compete for the title of national champion through Aug. 10.

In addition, wild cards for direct entry into the 2025 US Open will be awarded to the tournament’s top finishers.

Both divisions feature 192-player singles draws and 96-team doubles draws. The Girls’ 16s event began Saturday and concludes with the singles and doubles championships on Aug. 9. The Girls’ 18s tournament will get underway Sunday and concludes with the singles and doubles championships on Aug. 10.

Matches are scheduled to begin at 8 a.m. each day (starting times are subject to change).

Admission is free each day of the tournament and there is no charge for parking at Barnes Tennis Center.

Early-round tournament matches also will be played from Saturday through Wednesday at Balboa Tennis Club, 2221 Morley Field Drive, and University of San Diego, 5998 Alcala Park.

Admission and parking is free at both sites. For USD parking information, click here.