Forbes Named to USTA Collegiate Summer Team
WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. – Abbey Forbes of the UCLA women's tennis team has been selected to travel the USTA Pro Circuit with other top college players as part of the 2021 Collegiate Summer Team, the United States Tennis Association announced Wednesday.
The Collegiate Summer Team is an initiative by the USTA to support elite NCAA athletes as they test the waters on the professional tour. The 10 players chosen will compete at select events this summer on the ATP Challenger and ITF World Tennis Tours. The program began in 1996.
Joining Forbes are North Carolina senior Sara Daavettila, Virginia freshman Emma Navarro, Iowa freshman Alexa Noel and Texas freshman Peyton Stearns. Rounding out the team on the men's side are North Carolina senior William Blumberg, Ohio State sophomore Cannon Kingsley, Illinois senior Aleks Kovacevic, Ohio State senior John McNalley and Florida junior Sam Riffice.
The players were selected based on their ATP or WTA singles ranking or a combination of their pro and ITA singles rankings and their Universal Tennis Rating. Each will receive a travel grant and coaching support at select Pro Circuit events this summer. Guiding the women's group are Texas associate head coach Taylor Fogelman and Minnesota assistant coach Meghan Kelly. Tulane head coach Mark Booras and North Carolina State assistant coach Cris James are leading the men.
"The USTA continues to recognize and support collegiate tennis as a viable part of the professional player pathway and is committed to providing the top American collegiate players with developmental and competitive opportunities," said Martin Blackman, GM, USTA Player and Coach Development.
Forbes had a standout sophomore season as the Bruins claimed the first outright Pac-12 regular-season championship in program history. Forbes, who played almost exclusively on the top singles court during dual matches, posted a 24-3 singles record and finished No. 4 in the Oracle/ITA rankings. She reached the quarterfinal round of the NCAA Championships singles tournament in her debut. Eighteen of Forbes' singles victories came against nationally-ranked opponents. She also went 13-2 in doubles play with all but two of her completed matches coming on the No. 1 court. Forbes received the Pac-12 Singles Player of the Year and Doubles Team of the Year (with Jada Hart) awards and was tabbed a First-Team All-Conference honoree.
Tournament play began last week in Tulsa, Okla. and Sumter, S.C. Former UCLA standout Catherine Harrison teamed with partner Emina Bektas to collect the doubles title in Sumter. Future stops on the Pro Circuit include Charleston, N.C., Cary, N.C, Edwardsville, Ill., Evansville, Ind., Lexington, Ky., Decatur, Ill. And Landisville, Pa.