Second Leg of “Little Mo” Slam Set for Forest Hills

August 17, 2016 | By New York Tennis Magazine Staff

In 1953, Maureen Connolly was the first woman to win the Grand Slam in tennis history. Known by her nickname “Little Mo,” she is still the only American woman and the youngest at age 18 to have accomplished this feat. Although her career only spanned three years, many premier sports writers consider Maureen to be the finest of all female players. To put the significance of her achievement into perspective, only five players in the history of tennis have won the "Grand Slam" of singles championships.

In honor of Maureen “Little Mo” Connolly's 60th anniversary of winning the Grand Slam in 1953, the Maureen Connolly Brinker Tennis Foundation (MCB) created the ultimate kids challenge in 2013 for any player to win the “Little Mo” Slam. If a player can win all three '"Little Mo" Internationals in any given year, the player will receive the tallest trophy ever given in junior tennis—a six-foot tall trophy and the title of “Little Mo” Slam Champion! There have been four “Little Mo” players who have accomplished this great achievement in the past two years.

This year marks the 63rd anniversary of Maureen "Little Mo" Connolly's Grand Slam win in 1953. There are five players still in the running for the 2016 “Little Mo” Slam title after winning the first leg at the “Little Mo” Internationals in Palm Springs, California from March 2-6. With the second “Little Mo” Internationals tournament of the year set for Aug. 21-27 at The West Side Tennis Club in Forest Hills.

The following players are in the running for the “Little Mo” title:

►Boys 11: Liam Carpenter (Greenbrae, Calif.)
Boys 9: Yubel Ubri (Miami Beach, Fla.)
Boys 8: Taylor Yarnell (Sammamish, Wash.)
Girls 9: Akasha Urhobo (Lauderhill, Fla.)
Girls 8 JoAnna Kennedy (Denver, Colo.)

Matches will begin at 8:00 a.m. on Monday, Aug. 22 and continue through Friday, Aug. 26. There will also be a fun mixed-doubles event on Friday, Aug. 26 on the famous grass courts of The West Side Tennis Club–previous home of the U.S. Open.

The third and final leg of the 2016 “Little Mo” Slam will be held at the PGA National Resort & Spa in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., Dec. 2-7.


New York Tennis Magazine Staff
Centercourt
USTA NTC

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