Evans Commits to Texas Tech; USTA Extends Event Suspension to May 3; USTA Junior Points Table for Upcoming National Restructuring

Although a lot has happened since I spoke with blue chip Kailey Evans a couple of weeks ago, I am happy I was able to talk with her about her commitment to Texas Tech for this article at the Tennis Recruiting Network. Evans wasn't considering the Red Raiders in her initial research into schools, but an unexpected visit convinced her that Lubbock was the place for her. The 17-year-old high school junior will join the team in the fall of 2021.

The USTA announced today that it was extending the suspension of all its events until May 3, which is two weeks past the April 20 date they had provided originally. The Billie Jean King National Tennis Center and the National Campus will also remain closed until that date. Below is today's announcement:

USTA Statement on Suspension of Events Due to the continued situation surrounding the COVID-19 virus, and after discussions with the USTA Medical Advisory Committee, effective immediately the USTA will extend the suspension of USTA sanctioned products and events, including Adult and Junior Tournaments, USTA League, Junior Team Tennis, Team Challenge, Team Tournaments, USTA Schools programs, Tennis on Campus and Wheelchair events through May 3. Additionally, recognizing the evolving and fast-changing nature of this situation, the USTA will continue to monitor and assess conditions to make future determinations about events and activities taking place after May 3. All Category 1 and Super Category 2 National Adult Tournaments with an ITF status, all ITF Junior events, and all USTA Pro Circuit and professional events will align with the same calendar as the ITF, ATP and WTA, and be suspended through June 7. Both the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, N.Y., and the USTA National Campus, in the Lake Nona area of Orlando, Fla., will remain closed for play and instructional opportunities through May 3. Any patron who wishes to cancel participation in a scheduled activity should contact the specific location for refund information. These policies will be in effect pending additional guidance or directives from each local governmental agency and the CDC. The USTA will continue to monitor and assess conditions to make future determinations about all activities at these facilities.

The USTA's streamlining of its junior competition structure is still scheduled to be implemented in 2021, and new information, with more details, has been posted in the past few months. A look at this year's shadow rankings and the new points tables is now available here. Whether there will be enough second quarter results to publish shadow rankings in the third quarter of 2020 remains to be seen, but this might be a good time for coaches, parents and players to begin to familiarize themselves with this information so they are better prepared when USTA tournaments resume.