RPS Academies Welcomes Les Petits As USA Playoffs, Showcasing a New Era for Junior Tennis in Florida

RPS Academies in Port St. Lucie, Florida, recently welcomed some of the nation's most promising young tennis players for the 10th edition of the Les Petits As Playoffs USA Wilson presented by AQR. The prestigious event brought together 16 boys and 16 girls competing for the opportunity to represent the United States at the renowned Les Petits As tournament in Tarbes, France.

For RPS Academies, the tournament represented more than an opportunity to host elite junior competition. It also marked an important milestone in the development of its new tennis facilities, with participants becoming the first players to compete on the newly constructed courts.

Michael Jones, Chief Marketing Officer at RPS Academies, emphasized the significance of hosting an event with such a strong international reputation.

"To me, it's the ultimate, the highest-profile 14-and-under tennis tournament in the world," Jones said. "It attracts the best players from all over the world."

The competition has a remarkable history, with tennis stars such as Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer, and Coco Gauff among the notable names associated with the event.

According to Jones, the experience goes far beyond winning matches.

"I think this is the first real experience for these kids to experience what it's like to be a professional tennis player," he explained. "The way this tournament is run, it's run like a professional tournament. The scheduling, the communications, the way that it's umpired, everything about it is done first class."

The tournament also provided an opportunity to showcase the ambitious development underway at RPS Academies.

Once completed, the facility is expected to feature 30 hard courts, six clay courts, covered courts, and advanced technology designed to support player development.

"We want this to be a true hub for tennis, not only in Florida, but in the United States," Jones said.

The academy plans to host competitions throughout the year, working with organizations such as the USTA, UTR, ITF, and professional tennis circuits. Its vision is to offer tournaments for players of all levels, from beginners to aspiring professionals.

Another distinguishing feature of the property is its integrated resort and academic environment. Families attending tournaments can stay on campus, while full-time student-athletes have access to training facilities, accommodations, and education without needing to travel between locations.

The campus includes a newly opened Cambridge-certified school, with a full teaching staff, and new student accommodations being developed with more than 230 beds. In addition to tennis, RPS Academies offers soccer, golf, and volleyball programs, attracting student-athletes from around the world.

Jones believes that bringing tournaments directly to the academy can significantly improve the development experience for young athletes.

"Our answer is bring all the tournaments here," he said. "We'll be hosting tournaments from entry level all the way up to the pro circuit events. No matter what your level is, there'll be a tournament here for you."

For Thibault Ollivier, Tournament Director of the Les Petits As Playoffs, the event represented a special return to a familiar location.

The inaugural USA Playoffs took place in 2017 at the same property, which was then operating as Club Med Academy. Nearly a decade later, the competition returned to the transformed campus under the RPS Academies name.

"The very first edition, the inaugural edition in 2017, was taking place actually here," Ollivier explained. "Now we are back here 10 years later at RPS Academies."

The competition featured 32 of the country's leading junior players, selected through rankings, wild cards, and qualifying matches held at the academy.

The top four boys and four girls earned the opportunity to travel to France and compete against some of the best young players from around the world.

Ollivier was particularly impressed by the level of competition and the performances of players who advanced through qualifying.

"We have some great surprises. The level of competition is actually wonderful," he said. "We have some players that qualified a few days before the tournament and that are now qualified to travel to France."

For the tournament director, seeing those players progress from the qualifying rounds to the international stage demonstrated the importance of the event's format.

"We are very proud of that. We are very proud of the format, and we are happy that we are able to gather all the best Americans," Ollivier added.

Among the standout competitors was Anna Victoria Sandru of New Jersey, who delivered an impressive undefeated performance during the event.

"I played seven matches. I won all of them," Sandru said.

The young player credited her confidence, shot selection, and ability to adjust her game to different opponents for her success.

"I was really confident the entire time. I was going for my shots. I would step back when I needed to. I was playing depending on my opponent," she explained.

Looking ahead, Sandru hopes to continue developing her game and eventually compete at the collegiate level, with professional tennis remaining a long-term possibility.

"My main goal is to go to a good college, play tennis there, and if I'm good enough, then I can go pro," she said.

Another player celebrating his qualification was James Borchard of Thousand Oaks, California, who secured his place in France after an undefeated run.

"I haven't lost a match yet, and I made it to France," Borchard said. "I'm super happy that I made it. That's why I came here."

Borchard also reflected on one of the most challenging moments of his tournament, when he faced four match points in his opening match.

"First match, I saved four match points," he recalled. "I just tried my best to win that match and never give up."

His determination paid off, earning him the opportunity to compete on one of junior tennis's biggest international stages.

Beyond the competition itself, the successful organization of the event highlighted the advantages of RPS Academies' integrated campus.

Sandy Mittleman, Lead Tennis Advisor at RPS Academies, praised the team for preparing the tournament in a relatively short period.

"I think we would consider it a home run," Mittleman said. "We pulled this off in about a month and a half. Everybody is super excited, and we've gotten great feedback from all the parents and the kids."

Mittleman also emphasized the benefits of hosting tournaments directly at the academy, particularly for full-time students who would otherwise need to manage frequent travel, accommodation, and transportation expenses.

"Anybody who's a full-time student here knows that they can walk out of their dorm and they have tournaments going on all the time," he explained.

While travel remains an important part of competitive tennis, having access to regular tournaments on campus can make the process significantly easier for athletes and their families.

Another major focus at RPS Academies is the integration of technology into the tennis experience.

Graeme Brown, the academy's Chief Technology Marketing Officer, introduced a new live-streaming application being showcased during the Les Petits As USA Playoffs.

The platform incorporates artificial intelligence to analyze match play, scoring, and player performance while providing viewers with real-time information and commentary.

"We're showcasing our live-streaming app," Brown explained. "It's got a level of AI that analyzes all the gameplay, all the scoring, and also gives you on-match commentary on how people are performing."

The technology also supports live streaming to YouTube, allowing viewers to follow matches while accessing statistics and live scoring information.

By combining advanced technology with its growing tennis infrastructure, RPS Academies aims to create a more connected environment for athletes, coaches, families, and tennis enthusiasts.

The Les Petits As USA Playoffs offered an exciting glimpse into the future of junior tennis at RPS Academies.

For the young athletes who earned their places in France, the tournament represented another important step toward their tennis ambitions. For RPS Academies, it marked the beginning of a broader effort to establish Port St. Lucie as a destination for national and international tennis competition.

With new courts, expanded accommodations, academic programs, and innovative technology, the academy is positioning itself to welcome players and families from across the country and around the world.

As Jones emphasized, the ultimate goal is to create an environment where players at every stage of their development can train, compete, and grow. And with the successful hosting of the Les Petits As USA Playoffs, that vision is already beginning to take shape.

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Written by Associate Editor Osvaldo Godoy. Videos by Nathalia Suarez. Photos courtesy of RPS Academies/Les Petits As

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