The Maureen Connolly Brinker Tennis Foundation (MCB) would like to wish all of our players, parents, and friends a Happy Valentine's Day! May your holiday be filled with friendship, happiness, and lots of love!

We would like to invite our players to email a Valentine's Day drawing or photo by Monday, February 16 at 5:00pm (Central Time). Please email your player's name and submission to: tiffany@mcbtennis.org to be included in the contest. All contest entries will be posted on the MCB X page (@mcbtennis) on Monday afternoon. The player with the most "likes" for their drawing or photo by Wednesday, February 18 at 5:00pm (Central Time) will receive a complimentary entry into a 2026 "Little Mo" Internationals of their choice. We will announce the contest winner on the MCB X page. Remember to click on the "heart" icon to "like" the drawing or photo of your choice on the MCB X page for your vote to count in the contest!

Everyone who participates in this contest will receive a prize ($20 value) at the "Little Mo" Internationals. Please visit the "Little Mo" Booth during any of our two remaining internationals this year to receive your prize. Good luck to all players!

Registration will open

Monday, February 16 for all

2026 "Little Mo" Regionals!

We are so excited to announce registration will OPEN on Monday, February 16 for our four 2026 "Little Mo" Regionals (North, South, East, West) - open to any USA player (ages 8-12)! 


In past years, we have used "first-come, first-served" for registering players for this tournament. THIS YEAR, we are modifying our registration process for some divisions that fill quickly. For YELLOW 10s, 11s, and 12s division, an acceptance list will be used which will be based on the "verified UTR ratings" at the time the entry deadline closes. For the 8s, 9s, and all green dot divisions, registration will be on a first-come, first-served basis until the entry limit. You will be able to view the player list two weeks before the registration deadline.

Acceptance (Based on UTR):

Boys & Girls 10 yellow

Boys & Girls 11

Boys & Girls 12

First-Come, First-Served:

Boys & Girls 8 Yellow

Boys & Girls 9 Yellow

Boys & Girls 8 Green

Boys & Girls 9 Green

Boys & Girls 10 Green

"Little Mo" Internationals

We are planning to announce and open registration for our second "Little Mo" Internationals in March (Site and Date TBA). Our registration for the Internationals in Florida will open in June/July.

"Road to the Little Mo Nationals"

The "Little Mo" began in 1976 as a local tournament for Dallas youngsters and later grew to include players from all over Texas. In 1998, it expanded nationwide and became known as the "Road to the Little Mo Nationals", one of the premier series of junior tournaments for girls and boys ages 8, 9, 10, 11, and 12. The Road is now in its 29th year as a yearlong circuit of regional and national tournaments for players who reside in the USA. It is the only circuit of its kind for talented, high-performance girls and boys in the United States who compete against others born in the same year.

The Road will begin in the spring and summer with the four "Little Mo" Regionals (North, South, East, West) held in different cities across the United States. Yellow (regular) ball divisions will be offered for girls and boys ages 8, 9, 10, 11, and 12 in addition to a green dot option for ages 8, 9, and 10. The top four yellow ball players (semifinalists) in each age division from each regional tournament will advance to the prestigious "Little Mo" Nationals in Austin, Texas from September 25-28, 2026. These players will form a 16-size draw in each age division at the Nationals. The top 160 players who reach the Nationals are the youngest and brightest future stars in American tennis!

"Little Mo" East Regionals

Palm Beach Gardens Tennis Center

Palm Beach Gardens, Florida

April 25-27, 2026

Registration Deadline: Friday, April 10 at 1:00pm (Central Time)

"Little Mo" South Regionals

Arlington Tennis Center

Arlington, Texas

May 23-25, 2026

Registration Deadline: Friday, May 8 at 1:00pm (Central Time)

"Little Mo" West Regionals

Berkeley Tennis Club

Berkeley, California

July 18-20, 2026

Registration Deadline: Friday, July 3 at 1:00pm (Central Time)

"Little Mo" North Regionals

West Orange Tennis Club

West Orange, New Jersey

September 5-7, 2026

Registration Deadline: Friday, August 21 at 1:00pm (Central Time)

29th Annual "Little Mo" Nationals

Austin Tennis Academy

Austin, Texas

September 25-28, 2026

13th Annual "Little Mo" Internationals

San Diego, California

WINNERS ANNOUNCED!

Congratulations to the winners of the 13th Annual “Little Mo” Internationals tournament in San Diego, California! This prestigious event was held at the Barnes Tennis Center and Balboa Tennis Club from Friday, February 6 - Tuesday, February 10, 2026. Approximately 240 players registered from 28 countries worldwide: Armenia, Bermuda, Brazil, Cambodia, Canada, China, Costa Rica, Croatia, Czech Republic, France, Great Britain, Guatemala, Honduras, India, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Peru, Philippines, Puerto Rico, Taiwan, Turks and Caicos Islands, Ukraine, United Kingdom, Serbia, Uzbekistan, Vietnam, and 17 states across the USA! With so many talented players from around the world, it was a fantastic week filled with new friendships, great sportsmanship, and competitive tennis. Thank you so much for your support of the “Little Mo” and a special thank you to our tournament sites, volunteers, and proud sponsors: Jersey Mike’s Subs (“Title Sponsor”), Tennis Competitors of Dallas (TCD), and Wilson Sporting Goods Company (“Official Racquet, String, and Ball”). For all draws and results, please click on the green "Results" button below:

13th Annual "Little Mo" Internationals in California

Barnes Tennis Center

San Diego, California

February 6-11, 2026

Singles Winners

Girls 13: Alivia Liu - San Diego, California

Girls 12: Madelyn Kim - Las Vegas, Nevada

Girls 11: Akshaya Ashok - Milpitas, California

Girls 10 (yellow ball): Mia Di Caro - La Jolla, California

Girls 10 (green dot): Estelle Leroux - San Diego, California

Girls 9 (yellow ball): Alice Wong - Palos Verdes Estates, California

Girls 9 (green dot): Isabel Frischhut - Laguna Hills, California

Girls 8 (yellow ball): Magnificent Juarez - Phoenix, Arizona

Boys 14: Junting Xi - Irvine, California / China

Boys 13: George Himes - Los Angeles, California

Boys 12: Mathias Simon - Long Beach, California

Boys 11: Roman Vig - San Francisco, California

Boys 10 (yellow ball): Antonio Bugge - Fort Lauderdale, Florida

Boys 10 (green dot): Victor Echeverria - Zapopan, Mexico

Boys 9 (yellow ball): Hudson Khemiy - Los Angeles, California

Boys 9 (green dot): Nick Yan - Los Altos, California

Boys 8 (yellow ball): Keanu Kim - Atlanta, Georgia

Boys 8 (green dot): Ned Zhang - Surrey, Canada

Doubles Winners

Girls 13: Charlotte Dawes - Calgary, Canada│Alivia Liu - San Diego, California

Girls 12: April Thirumalaiyandi - Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands│ Margaret Gao - Los Angeles, California

Girls 11: Mia Nguyen - Fountain Valley, California│Elizabeth Chan Ovando - Merida, Mexico

Girls 10 (yellow ball): Doris Tai - Brea, California│Christina Cui - San Marino, California

Girls 9 (yellow ball): Olivia An - Pleasanton, California│Alice Wong - Palos Verdes Estates, California

Girls 9 (green dot): Isabel Frischhut - Laguna Hills, California│ Ivania Vilchez - Long Beach, California / Peru

Boys 14: Vincent Van Ruymbeke - Menlo Park, California│Junting Xi - Irvine, California / China

Boys 13: Airen Lai - Cerritos, California / Cambodia│Vladislav Rusanovskyy - San Diego, California

Boys 12:  Damian Cerda Portillo - Leon, Mexico│Mathias Simon - Long Beach, California

Boys 11: Knowlton Atterbeary - Fulton, Maryland / Puerto Rico│Ramadan Karigul - Rosemead, California

Boys 10 (yellow ball):  Franco Cerda Portillo - Leon, Mexico│Liam Kim - La Habra, California

Boys 10 (green dot):  Diego Luna - San Diego, California / Mexico│Victor Echeverria - Zapopan, Mexico

Boys 9 (yellow ball):  Andrew Gu - South Pasadena, California / China│Matthew Gu - South Pasadena, California / China

Boys 9 (green dot): Nick Yan - Los Altos, California│Dylan Chairez Amparano - Ensenada, Mexico

Boys 8 (yellow ball): Keanu Kim - Atlanta, Georgia│ Paxton Liou - New York, New York

Mixed Doubles Winners

Mixed 14: Vincent Van Ruymbeke - Menlo Park, California│Alivia Liu - San Diego, California

Mixed 13: Airen Lai - Cerritos, California / Cambodia│Siena Auzoux - Damascus, Maryland

Mixed 12: Mathias Simon - Long Beach, California│April Thirumalaiyandi - Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands

Mixed 11:  Elizabeth Chan Ovando - Merida, Mexico│ Camdon McCallum - Lafayette, California

Mixed 10 (yellow ball): German Velázquez Biagi - Tampico, Mexico│Valeriia Koltovskaia - San Diego, California

Mixed 10 (green dot):  Diego Luna - San Diego, California / Mexico│Ines Murillo - Zapopan, Mexico

Mixed 9 (yellow ball): Hudson Khemiy - Los Angeles, California│Arianna Chacon - Calgary, Canada

Mixed 9 (green dot): Nick Yan - Los Altos, California│Isabel Frischhut - Laguna Hills, California

Sportsmanship Award Recipients

Noah Yan - Los Altos, California

Charlotte Dawes - Calgary, Canada

Kindness Award Recipients



Sebastian Lara Licona - Tegucigalpa, Honduras

Madelyn Kim - Las Vegas, Nevada

*Photo above is credited to YourGameFace. For more information, please click here to visit their website: www.yourgameface.com or click here to visit their Instagram page: @YourGameFace.

The festivities began on Friday, February 6 with a complimentary tennis clinic featuring fun drills, games, and prizes for all players hosted by Wayne Bryan (father of Bob and Mike Bryan) at the Barnes Tennis Center. The spectacular Opening Ceremony then began with the players parading onto the center court carrying their country flags. The national anthem was sung by Megan Mattix. Cindy Brinker Simmons, MCB President and daughter of Maureen “Little Mo” Connolly Brinker, was in attendance during the tournament to watch matches, talk about her mother’s legacy, and sign her new book, Restored: Reconnecting Life’s Broken Pieces. Matches began for all divisions on Saturday, February 7 and continued through Tuesday, February 10. The winner of each division was crowned a “Little Mo” Internationals champion!



On Saturday evening, a fun Player Party was held for all of our families at the Dave & Buster’s. We hope you enjoyed this special occasion as it was a great opportunity to meet other players and parents from around the world!

On behalf of MCB, we would like to thank our proud sponsors, Barnes Tennis Center, Balboa Tennis Club, Ryan Redondo (Barnes Tennis Center: Chief Executive Officer), Jesse Steinberg (Barnes Tennis Center: Chief Operating Officer), Colleen Ferrell (Balboa Tennis Club: Director), Rick Workman (Tournament Director), Jake Bryan (Host Site Director), Fred Lipscomb (Referee) and the officials, Dave “The Koz” Kozlowski (Media Celebrity), Wayne Bryan, Megan Mattix, Mari Workman, Kim Scullion, Shelley Lugon-Moulin, Debbie Brooke, Lisa Bryant, Robert Bryant, Demmye Booras and all of the many volunteers who donated their time and energy for our event. We appreciate their hard work and dedication to junior tennis!

2026 "Little Mo" Internationals

In 2006, MCB created the "Little Mo" Internationals for USA players to experience different styles of play and meet others from various countries and cultures from around the world. This flagship event was first held in Texas and it has evolved over the years into three different tournaments. Today, the Internationals attract thousands of talented girls and boys (ages 8, 9, 10, 11, and 12) who travel from across the United States and worldwide to compete against others born in the same year. The "Big Mo" divisions have also been added in for ages 13 and 14. These unique events are held at some of the most prominent and historic tennis clubs in the United States, which helps to create an unforgettable experience and enjoyable vacation for the entire family.

All players will have an opportunity to participate in Singles, Doubles, and Mixed Doubles in addition to many exciting and memorable activities such as the Opening Ceremony, Player Parade, Player Clinic, Group Photo, Player Gift Exchange, Player Party, "Mo" Coins, "Little Mo" Booth, Sportsmanship/Kindness Awards and much more. Last year, the "Little Mo" Internationals in Florida featured approximately 750 players from over 68 different countries worldwide!

Travel Grants will be awarded to players who win their age division (yellow ball only) at all "Little Mo" Internationals!

We hope you will join us for one or more of our international tournaments this year! Any "Little Mo" player who wins their yellow ball division (Singles only) at the "Little Mo" Internationals will receive a special travel grant during the tournament - more details to be announced at the tournament!

These travel grants are sponsored by the Tennis Competitors of Dallas (TCD) in Dallas, Texas and we are so thankful for their continued support of junior tennis!

Player Referral Program

20 "Mo" Coins for each player referred!

We hope you will tell all of your friends about the "Little Mo" tournaments! As a special incentive for helping us spread the word, we would like to offer you an opportunity to receive 20 "Mo" Coins ($20 value per referral) from MCB if you are able to encourage a friend(s) to sign up. A custom question has been added to the tournament registration process whereby the referred player can type in your name on their entry form as having referred them. 

For every player you refer, you will receive 20 "Mo" Coins at the tournament. Only the names entered during the online registration process will count towards earning this prize. Also, any player who withdraws from the tournament will not count towards this prize. Coaches and family members will not count towards this prize.

In order to claim your referral prize, please stop by the "Little Mo" Booth during any "Little Mo" tournament this year. Referral prizes will only be awarded at the tournament and they may only be redeemed in the year they are earned. The more players you refer, the more you can earn!

Former "Little Mo" Champions shine at the 2026 Australian Open!

Congratulations to all of the former "Little Mo" players who competed in the 2026 Australian Open:

WTA

Leyla Fernandez

Coco Gauff

Sofia Kenin

Madison Keys

Ashlyn Krueger

Claire Liu

Taylor Townsend

Sachia Vickery

ATP

Nishesh Basavareddy

Tristan Boyer

Jenson Brooksby

Murphy Cassone

Taylor Fritz

Sebastian Korda

Aleksander Kovacevic

Mackenzie McDonald

Brandon Nakashima

Tommy Paul

Ethan Quinn

Eliot Spizzirri

Junior Girls

Chukwumelije Clarke

Junior Boys

Keaton Hance

Tanishk Konduri

Former "Little Mo" Champion Christian Harrison Wins the Doubles Title at the Australian Open!

Congratulations to former "Little Mo" champion Christian Harrison at the Australian Open in Melbourne, Australia! Harrison played in the 2000 "Little Mo" Nationals. Keep up the great work!

"Little Mo" Champion Stephen Sasala was selected for the 2026 Dallas Open Coin Toss!

Pictured left to right: Rafael Jodar (#124 ATP), Stephen Sasala ("Little Mo" player), Mitchel Krueger (#245 ATP and former "Little Mo" player) Photo credit: Jared Wickerham

Congratulations to "Little Mo" player Stephen Sasala on being selected for the coin toss at the 2026 Dallas Open on Saturday, February 7. Stephen is 12 years old and trains at the Lakes Tennis Academy in Frisco, Texas. He is ranked top 30 in Texas and he won the “Little Mo” Internationals in Colorado - both singles and doubles. He enjoys being a ball boy for the SMU tennis matches. MCB was so proud to have Stephen represent the "Little Mo"!

Stay tuned for fun and exciting activities from the "Little Mo" Club! For more information on future giveaways and contests, please check out and follow the Instagram page: @littlemoclub! Also, be sure to fill out your player's profile so you can participate in all of the fun activities (only for active members with a full profile). Don't forget to add your picture too so your friends can recognize you!

If you have any questions about the "Little Mo" Club or how to activate your account, please send an email to: info@littlemoclub.com. Thanks so much!

Would you like to be a Sponsor of the "Little Mo" Tournaments?

We are actively looking for sponsors for the 2026 "Little Mo" tournaments. If you are interested or you know someone who works for a company that would be interested in being a sponsor of our "Road to the Little Mo Nationals" circuit and/or the three "Little Mo" Internationals, please send an email to: carol@mcbtennis.org. We will be happy to send a customized PowerPoint sponsorship proposal, which would include branding opportunities such as placing banners at various sites across the country, advertising in the player program, having a logo on the tournament t-shirts, and promoting product(s) to our players, parents, and their families.

Would you like to help the Maureen Connolly Brinker Tennis Foundation?

Thank you so much for your support of the Maureen Connolly Brinker Tennis Foundation and the "Little Mo" tournaments! It is the mission of the Foundation to organize memorable tennis events for young players while also providing opportunities to develop their game, enjoy tennis, and learn good values such as character, sportsmanship, and kindness. The Foundation has promoted the development of junior tennis for over 55 years and continues to benefit countless numbers of girls and boys throughout the United States and worldwide. We greatly appreciate any donations so that we can continue to offer the "Little Mo" tournaments in honor of Maureen "Little Mo" Connolly Brinker.

If you are interested in making a donation, please click on the "Make A Donation" button above. All donations are tax-deductible as the Foundation is a 501(c)(3) organization. We are also always looking for volunteers at the "Little Mo" tournaments so if you would like to earn community service hours or volunteer your time, please send an email to: carol@mcbtennis.org. We thank you for your kind consideration and wish you all the very best for a wonderful and memorable year!

A Special Thank You To Our Sponsors:

The "Little Mo" tournaments are hosted by MCB in memory of its tennis champion namesake, Maureen "Little Mo" Connolly Brinker. Born in San Diego, Maureen became the first woman to achieve the Grand Slam of tennis in 1953 by winning all four major championships (Australian, French, Wimbledon, and US Open) in the same year. She was well-known for her powerful groundstrokes from the baseline, which earned her the famous nickname "Little Mo" - a comparison to the explosive firepower of the battleship USS Missouri, also known as "Big Mo". Only five players in the history of tennis have won the calendar Grand Slam, and Maureen is still the only American woman and the youngest at age 18 to have accomplished this magnificent feat. She won an amazing nine consecutive championship titles (three US, three Wimbledon, two French, one Australian - undefeated in 50 matches).

Unfortunately, her spectacular career would be short-lived due to a horseback riding accident in 1954. While she could no longer compete at an elite level, Maureen's legacy as a legendary tennis star would continue through the Maureen Connolly Brinker Tennis Foundation (MCB). Founded in 1968 with her dear friend Nancy Jeffett, MCB's mission would be the promotion and support of junior tennis development worldwide. That same year, she was inducted into the prestigious International Tennis Hall of Fame in Newport, Rhode Island. Sadly, Maureen lost her valiant battle with cancer the following year and passed away at the young age of 34. Although her tennis career only spanned three years, many premier sportswriters consider Maureen Connolly to be the finest of all female players for her achievements on and off the court. In 2019, she was honored by the United States Postal Service with her very own "Little Mo" Commemorative Forever Stamp.

Today, MCB continues to support the growth of junior tennis by organizing numerous "Little Mo" tournaments throughout the United States annually for talented girls and boys (ages 8-14). These events are designed to provide outstanding competition at the regional, national, and international level while also encouraging players to develop new friendships, learn good sportsmanship, and most of all, have fun. The "Little Mo" tournaments are also unique in that young players have the opportunity to gauge their ability against others born in the same year from around the world (i.e., 8's play 8's, 9's play 9's). MCB strives to empower young athletes by giving travel grants, "Mo" Coins for prizes, and also Sportsmanship and Kindness awards to deserving individuals in honor of Maureen's legacy. The Foundation also contributes financially to many notable programs including the National Junior Tennis League for inner-city youth and Invest In A Child for deaf and wheelchair tennis.

Over the years, many well-known collegiate players and famous tennis professionals have participated in the "Little Mo" tournaments including Andy Roddick, Coco Gauff, Taylor Fritz, Tommy Paul, Belinda Bencic, Madison Keys, Leylah Fernandez, Dominic Thiem, Emma Raducanu, Sebastian Korda, Christopher Eubanks, Jenson Brooksby, Brandon Nakashima, Vasek Pospisil, Borna Coric, Mackie McDonald, Denis Kudla, Ryan Harrison, Taylor Townsend, Donald Young, Steve Johnson, Sofia Kenin, CiCi Bellis, and Ana Konjuh among many others. Roddick won the "Little Mo" in 1992 (age 10) and he said, "the 'Little Mo' was my first big win!" Gauff won the "Little Mo" in 2012 (age 8) and she said, "the 'Little Mo' is where the belief began." This is all wonderful news for junior tennis and we are so proud that the "Little Mo" continues to be one of the most popular events for young players around the world.

MCB has promoted the development of junior tennis for over 55 years and continues to benefit countless numbers of young players worldwide. It is our mission to provide a special and meaningful experience at all of our events while also inspiring outstanding attributes at a young age such as fair play, good character, integrity, sportsmanship, kindness, giving back, and an "attitude of gratitude". Thank you so much for your support of the "Little Mo" tournaments and the legacy of Maureen Connolly Brinker. Thousands of players compete in the "Little Mo" tournaments annually and we hope to see even more youngsters play this wonderful "sport for a lifetime" this year. We would also very much appreciate your help in spreading the word about the "Little Mo" so we can continue to impact future generations of young players. The MCB Tennis Foundation is led by its directors: Cindy Brinker Simmons (President), Brenda Brinker Bottum (Vice President), and Elizabeth Jeffett (Vice President). Carol Weyman (Executive Vice President), and Tiffany Hollebeck (Tournament Operations Manager) organize the "Little Mo" tournaments. For more information about the "Little Mo", please visit our MCB website at: www.mcbtennis.org and click on "Tournaments". Play "Mo" Tennis!

We hope you will find some time to enjoy the 1978 "Little Mo" movie (made for TV) about Maureen Connolly. The movie is about 2.5 hours long and features some major movie stars like Mark Harmon, Leslie Nielsen, and Glynnis O'Connor. It is a wonderful movie for the entire family and is very inspirational for young players who love the game of tennis. Thank you so much for sharing the "Little Mo" story with your child as it will help make their "Little Mo" experience more meaningful.

To watch the "Little Mo" movie, please click on the popcorn icon!