Maureen "Little Mo" Connolly Brinker with her two daughters, Brenda and Cindy, and husband Norman Brinker

The Maureen Connolly Brinker Tennis Foundation (MCB) would like to wish all of our players, parents, and friends a Happy Mother's Day! Thank you for all you do to support your children and their aspirations in tennis and in life! Even though Maureen "Little Mo" Connolly Brinker was a Grand Slam champion, she cherished being a mom most of all. Her two daughters are Cindy Brinker Simmons (MCB President) and Brenda Brinker Bottum (MCB Vice President).

We would like to invite our players to email a Mother's day themed drawing or photo by Monday, May 15 at 5:00pm (Central Time). Please email your player's name and submission to: matthew@mcbtennis.org to be included in the contest. All drawings will be posted on the MCB Twitter page (@mcbtennis) on Monday afternoon and the drawing with the most "likes" by Wednesday, May 17 at 5:00pm (Central Time) will receive a complimentary entry ($260 value) into a 2023 "Little Mo" Internationals of their choice (Colorado, New Jersey or Florida). Remember to click on the "heart" icon to like a photo on Twitter!

Everyone who participates in this contest will receive a $25 prize at the "Little Mo" Internationals. Please visit the "Little Mo/Big Mo" Booth during any of the three international tournaments to receive your prize. Good luck to all of our players!

2023 "Little Mo" East Regionals

Palm Beach Gardens, Florida

WINNERS ANNOUNCED!

Congratulations to the winners of the 2023 "Little Mo" East Regionals tournament on the 26th Annual "Road to the Little Mo Nationals"! This prestigious event was held at the Palm Beach Gardens Tennis Center and several other tournament sites in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida from Saturday, April 22 - Monday, April 24, 2023. Approximately 275 players from 22 different states across the USA were featured in this regional event! With so many talented players from across the country, it was a fantastic weekend filled with new friendships, great sportsmanship, and competitive tennis. For all draws and results, please click on the green "Results" button below:

"Little Mo" East Regionals

Palm Beach Gardens Tennis Center

Palm Beach Gardens, Florida

April 22-24, 2023

Singles Winners

*Girls 12 Finalists:

Stephanie Pumar - Medley, Florida

Sofija Dimitrievic - Bradenton, Florida

*Girls 11 Finalists: 

Alisa Kuteneva - Sunny Isles Beach, Florida

Tamia Tabuteau - Miami, Florida

Girls 10 (yellow ball): Daniella Yoguman - Flushing, New York

Girls 10 (green dot): Kira Suleimanova - Sunny Isles Beach, Florida

Girls 9 (yellow ball): Vasiana Christopoulos - Tampa, Florida

Girls 9 (green dot): Elena Satchkov - Doral, Florida

Girls 8 (yellow ball): Mausia Toli - San Jose, California

Girls 8 (green dot): Miroslava Suleimanova - Sunny Isles Beach, Florida

*Boys 12 Finalists: 

Marcus Gonzales - Melville, New York

Sohith Tella - Lake Mary, Florida

*Boys 11 Finalists: 

Ayaan Bangera - Farmington, Michigan

Daniel Levine - Wellington, Florida

*Boys 10 (yellow ball) Finalists: 

Samuel Hartley - Charlottesville, Virginia

Miguel Valencia - Pinecrest, Florida

Boys 10 (green dot): Alexander Nimara - Miami, Florida

*Boys 9 (yellow ball) Finalists: 

Dylan Kivov - Potomac, Maryland

Bence Leber - Delray Beach, Florida

*Boys 9 (green dot) Finalists: 

Eric Lopez - Wesley Chapel, Florida

Leonid Ageev - Miami, Florida

Boys 8 (yellow ball): Lucas Gonzales - Melville, New York

Boys 8 (green dot): Joaquin Ospina - Miami, Florida

*Some Finals were not able to be completed due to rain so we have included both of the Finalists above.

Sportsmanship Award Recipients

Natalie Chelico - Manhasset, New York

Andrei Sologoub - Westminster, Colorado

Thank you to our proud sponsors, the Palm Beach Gardens Tennis Center, PGA National Resort, The Tennis Club of Palm Beach, their staff(s) for hosting our event, Wendy Tatum (PBGTC Director of Tennis and Pickleball), Andi Mohl (PBGTC Operations Manager-Tennis), Alexandru Pop-Moldovan (PGA Director of Racquet Sports), Sophie Lefèvre (TCPB Director of Tennis), Rick Workman (Tournament Director), Jake Bryan (Assistant Tournament Director), Jason Rothstein (Referee) and the officials, Kim Scullion, Page Kjellstrom and all of the volunteers who helped to make this such a great event. We appreciate their hard work and dedication to junior tennis!

2023 "Little Mo" Tournaments

We are looking forward to seeing all of our players again this year and welcoming new families for all of the fun, festivities, and memories on and off the tennis court! Thank you so much for your continued 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), RBC Wealth Management (RBC), Wilson Sporting Goods ("Official Ball and Racquet"), Lucky in Love Kids ("Official Apparel"), and Palm Beach County Sports Commission (PBCSC). The "Little Mo" is truly a "one of a kind" tournament for young tennis players held in honor of tennis legend Maureen "Little Mo" Connolly Brinker. These special events are focused on sportsmanship, character, new friendships, and competitive matches with approximately 2,000 youngsters from over 70 different countries competing annually. We hope you and your family will join us for one or more of our tournaments!

Registration is OPEN for our three remaining "Little Mo" Regionals (South, West, North) - open to any USA player (ages 8-12)! Registration for all regional tournaments will be on a first-come, first-served basis up to the entry limit - we will be accepting the first 32 players in each division. If a division reaches the entry limit before the registration deadline, a WAITING LIST will be established at that time. Be sure to register early as the draws typically fill before the registration deadline!

Registration is also OPEN for our first two international tournaments of the year:

• 10th Annual "Little Mo" Internationals in Colorado Springs, Colorado (June 30 - July 5) - open to any player worldwide (ages 8-16)!

• 12th Annual "Little Mo" Internationals in West Orange, New Jersey (August 20-24) - open to any player worldwide (ages 8-12)!

Registration for all international tournaments will be on a first-come, first-served basis up to the entry limit - we will be accepting the first 30 players in Colorado and the first 14 players in New Jersey in each division. Be sure to register early as the draws typically fill before the registration deadline! We are planning to open registration for our Florida international event in a few months - site and dates are included below under the 2023 "Little Mo" Internationals header.

To register for a "Little Mo" tournament, please click on the "Register Now" button or scroll down to click on one of the events below:

All yellow ball results from the "Little Mo" tournaments (Regionals, Nationals, Internationals) will count towards your player's Universal Tennis Rating (UTR). *NEW IN 2023: All green dot results will count towards the new Universal Tennis Color Ball Rating (CBR). Also, just a friendly reminder that players must register in the proper age division according to their birth year for all "Little Mo" tournaments. This ensures that our players are competing against others who are born in the same calendar year (i.e., 8's play 8's, 9's play 9's). For example, if your player is turning 10 at any time this year (regardless of what age they will be at the time of the tournament), they will need to register in the 10's division.

The Registration Deadline for our South Regionals tournament is coming up soon!

Monday , May 15

We hope you and your family will plan on joining us for the "Little Mo" South Regionals tournament in Arlington, Texas (May 27-29) - open to any USA player (ages 8-12)! The registration deadline has been extended to Monday, May 15 at 11:30pm (Central Time). It will not only be a fun, competitive tournament but a great destination for the family with many sights to see: Six Flags, Dallas Zoo, Reunion Tower, Klyde Warren Park, Perot Museum of Nature & Science, Globe Life Park, AT&T Stadium, Winspear Opera House, Dallas Arboretum & Botanical Garden, George W. Bush Presidential Library, Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza, and more are all nearby!

26th Annual

"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 boys and girls ages 8, 9, 10, 11, and 12. The Road is now in its 26th year as a yearlong circuit of regional and national tournaments for players who reside in the USA and its territories. It is the only circuit of its kind for talented, high-performance boys and girls in the United States who compete against others born in the same year.

The Road begins 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 boys and girls 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 event will advance to the prestigious "Little Mo" Nationals held in Austin, Texas. 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!

IMPORTANT REGISTRATION INFORMATION:

There is a lot of important information posted on each tournament's UTR homepage (where you will register for the event) including the Player Gift Exchange tradition, Player Referral Program, and much more. This information is located under "Description" on the "Overview" tab, and you will need to click on the "Read More" button in order to see all of the posted information. There is also a very important document uploaded as an attachment to each tournament's UTR homepage that includes our "Little Mo" Rules and Regulations, Code of Conduct, Tournament and COVID-19 Liability Waivers, and Health/Safety guidelines. Please take a moment to read through all of this information carefully before you start the registration process.



"Little Mo" East Regionals

Palm Beach Gardens Tennis Center

Palm Beach Gardens, Florida

April 22-24, 2023

"Little Mo" South Regionals

Arlington Tennis Center

Arlington, Texas

May 27-29, 2023

Registration Deadline: Monday, May 15 at 11:30pm (Central Time)

"Little Mo" West Regionals

Berkeley Tennis Club

Berkeley, California

July 15-17, 2023

Registration Deadline: Friday, June 30 at 11:30pm (Central Time)

"Little Mo" North Regionals

Cary Leeds Center for Tennis & Learning

Bronx, New York

September 3-5, 2023

Registration Deadline: Friday, August 18 at 11:30pm (Central Time)

26th Annual "Road to the Little Mo Nationals"

Rules and Regulations

Welcome to the 26th Annual "Road to the Little Mo Nationals"! These tournaments are designed to provide outstanding competition at the regional and national level while also encouraging players to develop new friendships, learn good sportsmanship, and most of all, have fun. The Road is the only circuit of its kind for talented, high-performance boys and girls in the United States who compete against others born in the same year. Please read through the following rules and regulations carefully:

• Eligibility:  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. The Regionals are open to any player who lives in the United States and its territories (ages 8, 9, 10, 11, and 12). There are no special qualifications or ranking needed to register for the regional tournaments - any USA player who registers will be accepted into the draw until the entry limit is reached. *Please note that players must have lived in the United States for at least six consecutive months prior to the tournament start date in order to be eligible for the "Little Mo" Regionals. If a player does not meet this requirement, they will be withdrawn from the tournament.

• Entry Limit:  Registration for the "Little Mo" Regionals will be on a first-come, first-served basis up to the entry limit - we will be accepting the first 32 players in each division. If a division reaches the entry limit before the registration deadline, a WAITING LIST will be established at that time. Be sure to register early as the draws typically fill before the registration deadline! *Please note that once you have received a confirmation email from UTR/Stripe, your player's entry has been accepted into the tournament and you can make your travel arrangements.

• Multiple Tournaments:  Players may compete in any "Little Mo" Regionals regardless of where they are currently living in the United States or its territories. Players may also compete in as many regional tournaments as they would like, but they only need to participate in one regional tournament and finish in the top four (yellow ball division only) to qualify for the "Little Mo" Nationals.

• Events / Guaranteed Matches:  The "Little Mo" Regionals and the "Little Mo" Nationals will offer Singles events for all divisions (no Doubles or Mixed Doubles events). All players will be guaranteed at least two Singles matches during the regional and national tournaments.

• Age Eligibility / Registration by Birth Year:  Players must register in the proper age division according to their birth year. This ensures that our players are competing against others who are born in the same calendar year (i.e., a player born in 2013 must play in the 10's division since they will be turning 10 this year).
• Boys and Girls 12's - born in 2011
• Boys and Girls 11's - born in 2012
• Boys and Girls 10's - born in 2013
• Boys and Girls 9's - born in 2014
• Boys and Girls 8's - born in 2015 (Only players who are born in 2015 will be allowed to play in the 8's divisions. Players born in 2016 or 2017 will not be eligible).

• Divisions:  Yellow (regular) ball divisions will be offered for boys and girls ages 8, 9, 10, 11, and 12 in addition to a green dot option for ages 8, 9, and 10. Players must register for only one division. This means that players competing in the 8's, 9's, and 10's divisions must choose to play with either the yellow (regular) ball or the green dot ball for their age group. Players in the 11's and 12's divisions must play with the yellow (regular) ball. All divisions will be played on a full 78' tennis court with either the yellow (regular) ball or green dot ball.

• Draw Formats:  The "Little Mo" Regionals will be using several different draw formats based on the draw size:
• 32-size draw:  A Modified Feed-in Consolation format through the Round of 16 with a 3rd/4th Place playoff and 5th/6th Place playoff will be used. This means that any player who loses before the Quarterfinal Round (Main Draw) will feed back into the Consolation bracket. The losers of the Quarterfinal Round (Main Draw) will move into a 5th/6th Place playoff and the losers of the Semifinal Round (Main Draw) will move into a 3rd/4th Place playoff.
• 16-size draw:  A Feed-in Consolation format through the Quarterfinals with a 3rd/4th Place playoff will be used. This means that any player who loses before the Semifinal Round (Main Draw) will feed back into the Consolation bracket. The losers of the Semifinal Round (Main Draw) will move into a 3rd/4th Place playoff. A 5th/6th Place playoff is not possible as the Consolation Winner and Consolation Runner-Up are the 5th/6th Place winners in this format.
• 8-size draw:  A First Round Losers Consolation format with a 3rd/4th Place playoff will be used. This means that any player who loses in the First Round (Main Draw) will move into the Consolation bracket. A Feed-in format is not possible as the Second Round (Main Draw) is the Semifinal Round, and the losers of the Semifinal Round (Main Draw) will move into a 3rd/4th Place playoff. A 5th/6th Place playoff is also not possible as the Consolation Winner and Consolation Runner-Up are the 5th/6th Place winners in this format.
• 5 or less players:  A Round Robin format will be used.

• Scoring Format:  All divisions will use the same scoring format regardless of age, ball type or draw format. All Singles matches (Main Draw and Consolation) will consist of two tiebreak sets (first to 6 games). At 6 games all, a 7-point set tiebreak (first to 7, win by 2) will be played. If players split sets, a 10-point match tiebreak (first to 10, win by 2) will be played in lieu of a third set. Regular scoring (with ad) will be used for all Main Draw matches and a 5-minute warm-up will be given before each match. *NEW IN 2023: No-ad scoring will be used for all Consolation matches in addition to the 3rd/4th Place playoff and the 5th/6th Place playoff. *NEW IN 2023: A 2-minute rest period will be given between the first and second sets, and a 3-minute rest period will be given between the second set and match tiebreak. No coaching is allowed at any time. *Shortened scoring may be used in the case of rain.

• Advancing to the "Little Mo" Nationals:  The top four yellow ball players (semifinalists) in each age division from each "Little Mo" Regionals will advance to the prestigious "Little Mo" Nationals in Austin, Texas. These players will form a 16-size draw in each age division at the Nationals. If you advance to the Semifinal Round (Main Draw) in your age division at the Regionals and you (and your parent/coach) have followed the Code of Conduct, you will receive your Nationals invitation with a special code needed for registration by email from the MCB office following the regional tournament. The top 160 players who reach the Nationals are the youngest and brightest future stars in American tennis!

• Alternate Players for the "Little Mo" Nationals:  If one of the top four yellow ball players (semifinalists) from a "Little Mo" Regionals cannot attend the "Little Mo" Nationals, we will contact the 5th and 6th Place winners (if applicable) to take their place as the first and second alternates. If neither player can attend, we will consider other players in the draw and other regional draws as replacements based on their results and UTR. If there is not a 5th/6th Place Playoff, we will contact the Consolation Winner as the first alternate instead. If the Consolation Winner cannot attend, we will consider other players in the draw and other regional draws as replacements based on their results and UTR. The MCB office will let you know as soon as possible via email if there is an opening to attend the Nationals. While the green dot players will not be able to advance to the Nationals, they might be considered as replacement players if all of the qualified yellow ball players have been contacted.

• Universal Tennis Rating (UTR):  All yellow ball results from the "Road to the Little Mo Nationals" (Regionals, Nationals) will count towards your player's Universal Tennis Rating (UTR). *NEW IN 2023: All green dot results will also count towards the new Universal Tennis Color Ball Rating (CBR).

26th Annual "Little Mo" Nationals

Presented by

RBC Wealth Management

Austin Tennis Academy

Austin, Texas

September 22-25, 2023

2023 "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 events held in Colorado, New Jersey, and Florida. Today, the Internationals attract thousands of talented boys and girls (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 Colorado and Florida for ages 13, 14, 15, and 16. These unique tournaments 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. There are also many fun tourist attractions and sights to see near our three international events such as Pikes Peak, Garden of the Gods, US Open, Times Square, Statue of Liberty, Broadway shows, Disney World, Epcot, and beautiful beaches.

This year, our host sites are the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado (June 30 - July 5), the West Orange Tennis Club in West Orange, New Jersey (August 20-24), and the Palm Beach Gardens Tennis Center in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida (December 1-6). In Colorado and Florida, yellow (regular) ball divisions will be offered for boys and girls ages 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, and 16 in addition to a green dot option for ages 8, 9, and 10. In New Jersey, yellow (regular) ball divisions will be offered for boys and girls ages 8, 9, 10, 11, and 12 in addition to a green dot option for ages 8, 9, and 10. The "Big Mo" divisions (ages 13, 14, 15, and 16) will not be offered due to limited courts in New Jersey. All players have an opportunity to participate in Singles, Doubles, and Mixed Doubles in addition to many exciting and memorable activities such as the Player Clinic, Player Parade, Group Photo, Opening Ceremony, Player Gift Exchange, "Mo" Coins, Player Party, "Little Mo/Big Mo" Booth, and much more. Last year, the "Little Mo" Internationals in Florida featured over 600 players from 60 different countries!

IMPORTANT REGISTRATION INFORMATION:

There is a lot of important information posted on each tournament's UTR homepage (where you will register for the event) including the Player Gift Exchange tradition, Player Referral Program, and much more. This information is located under "Description" on the "Overview" tab, and you will need to click on the "Read More" button in order to see all of the posted information. There is also a very important document uploaded as an attachment to each tournament's UTR homepage that includes our "Little Mo" Rules and Regulations, Code of Conduct, Tournament and COVID-19 Liability Waivers, and Health/Safety guidelines. Please take a moment to read through all of this information carefully before you start the registration process.



10th Annual "Little Mo" Internationals in Colorado

U.S. Air Force Academy

Colorado Springs, Colorado

June 30 - July 5, 2023

Registration Deadline: Friday, June 9 at 11:30pm (Central Time)

12th Annual "Little Mo" Internationals in New Jersey

West Orange Tennis Club

West Orange, New Jersey

August 20-24, 2023

Registration Deadline: Friday, July 21 at 11:30pm (Central Time)

17th Annual "Little Mo" Internationals in Florida

Palm Beach Gardens Tennis Center

Palm Beach Gardens, Florida

December 1-6, 2023

Registration will be open in a few months!

"Little Mo" Internationals (Colorado, New Jersey, Florida)

Rules and Regulations

Welcome to the 2023 "Little Mo" Internationals (Colorado, New Jersey, Florida)! These tournaments are designed to provide outstanding competition at the international level while also encouraging players to develop new friendships, learn good sportsmanship, and most of all, have fun. The Internationals are the only tournaments of their kind for talented, high-performance boys and girls worldwide who compete against others born in the same year. Please read through the following rules and regulations carefully:

• Eligibility:  The three "Little Mo" Internationals will be held in Colorado, New Jersey, and Florida. The Internationals are open to any player worldwide (ages 8, 9, 10, 11, and 12). The "Big Mo" divisions have also been added in Colorado and Florida for ages 13, 14, 15, and 16. There are no special qualifications or ranking needed to register for the international tournaments - any player who registers will be accepted into the draw until the entry limit is reached. *Please note that players do not need to compete in one of the "Little Mo" Regionals or the "Little Mo" Nationals in order to participate in one of the "Little Mo" Internationals.

• Entry Limits:  Registration for the "Little Mo" Internationals will be on a first-come, first-served basis up to the entry limit - we will be using several different entry limits based on the tournament (see below). If a division reaches the entry limit before the registration deadline, a WAITING LIST will be established at that time. Be sure to register early as the draws typically fill before the registration deadline! *Please note that once you have received a confirmation email from UTR/Stripe, your player's entry has been accepted into the tournament and you can make your travel arrangements.
• Colorado:  Registration will be limited to the first 30 players in each division with 2 wildcards to be determined by MCB. All divisions will initially be limited to a 32-size draw (maximum), but it may be possible for some divisions to expand into a 64-size draw based on court capacity.
• New Jersey:  Registration will be limited to the first 14 players in each division with 2 wildcards to be determined by MCB. All divisions will initially be limited to a 16-size draw (maximum due to limited courts in New Jersey), but it may be possible for some divisions to expand into a 32-size draw based on court capacity.
• Florida:  Registration will be limited to the first 30 players in each division with 2 wildcards to be determined by MCB. All divisions will initially be limited to a 32-size draw (maximum), but it may be possible for some divisions to expand into a 64-size draw based on court capacity.

• Multiple Tournaments:  Players may compete in any "Little Mo" Internationals regardless of where they are currently living in the United States or worldwide. Players may also compete in as many international tournaments as they would like.

• Events / Guaranteed Matches:  The "Little Mo" Internationals will offer Singles, Doubles, and Mixed Doubles events for all divisions. All players will be guaranteed at least two Singles matches during the international tournaments in addition to one Doubles match and one Mixed Doubles match (only if they are able to find a partner for each event).

• Age Eligibility / Registration by Birth Year:  Players must register in the proper age division according to their birth year. This ensures that our players are competing against others who are born in the same calendar year (i.e., a player born in 2013 must play in the 10's division since they will be turning 10 this year).
• Boys and Girls 16's ("Big Mo") - born in 2007
• Boys and Girls 15's ("Big Mo") - born in 2008
• Boys and Girls 14's ("Big Mo") - born in 2009
• Boys and Girls 13's ("Big Mo") - born in 2010
• Boys and Girls 12's - born in 2011
• Boys and Girls 11's - born in 2012
• Boys and Girls 10's - born in 2013
• Boys and Girls 9's - born in 2014
• Boys and Girls 8's - born in 2015 (Only players who are born in 2015 will be allowed to play in the 8's divisions. Players born in 2016 or 2017 will not be eligible).

• Divisions:  The "Little Mo" Internationals will be offering several different divisions based on the tournament:
• Colorado and Florida:  Yellow (regular) ball divisions will be offered for boys and girls ages 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, and 16 in addition to a green dot option for ages 8, 9, and 10. Players must register for only one division. This means that players competing in the 8's, 9's, and 10's divisions must choose to play with either the yellow (regular) ball or the green dot ball for their age group. Players in the 11's and 12's must play with the yellow (regular) ball. All divisions will be played on a full 78' tennis court with either the yellow (regular) ball or green dot ball.
• New Jersey:  Yellow (regular) ball divisions will be offered for boys and girls ages 8, 9, 10, 11, and 12 in addition to a green dot option for ages 8, 9, and 10. The "Big Mo" divisions (ages 13, 14, 15, and 16) will not be offered due to limited courts in New Jersey. Players must register for only one division. This means that players competing in the 8's, 9's, and 10's divisions must choose to play with either the yellow (regular) ball or the green dot ball for their age group. Players in the 11's and 12's must play with the yellow (regular) ball. All divisions will be played on a full 78' tennis court with either the yellow (regular) ball or green dot ball.

• Draw Formats:  The "Little Mo" Internationals will be using several different draw formats based on the event type and draw size:
• Singles:  
• 32-size draw, 16-size draw or 8-size draw:  A First Match Losers Consolation format with a 3rd/4th Place playoff will be used. This means that any player who loses their first match in the First Round (Main Draw) will move into the Consolation bracket. Any player who has a bye in the First Round (Main Draw) and loses their first match in the Second Round (Main Draw) will also move into the Consolation bracket. The losers of the Semifinal Round (Main Draw) will move into a 3rd/4th Place playoff.
• 5 or less players:  A Round Robin format will be used.
• Doubles and Mixed Doubles:  A Single Elimination format will be used for all divisions regardless of draw size.

• Scoring Formats:  The "Little Mo" Internationals will be using several different scoring formats based on the event type:
• Singles:  All Singles matches (Main Draw and Consolation) will consist of two tiebreak sets (first to 6 games). At 6 games all, a 7-point set tiebreak (first to 7, win by 2) will be played. If players split sets, a 10-point match tiebreak (first to 10, win by 2) will be played in lieu of a third set. Regular scoring (with ad) will be used for all Main Draw matches and a 5-minute warm-up will be given before each match. *NEW IN 2023: No-ad scoring will be used for all Consolation matches in addition to the 3rd/4th Place playoff. *NEW IN 2023: A 2-minute rest period will be given between the first and second sets, and a 3-minute rest period will be given between the second set and match tiebreak. No coaching is allowed at any time. *Shortened scoring may be used in the case of rain. 
• Doubles and Mixed Doubles:  All Doubles and Mixed Doubles matches will consist of an 8-game pro set (first to 8 games). At 8 games all, a 7-point match tiebreak (first to 7, win by 2) will be played. Regular scoring (with ad) will be used for all matches and a 5-minute warm-up will be given before each match. No coaching is allowed at any time. *Shortened scoring may be used in the case of rain.

• Universal Tennis Rating (UTR):  All yellow ball results from the "Little Mo" Internationals (Colorado, New Jersey, Florida) will count towards your player's Universal Tennis Rating (UTR). *NEW IN 2023: All green dot results will also count towards the new Universal Tennis Color Ball Rating (CBR).

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" or "Big Mo" player who wins their yellow ball division 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) and we are so thankful for their support of junior tennis!

2023 "Little Mo" Slam

Win the Tallest Trophy in Junior Tennis (6 Feet Tall)!

Have you ever dreamed of winning the tallest trophy in junior tennis? In 2013, MCB created the ultimate challenge for any player (ages 8-12) to win the "Little Mo" Slam. The Slam was created in honor of Maureen Connolly's Grand Slam win in 1953 - winning all four major championships (Australian, French, Wimbledon, and US Open) in the same calendar year. If a "Little Mo" player can win their yellow ball division at all three Internationals (Colorado, New Jersey, Florida) in the same year, they will receive the tallest trophy ever given in junior tennis (6 feet tall) and the title of "Little Mo" Slam Champion! The Slam continues this year with the 1st leg at the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado (June 30 - July 5). The 2nd leg will be held at the West Orange Tennis Club in West Orange, New Jersey (August 20-24). The 3rd and final leg will take place at the Palm Beach Gardens Tennis Center in Palm Beach Gardens Florida (December 1-6). This year, we will also be celebrating a very special milestone - the 70th Anniversary of Maureen Connolly's Grand Slam win in 1953. There have been nine players who have accomplished this magnificent feat in the past ten years.

Who will win the "Little Mo" Slam title in this special anniversary year?

Player Referral Program!

Matias Moran helps promote the "Little Mo" by handing out flyers at tennis clubs!

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 (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 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.

In order to claim your referral prize, please stop by the "Little Mo/Big 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! If you have any other questions about this special offer, or if you would like to help promote the "Little Mo" tournaments by distributing flyers to clubs in your area, please send an email to: carol@mcbtennis.org.

Former "Little Mo" Champion Coco Gauff helps Team USA qualify for the Billie Jean King Cup!

Congratulations to former "Little Mo" champion Coco Gauff (#5 WTA) on her team win against Austria in the Qualifiers 1st Round of the Billie Jean King Cup at the Delray Beach Tennis Center in Florida! Gauff won her singles match 6-1, 6-3 against Austria's Julia Grabher and she also won her doubles match with partner Caty McNally 6-1, 6-4 over Melanie Klaffner and Sinja Kraus.

Please click here for photo credits and here for Gauff and McNally's "Play of the Day" from the BJK Cup Twitter.

As a junior player, Gauff won the 2012 "Little Mo" Nationals in Austin, Texas and the Nesquik "Little Mo" Internationals in Forest Hills, New York as an 8-year-old! Later that same year, she was the Girls 8 Singles and Girls 8/9 Doubles champion at the "Little Mo" Internationals in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. In 2021, Gauff and her father were interviewed at the "Little Mo" East Regionals in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida! Gauff's younger brother Cameron was competing in the tournament and she came to support him. Please click on the videos above to watch Gauff's interview (Part #1 and Part #2).

We are so proud of her and glad that the "Little Mo" was such a memorable part of her tennis career - keep up the great work!

Former "Little Mo" Champion Leylah Fernandez helps Team Canada qualify for the Billie Jean King Cup!

Congratulations to former "Little Mo" champion Leylah Fernandez (#5 WTA) on her team win against Belgium in the Qualifiers 1st Round of the Billie Jean King Cup at the Pacific Coliseum in Canada! Fernandez won her first singles match 6-0, 6-3 against Belgium's Yanina Wickmayer and also her second singles match against Ysaline Bonaventure in a close 4-6, 7-5, 6-2. Fernandez and partner Gabriela Dabrowski then sealed the deal with a 6-1, 6-2 win over Kirsten Flipkens and Greet Minnen.

Canada battled to qualify for the Billie Jean King Cup in November. Fernandez claimed three wins to close it out for Team Canada. "Even though the score wasn't going my way," Fernandez said, "I felt like things were turning around. Second set, same thing, I was just trying to enjoy myself. So I told myself, 'just smile,' and I started smiling a couple of times and it helped me. It also happened that I have a great support team on the bench that was lifting me up in tough moments, and the crowd definitely helped also." Please click here for photo credits and click here to read the full article on the BJK Cup website.

As a junior player, Fernandez (right in the photo) competed in the 2013 "Little Mo" Internationals in Florida and she finished as the Girls 11 Singles winner, the Girls 11 Doubles finalist, and the Mixed 11 Doubles semifinalist. She also participated in the 2012 "Little Mo" Internationals in Florida where she and her father were interviewed about their "Little Mo" experience. Please click on the video above to watch Fernandez's interview during the tournament.

We enjoyed seeing all of our "Little Mo" Club members at the recent East Regionals tournament! The club organized some fun interviews shown below. Our "Little Mo" players had a blast in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida where they got to meet some new friends and play competitive tennis matches.

For more information about the "Little Mo" Club, 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 (for active members with a full profile only). Don't forget to add your picture so your friends can recognize you!

PLAYER INTERVIEW - Zoe

PLAYER INTERVIEW - Adriana

PLAYER INTERVIEW - Dustin

PLAYER INTERVIEW - Andrea

Interview with David Ruiz (former ATP Player)

Stay tuned for more fun and exciting activities from the "Little Mo" Club! 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 2023 "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 (Colorado, New Jersey, Florida), 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 and booklet, having your logo on the tournament t-shirts, and promoting your product(s) to our players, parents, and their families.

Do you have any Creative Ideas for the "Little Mo" Tournaments?

We are always trying to improve the "Little Mo" tournaments and create a fun and memorable experience for our players and their families. If you have a creative idea or suggestion for the "Little Mo" tournaments, please send an email to: carol@mcbtennis.org.

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 boys and girls 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!

If you were a "Little Mo" player and you have recently signed with a college tennis team or are currently playing college tennis, please email: carol@mcbtennis.org to be featured in our next newsletter.

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 boys and girls (ages 8-16). 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, Taylor Fritz, Sebastian Korda, Emma Raducanu, Leylah Fernandez, Dominic Thiem, Belinda Bencic, Jenson Brooksby, Madison Keys, Tommy Paul, Brandon Nakashima, Vasek Pospisil, Borna Coric, Coco Gauff, Mackie McDonald, Ryan Harrison, Taylor Townsend, Donald Young, Steve Johnson, Sofia Kenin, Denis Kudla, 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". 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". 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), Matthew Cody (Tournament Operations Manager), and Tiffany Hollebeck (Tournament Operations Coordinator) organize the "Little Mo" tournaments. Thank you so much for your support of the "Little Mo" tournaments and the legacy of Maureen Connolly Brinker. For more information about the "Little Mo", please visit our website at: www.mcbtennis.org and click on "Tournaments". Play "Mo" Tennis!