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Mardy Fish Children's Foundation

Sea Oaks

J.J. Wolf: From Vero Beach To U.S. Open Main Draw In 14 Weeks

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Just 14 weeks after competing at the $15,000 Mardy Fish Children’s Foundation Tennis Championships in Vero Beach, Florida, J.J. Wolf has earned a main-draw wild card into the 2026 U.S. Open by winning the USTA’s U.S. Open Wild Card Challenge.

The former world No. 39 officially clinched the U.S. Open wild card by winning the most amount of ATP points over the post-Wimbledon period among players not directly accepted into the tournament. His best result was winning the Challenger title in Vancouver, Canada, as documented here https://worldtennismagazine.com/jj-wolf-comeback-continues-on-track-with-vancouver-challenger-title/

It is an extraordinary turnaround for a player who was once ranked inside the ATP Top 40 but was forced off the tour for a year with a severe shoulder injury. And Vero Beach was one of the stops during his comeback attempt to the upper levels of pro tennis.

Wolf, then ranked No. 947 in the ATP Tour rankings, was the headline player at the Sea Oaks Beach & Tennis Club last May and he dazzled fans with his powerful groundstrokes and booming serve. He advanced into the tournament’s quarterfinals with wins over Raphael Perot and Jordan Lee, (who went on to win the Wimbledon junior boys singles title in July.) In a quarterfinal evening match in front of an overflowing crowd at Sea Oaks, Wolf dominated Joaquim Almeida before the Brazilian found a rhythm and saved two match points before winning a second-set tiebreaker. Feeling pain in his troubled shoulder, Wolf retired from the match after just one game in the third set. Almeida went on to claim a miracle tournament title win two matches later, which you can re-live here: https://youtu.be/CAC5RuILkn4?si=GhnDthz54MdfBHCO

Wolf talked about his comeback after his first-round post-match interview at Sea Oaks here: https://youtu.be/aQMR5A8zRvo?si=HEoN4ijf08DUCyI6

A discussion on his track from injury to the U.S. Open is further explained here https://youtu.be/0Kq2itOdAbY?si=AszZQVjSVJWNos2H

From the courts of a $15,000 tournament in Vero Beach to the main draw at Arthur Ashe Stadium, J.J. Wolf’s journey is a powerful reminder of how quickly fortunes can change in professional tennis. And perhaps most remarkably, the comeback that began on the smaller stages of the sport has now earned Wolf a ticket back to one of tennis’ biggest stages.

Jordan Lee, From The Courts at Sea Oaks To The Wimbledon Junior Boys’ Singles Title

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by Randy Walker
@TennisPublisher

Jordan Lee, the 16-year-old who graced the courts of the Sea Oaks Beach & Tennis Club during the Mardy Fish Children’s Foundation Tennis Championships USTA Pro Circuit event in May, served notice that he may be a force in American tennis on the pro tour in the years to come by winning the Wimbledon junior boys singles title.

Lee came back from a 4-2 deficit in the final set to defeat Cruz Hewitt, the 17-year-old son of 2002 Wimbledon champion Lleyton Hewitt 4-6, 6-4, 7-5 in the championship match played on Court 1 at the All England Club. Lee broke Hewitt at love to close out the match after saving a break point the previous game that would have given Hewitt the chance to serve for the title himself.

Lee celebrated his 16th birthday on the opening day of the Mardy Fish event at Sea Oaks and, as a wild card entry, defeated Jon Gamble in the first round to earn his second career ATP ranking point. In the second round, Lee faced former Top 40 star J.J. Wolf and played tough despite losing 6-4, 6-2.

“He’s got so much firepower for someone so young” said Wolf of Lee after their match in Vero Beach.

Lee’s ITF junior ranking at Wimbledon was No. 47 and he has an ATP singles ranking of No. 1768 on the basis of two ranking points in the four pro events he has played. Lee did not directly qualify for the Wimbledon junior boys singles field and had to win two matches in the event’s qualifying tournament just to get into the 64-player field. He joins fellow American Noah Rubin, the Wimbledon junior champion in 2014, as the only players to win the Wimbledon junior boys singles title as a qualifier. He is first American player to win the boys’ singles title at Wimbledon since 2021, when Samir Banerjee defeated Victor Lilov in an all-American final. He also becomes the 13th American player to win the boys’ singles title at the All England Club, and the fifth American player to do so since 2000 – after Donald Young (2007), Rubin (2014), Reilly Opelka (2015) and Banerjee.

Lee has been described as “A Legend at the USTA National Campus” as the 100-court facility in Lake Nona, just outside of Orlando, has been in his home courts, mainly because his mother, Tina Lee, is the center’s head tennis professional. He has excelled in junior events on the campus – and elsewhere – and even earned his first ATP ranking point at $15,000 pro event held on the campus in November of 2025.

“He’s been on the radar with some of the USTA coaches but even more so now on the scene and even more people will take notice,” said former top 10 star James Blake on ESPN.

Lee’s win will certainly open up many opportunities in events and also with corporate brands. His win will give him strong consideration on its own for a wild card entry into the U.S. Open qualifying tournament later this summer, but if Lee is able to win the USTA National Boy’s 18s Championships in Kalamazoo, Michigan in August, he would earn the traditional main draw U.S. Open singles wild card invitation.

Well-Over 100,000 Around The World Pay Attention To Mardy Fish Tennis at Sea Oaks With Historic Ryan Haviland vs. Teodor Davidov Match

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It was an historic match-up that has never happened before and may never happen again. The oldest current player in the ATP singles rankings against the youngest current player ranked in the ATP singles rankings. And it attracted the attention around the world of well-over 100,000 people on social media, particularly X, the website formerly known as Twitter.

Never before in tennis history has there been a more unique pairing than the final-round qualifying match at the $15,000 Mardy Fish Children’s Foundation Tennis Championships USTA Pro Circuit ITF World Tennis Tour event at the Sea Oaks Beach & Tennis Club in Vero Beach, Florida between 15-year-old Teodor Davidov of Bradenton, Fla., and 45-year-old Ryan Haviland of Greenville, S.C. Ranked No. 1,594, Davidov earned his first two (of three) ATP ranking points at event in Naples, Florida event in February and faced the No.1,954-ranked Haviland.

Davidov is even more fascinating to watch with his rare ambidextrous stroking style that features two one-handed forehands from both sides as well as his ability to serve right-handed to the deuce court and left-handed to the advantage side. Davidov, who was born in Bulgaria but has lived and trained in Bradenton with his father/coach Kalin at Inspiration Tennis Academy for years, completed his rain-delayed first-round qualifying match Tuesday morning, with a 6-3, 6-4 victory over Lucca Pignaton of Brazil.

“It will be tough because he’s older and wiser with a lot more experience,’’ said Davidov before the match. “I can’t underestimate anyone and just have to play my best out there.”

Haviland, who was part of Stanford’s four consecutive NCAA championship teams run in the 1990s, often playing at the No. 1spot, turned pro in 2001 and reached a career-high rank of 516 in 2004. He has won five Futures titles, however 11 different surgeries derailed his pro career. 

Every spring he plays a few Futures events to help satisfy his competitive zeal and serve as an example for the junior players he coaches at his academy in Greenvale.

“I used to play guys half my age and now for the second time in a few weeks I’m playing a kid a third of my age,’’ Haviland said with a smile, referring to his recent victory over 15-year-old Piotr Gradzki in an Orlando $15K Future. “Teodor is different though with those two forehands and ability to serve with either hand. I teach juniors and I can still beat them, so I want to challenge myself with the new generation of pros. I enjoy the competition.”

Haviland accomplished both in a high-quality 6-7 (2), 6-3 (10-6) victory over Davidov in a thrilling battle on Stadium Court in front of a sold-out gallery. WATCH a review video of the match here https://youtu.be/nCU5c-8M4Y0?si=wsFS3LuHg7dX-itB

“That was a good one for the older generation,’’ said Haviland, who is into the 32-player main draw which begins Wednesday afternoon.

Posted former top 10 star and tennis personality Brad Gilbert on X of the match and Haviland’s win, “The greatness of tennis – a 45 year old beats a 15 year old to qualify.”

Haviland, who often relies on an old-school serve-and-volley attack while picking his spots on the slower green clay at Sea Oaks, was serving for the first set at 6-5, but was broken when his volley went long. Davidov double-faulted at 2-1 of the tiebreak but then reeled off five consecutive points for the first set.

However, Davidov became more passive in the second set and Haviland’s first-serve percentage was off the charts as he jumped out to a 5-1 lead. Davidov, receiving some encouragement in Bulgarian from his father/coach Kalin from the upper balcony, regrouped and stormed back to 3-5. A marathon game ensued with Haviland unable to convert five set points before finally taking the set on No. 6 with a huge serve out wide that Davidov popped up for an easy overhead slam for Haviland.

“I got hot and started really attacking,’’ said Haviland, who has faced top Americans such as Paul and Frances Tiafoe. “He got mentally down. I kept ripping and missing routine shots on those set points.

“I’m on my way down and he’s on his way up. I’m just happy I survived. The tiebreak is basically a coin flip. I’ve never played a player like that. Normally, you’re fairly safe rallying to their backhand but with him both forehands are aggressive. He really pops them.”

Haviland, just two years younger than Davidov’s father, jumped out to a 6-1 and 8-3 lead in the decisive 10-point tiebreak, but again the 5-foot-7 Davidov clawed back to 6-8 before a forehand error (they’re all forehand errors!), set up the first match point that Haviland once again went with a booming serve out wide that Davidov barely sent over the net. Haviland crushed another one of his trademark overheads to wrap up the taut match.

“My energy dropped off a little bit and I lost some focus,’’ an upset Davidov said. “I just wasn’t playing my best tennis. I wasn’t stepping into the ball enough and was playing too passively. He’s really fit and has lots of endurance. I knew he was good. I just have to be in it mentally and play at a steady level.”

 This tournament provides thousands of dollars to at-risk children in Indian River Country. Fish, a former Top 10 player and a Vero Beach native, began this event in 1995. Fish’s father Tom is the president of the tournament.

“The Sea Oaks Beach & Tennis Club is one of the most beautiful tennis venues in Florida and will make for a spectacular setting for our Mardy Fish Children’s Foundation Tennis Championships USTA Pro Circuit event,” said Tom Fish, chairman emeritus for the Mardy Fish Children’s Foundation. “Sea Oaks has an incredible reputation for tennis participation and for their support attending exhibition matches and our annual singles wild card event on their charming stadium court. We know this will be a unique atmosphere for a Futures level event with sold-out, standing room only crowds attending daily, which the players will certainly enjoy.” 

Quail Valley’s Gaston Erhardt Earns ATP Doubles Point With Mardy Fish USTA Pro Circuit First-Round Win at Sea Oaks

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by Harvey Fialkov

For local teaching pros in Vero Beach, Tuesday night at the $15,000 Mardy Fish Children’s Foundation Tennis Championships contained good news and bad news.

Quail Valley River Club pro Gaston Erhardt and fellow Argentine Alejandro Orihuela teamed up to stun Americans Henry Barrett and Drew Van Orderlain, 6-3, 6-2 to earn their first doubles ATP ranking points. The local duo, who won the Mardy Fish doubles “wild card” tournament at The Moorings to gain entry into the event, were college teammates and partners at Ava Maria University near Naples.

“I’m still so excited because it was my first main draw ever,’’ said Orihuela, 29, who teaches privately in Orlando and in Plant City near Tampa. “I’m very emotional and don’t know what to say. I want to thank all the people in the crowd for supporting most likely Gaston, but I feel their energy. This is one of the best days of my life.

“I spent my whole life playing tennis to get to ATP rankings in Argentina. I’m excited for this moment but we want more.”

Erhardt, 27, who was ranked No. 1,780 in 2019 when he was chasing a pro career, earned his ATP point with a first-round win in an ITF $15K in Paraguay in 2019.

“It feels amazing as I had it in singles but never in doubles,’’ Erhardt said. “Even though I was always entering doubles. … We started slow and were a little tense and didn’t play our best in the first few games, but we started playing better. The crowd helped a lot.

“When Covid hit it was too expensive to travel so I decided to change my path, so I went to college with Alejandro.”

They will next play on Thursday in the event quarterfinals, likely in the late afternoon, early evening.

On the adjacent Stadium Court, despite more raucous cheering section, Ivan Ivars, who teaches at The Boulevard Village & Tennis Club, and his partner, Tyler Rios, a teaching professional at The Moorings Yacht & Country Club, put up a good fight despite the lopsided 6-1, 6-0 loss to the Brazilian duo of Joaquim Almeida and Joao Ceolin.

The rallies were thrilling but mostly won by the Brazilians, who are still attempting to rise the ranks in professional tennis, while the local teaching pros are focused on helping their club members become better recreational players.

“It was a super fun night,’’ said Rios, who along with Ivars won the King of the Hill qualifying event at The Boulevard to earn their main draw berth.

Ivars, who is from Spain, has been nursing a hamstring injury.

“I never expected this to happen,’’ Ivars said. “I stopped playing competitive tennis, but this came up and I’m really happy. It’s been an incredible year to be here.”

A video review of some of the highlights of Day Two of the Mardy Fish, click here: https://youtu.be/gQiq2xU8Tvo?si=B5slB34FeMrzDn9_

Watch a highlight reel of the historic Ryan Haviland vs. Teodor Davidov match here https://youtu.be/nCU5c-8M4Y0?si=V2KtTg4pJzEEzhY4

Tuesday’s schedule, which includes the final round of qualifying singles and the first round of doubles can be found here M15 Vero Beach, FL 2026 Tennis Tournament | ITF


The entire Mardy Fish Children’s Foundation Tennis Championships is sold out, marking the first time at $15,000-level USTA Pro Circuit, ITF World Tennis Tour event has sold out.

Founded in 2007, the Mardy Fish Children’s Foundation currently supports over 3,000 children per year in 15 elementary schools, six middle schools, and several other community organizations in Indian River County, Florida by funding after-school and summer exercise, nutritional and enrichment programs in a safe environment to prepare them for healthy, productive and successful lives. The Foundation introduced the “Six Healthy Habits” in 2012 which are Get Sleep; Drink Water; Exercise Daily, Eat Healthy; Brush and Floss; Make Friends.

Played annually in Vero Beach since 1995, the Mardy Fish Children’s Foundation Tennis Championships is the fourth longest running active professional tennis tournament in the state of Florida behind the Miami Open (started in 1985), the Delray Beach Open (started in 1993) and the Tallahassee Challenger (started in 1993). Some of the past competitors at the USTA Vero Beach Futures have gone on to succeed at the highest levels of professional tennis, winning major singles and doubles titles, Olympic medals and Davis Cup championships and earning No. 1 world rankings. Andy Roddick, the 2003 U.S. Open champion who attained the world No. 1 ranking and helped the United States win the Davis Cup in 2007, competed in Vero Beach in 1999 in his first ever professional tournament. Thomas Johansson of Sweden, who reached the second round of the Vero Beach Futures in 1995, won the Australian Open seven years later in 2002. Nicolas Massu, the 1998 singles runner-up in Vero Beach, won the singles and doubles gold medals at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, Greece, beating Fish in the gold medal singles match. Other notable former competitors in Vero Beach include former world No. 2 Magnus Norman, former world No. 4 Tim Henman, 2016 Wimbledon finalist Milos Raonic, 2021 Wimbledon semifinalist Denis Shapovalov, 2022 and 2024 U.S. Open semifinalist Frances Tiafoe, 2023 Australian Open semifinalist Tommy Paul and new rising star and 2023 U.S. Open semifinalist Ben Shelton. Former Vero Beach competitors have combined to win 19 titles in singles, doubles and mixed doubles at Grand Slam tournaments. Twelve former Vero Beach players have gone on to play Davis Cup for the United States – Roddick, Fish, Taylor Dent, Jared Palmer, Donald Young, Ryan Harrison, Frances Tiafoe, Tommy Paul, Ben Shelton, Reilly Opelka, Alex Michelsen and Ethan Quinn.

Sea Oaks To Host 2026 Mardy Fish Children’s Foundation Tennis Championships

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The Sea Oaks Beach & Tennis Club will become the new home of the 2026 Mardy Fish Children’s Foundation Tennis Championships, the $15,000 U.S. Tennis Association Pro Circuit “Futures” tennis tournament held annually in Vero Beach since 1995.

Sea Oaks, which has annually held the Mardy Fish “Wild Card” tennis tournament since 2018, will now also host the main draw version of the event May 4-10, 2026. The entry-level professional tennis tournament, which has featured such current tennis stars as Ben Shelton, Tommy Paul and Frances Tiafoe in the past in their early years in pro tennis, benefits the Mardy Fish Children’s Foundation, the non-profit foundation benefitting children in Indian River County, named for Vero Beach native son Mardy Fish, the former top 10 tennis star, U.S. Davis Cup player and captain and silver medalist at the 2004 Olympic Games.

“The Sea Oaks Beach & Tennis Club is  one of the most beautiful tennis venues in Florida and will make for a spectacular setting for our Mardy Fish Children’s Foundation Tennis Championships USTA Pro Circuit event,” said Tom Fish, chairman emeritus for the Mardy Fish Children’s Foundation and the father of Mardy Fish. “Sea Oaks has an incredible reputation for tennis participation and for their support attending exhibition matches and our annual singles wild card event on their charming stadium court. We know this will be a unique atmosphere for a Futures level event with standing room only crowds attending daily, which the players will certainly enjoy.” 

Sea Oaks will be the fourth different club in Vero Beach, but the first on the island, to host the very popular event.  Founded  by the late Vero Beach tennis pro and promoter Mike Rahaley, the event was held at Grand Harbor from 1995 to 2009 and in 2017 and 2018, The Boulevard Tennis Club from 2010 to 2016 and from 2019 to 2022 and then for the last three years at the Vero Beach Tennis & Fitness Club at Timber Ridge.

“We are forever indebted to the Vero Beach Tennis & Fitness Club and their owners, the Van Deinse family and their members, for everything they have done to help the Mardy Fish Children’s Foundation with children’s programming and for hosting our pro tennis event the last three years, “ said Lynn Southerly, Executive Director  of the Mardy Fish Children’s Foundation. “We feel that it is important to spread the message of our mission and the good work we do throughout Indian River County so having another club  offer to host us had to be considered.  Educating more people about the impact we are having on the lives of at risk youth and encouraging more members of our community to be a part of our mission is what keeps us going and helps us help more children reach their goals and fulfill their dreams.”

Nestled along Florida’s scenic Treasure Coast, Sea Oaks Beach and Tennis Club is a private, member-owned community that offers an exclusive coastal retreat where luxury living meets an active lifestyle. Home to 614 beautifully maintained oceanfront and riverfront residences, Sea Oaks features a world-class tennis facility with 16 Har-Tru courts and a vibrant social atmosphere that captures the essence of relaxed elegance and coastal charm. In addition to its exceptional racquets program, the community offers unmatched amenities, including oceanfront dining, a fully equipped fitness center, and a charming marina on the Indian River. For those seeking an active, welcoming community by the sea, Sea Oaks Beach and Tennis Club presents a rare opportunity to live and belong in one of Florida’s most treasured coastal destinations. For more information go to https://seaoaksbeachandtennis.com/

Fans interested in sponsorship or box seat packages are encouraged to contact Southerly at Lsouth1072@gmail.com

Rahaley, the late tennis instructor and entrepreneur in Vero Beach, founded the Vero Beach USTA Pro Circuit event in 1995 and ran it through 2015 when he passed the reins for the tournament’s management to the Mardy Fish Children’s Foundation, which has used the tournament as a major fundraiser  since then, the Mardy Fish Children’s Foundation has named its perpetual singles winner trophy “The Mike Rahaley Memorial Trophy” in his honor.

Founded in 2007, the Mardy Fish Children’s Foundation (www.MardyFishChildrensFoundation.org and @MardyFishFound on Twitter) currently supports over 3,000 children per year in 15 elementary schools, six middle schools, and several other community organizations in Indian River County, Florida by funding after-school and summer exercise, nutritional and enrichment programs in a safe environment to prepare them for healthy, productive and successful lives. The Foundation introduced the “Six Healthy Habits” in 2012 which are Get Sleep; Drink Water; Exercise Daily, Eat Healthy; Brush and Floss; Make Friends.

Some of the past competitors at the USTA Vero Beach Futures have gone on to succeed at the highest levels of professional tennis, winning major singles and doubles titles, Olympic medals and Davis Cup championships and earning No. 1 world rankings. Andy Roddick, the 2003 U.S. Open champion who attained the world No. 1 ranking and helped the United States win the Davis Cup in 2007, competed in Vero Beach in 1999 in his first ever professional tournament. Thomas Johansson of Sweden, who reached the second round of the Vero Beach Futures in 1995, won the Australian Open seven years later in 2002. Nicolas Massu, the 1998 singles runner-up in Vero Beach, won the singles and doubles gold medals at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, Greece, beating Fish in the gold medal singles match. Other notable former competitors in Vero Beach include former world No. 2 Magnus Norman, former world No. 4 Tim Henman, 2016 Wimbledon finalist Milos Raonic, 2021 Wimbledon semifinalist Denis Shapovalov, 2022 and 2024 U.S. Open semifinalist Frances Tiafoe, 2023 Australian Open semifinalist Tommy Paul and new rising star and 2023 U.S. Open semifinalist Ben Shelton. Former Vero Beach competitors have combined to win 19 titles in singles, doubles and mixed doubles at Grand Slam tournaments. Eleven former Vero Beach players have gone on to play Davis Cup for the United States – Roddick, Fish, Taylor Dent, Jared Palmer, Donald Young, Ryan Harrison, Frances Tiafoe, Tommy Paul, Ben Shelton, Reilly Opelka and Alex Michelsen.