Young Hopefuls Attempt To Win “Little Mo” Slam And Bring Home Largest Trophy in Junior Tennis

Last year, Vlada Hranchar accomplished one of the great feats in junior tennis. The eight-year-old from Florida won all three “Little Mo” International events to win the “Little Mo” Slam in the Girls’ 8s singles division.

By winning the three events, first in Colorado Springs in July, the second in West Orange, New Jersey at the end of the summer, and finally the third in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida in December, she earned the unmistakable 6’ tall trophy, the tallest trophy in junior tennis, and joined an exclusive club of former Slam champions.

Hranchar had wanted to play “Little Mo” events since she was young. Carol Weyman of the MCB Tennis Foundation, which runs the tournaments,  invited Hranchar to play in the events, and the youngster couldn’t wait until she turned eight-years-old to be eligible.

“I dreamed of participating in this incredible tournament when I was six years old,” Hranchar said. “Carol [Weyman] wrote to me on Instagram and invited me, but she didn’t know that I was only six at the time. When the moment came and my parents registered me for all the Internationals, I was so happy and couldn’t wait to play. When I won the final point of the third Slam event, I was so happy to win such a huge cup, and it now sits in the Rick Macci Academy [where I train] where it can motivate other players who dream of winning it.”

Later this year, Hranchar will be back at the Palm Beach Gardens event, at the third leg, to talk to the tournament hopefuls about her experience.

“I was invited to give a motivational speech at the ceremony in December for all the children and parents, and I’m so excited about it,” she added.”

As the second leg of this year’s Slam arrives in New Jersey, the winners from the first leg in Colorado will be seeking to follow in Hranchar’s footsteps, winning in West Orange and giving themselves a shot to win the third leg at the end of this year in Florida.

Patrick Okla of Staten Island will attempt to become the second player from New York, joining Sebastian Bielen of Long Island, to win all three legs. In Colorado, Okla was the second-seed and after coming back from a set down to win his semifinal showdown, he defeated the top-seed in three-sets, finishing a 7-6(5), 2-6, [10-7] victory to win the Boys 12s singles division.

In the Girls 10s singles and Girls 10s doubles division, Indira Lee of Hollywood, Florida secured titles in both. Lee won all of her singles matches in straight sets and will look to continue that momentum in New Jersey and Florida.

Adelyn Mannari swept all three divisions she played in back in July, winning the Girls 10s singles, Girls 10s doubles and Mixed Doubles championships. Mannari, a native of St. Petersburg, Florida, remained headstrong in her matches in all three of the competitions, a necessary trait when playing three tournaments in the same week.

“Changing tactics when I see something wasn’t working for me was the key for me winning the first leg [of the Slam],” Mannari said. “I stayed focused and fought hard in the matches. I am very excited to be able to compete at the next Internationals and it will be a different experience. I am glad I have a chance for the Slam and I will do my best at the tournament!”

One of the endearing qualities of the “Little Mo” tournaments is the sportsmanship it emphasizes, and the camaraderie it brings out amongst all the competitors, something Mannari truly enjoys.

“I love making new friends when I go to the ‘Little Mo’ events,” she said. “I have made some really good friends in the past and stay in touch with them.”

With the first leg played in the high altitude of Colorado, Jacob Nall made sure to do all he could to make sure he was ready to deal with it.

“I went out a week earlier to train with Peter Richman at the Advantage You Tennis Academy in December,” Nall said. “The academy is a really high-performance tennis training academy with four-hour-a-day sessions on the court, and one-hour of speed and agility training. Once the tournament started, I was more acclimated and physically fit since I had the time to get used to higher altitude and speed of the shots due to the thinner air.”

That dedication paid off as Nall would win all of his matches in straight sets in the Boys 10s division, and captured the title at the tournament series’ first leg. He is now eager to continue his pursuit of the Slam, something he came up just short of a year ago.

“Losing in the finals last year was my only loss all year in the ‘Little Mo’ Internationals events. I was one win away from competing for the Slam and hope to complete it this year. In my loss last year in New Jersey, it came from a really good opponent who in the end played a better match than I did and earned the win.”

Nall played his first ‘Little Mo’ event back in 2023, and has won nine International titles, and three Regional titles, and always enjoys being able to compete in them not only on the court, but be a part of the great energy off the court.

“I have met lifelong friends along the way, and spend time training with all of the friends I have made along the way in different states,” Nall said. “The parades are awesome, and in Colorado I got to carry the United States flag during the ceremony which was a great honor. All of the staff do an amazing job to make the event feel like something magical, and the friendships are the best part of the events.”

Those friendships will be on display as will the competition when the “Little Mo” series comes to New Jersey in August for the Internationals, as well as to the Bronx at the Cary Leeds Center for Tennis & Learning for the Regionals in September, before the 2025 International tournaments wrap up in Florida in December.