Meet the Summer 2026 Cohort of the Emerging AAPI Leaders Mentorship Program

We're excited to welcome a new group of mentees into our Emerging AAPI Leaders Mentorship Program. Over six weeks, these young players will be paired with former AAPI pros, Samantha Crawford and Cecil Mamiit, for guidance both on and off the court.

The program culminates at USTA Hard Court Nationals and US Open AAPI Day on September 9, 2026, with a travel stipend for Hard Court Nationals provided to participating mentees.

Meet this cohort's mentees:

Christina Li, 14, trains at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida. The California native is ranked No. 14 in the nation in 14U singles and No. 1 in 14U doubles, and recently won the 2025 Orange Bowl in 14U Doubles. She'll be paired with mentor Samantha Crawford.

Alexander Pe, 14, trains at the Barnes Tennis Center in San Diego. The California native is ranked in the top 200 nationally for 14s, with a career-high ranking of No. 51 in the nation in 12s. Cecil Mamiit will serve as his mentor.

You can read more about the impact of past cohorts here.

Follow along as this cohort gets underway, and check our social channels for updates on our programs and events. You can find AAPITA on Instagram, X, and Facebook.