Johnston Brings Young Fire To Tennis Team
September 15, 2025 | Men's Tennis
By Ansley Gavlak
UGA Sports Communications
For most 17-year-olds, the last summer before college is about relaxing and soaking up the final moments at home. But for Noah Johnston, it was about stepping onto the world's biggest tennis stages. The freshman competed in three Grand Slam juniors, reaching the finals in two.
Over the course of three months, Johnston played the Roland Garros, Wimbledon and U.S. Open juniors — while also beginning his college career at Georgia.
In June, the Anderson, S.C., native and his partner, Benjamin Willwerth, put together a remarkable run at the Roland Garros Juniors, finding themselves in the doubles final.
"It was surreal," Johnston said last week. "Obviously, it wasn't expected, but we made the final, which was honestly life-changing because it showed me that it was possible to do those kinds of things."
Just two days later, Johnston moved into his college dorm and got to work with his new teammates at Georgia. After a month of work with his new coaches, he was back on the world stage at the Wimbledon Juniors. By September, he and Willwerth had fought their way into another Grand Slam final — this time the U.S. Open juniors.
"I was nervous," Johnston said. "I had so much of my family there, a bunch of my friends from here came to support, I had [associate head coach Bryce Warren] on the sidelines. I was just thinking 'Just breathe. It's just another match. Stay in control.'"
Among the family and friends who came to support him was someone who has been on the sidelines his entire life– his long-time coach and mother, Sophie Woorons. A former All-American player at Clemson, Woorons has been Johnston's coach throughout his tennis career, helping him become a blue-chip recruit along the way.
Johnston's father, Andy Johnston, is also rooted in the tennis world. He coached the women's tennis team at Clemson for 15 years, helping the team to five ACC titles.
"I've been coached by mom and my grandfather my whole life," Johnston said. "Since I was a 1-year-old, just tossing balls in the basket, I feel like it's just made me love the game. It's made our family come together around tennis."
Although it was an adjustment, Woorons sat in the stands during the U.S. Open doubles final — the first of many matches that she will now watch as simply just a mom.
"I had been [in Athens] all summer, I'd been settled, so I was telling her, 'You can come to my matches, but don't coach. We've got it, we've got our coaches here, we have great stability here,'" Johnston said. "So she was watching, but she was in the stands and she was my mom at the U.S. Open."
Still, Johnston sees parts of his mom in Georgia's coaching staff.
"As a coach, my mom is similar to [head coach Jamie Hunt] with how positive she is," Johnston said. "She always wants to keep me positive, keep me pumped up, keep me happy. I feel like she has a little bit of [assistant coach Bruno Tiberti] in her too, with the physicality and always wanting to make goals and always wanting to work and be better."
Johnston is one of five new players to join Georgia's roster this year. Redshirt freshman Cooper Johnson and sophomore Gabriele Vulpitta are the only two returners, but have yet to play a fall season with the Bulldogs.
"No one that's here right now was here last fall, so that is incredible," Johnston said. "All the guys so far this fall have felt like family. We're hanging out every night, enjoying our time together, because we know it goes fast."
Johnston and Vulpitta recently received a wildcard bid to the ITA All-American Championships for doubles, but opted out of competing in order to continue training. Although he is unsure of when his first match in red and black will be, he is certain about one thing:
"I can't wait to wear the 'G' on my chest," Johnston said.
UGA Sports Communications
For most 17-year-olds, the last summer before college is about relaxing and soaking up the final moments at home. But for Noah Johnston, it was about stepping onto the world's biggest tennis stages. The freshman competed in three Grand Slam juniors, reaching the finals in two.
Over the course of three months, Johnston played the Roland Garros, Wimbledon and U.S. Open juniors — while also beginning his college career at Georgia.
In June, the Anderson, S.C., native and his partner, Benjamin Willwerth, put together a remarkable run at the Roland Garros Juniors, finding themselves in the doubles final.
"It was surreal," Johnston said last week. "Obviously, it wasn't expected, but we made the final, which was honestly life-changing because it showed me that it was possible to do those kinds of things."
Just two days later, Johnston moved into his college dorm and got to work with his new teammates at Georgia. After a month of work with his new coaches, he was back on the world stage at the Wimbledon Juniors. By September, he and Willwerth had fought their way into another Grand Slam final — this time the U.S. Open juniors.
"I was nervous," Johnston said. "I had so much of my family there, a bunch of my friends from here came to support, I had [associate head coach Bryce Warren] on the sidelines. I was just thinking 'Just breathe. It's just another match. Stay in control.'"
Among the family and friends who came to support him was someone who has been on the sidelines his entire life– his long-time coach and mother, Sophie Woorons. A former All-American player at Clemson, Woorons has been Johnston's coach throughout his tennis career, helping him become a blue-chip recruit along the way.
Johnston's father, Andy Johnston, is also rooted in the tennis world. He coached the women's tennis team at Clemson for 15 years, helping the team to five ACC titles.
"I've been coached by mom and my grandfather my whole life," Johnston said. "Since I was a 1-year-old, just tossing balls in the basket, I feel like it's just made me love the game. It's made our family come together around tennis."
Although it was an adjustment, Woorons sat in the stands during the U.S. Open doubles final — the first of many matches that she will now watch as simply just a mom.
"I had been [in Athens] all summer, I'd been settled, so I was telling her, 'You can come to my matches, but don't coach. We've got it, we've got our coaches here, we have great stability here,'" Johnston said. "So she was watching, but she was in the stands and she was my mom at the U.S. Open."
Still, Johnston sees parts of his mom in Georgia's coaching staff.
"As a coach, my mom is similar to [head coach Jamie Hunt] with how positive she is," Johnston said. "She always wants to keep me positive, keep me pumped up, keep me happy. I feel like she has a little bit of [assistant coach Bruno Tiberti] in her too, with the physicality and always wanting to make goals and always wanting to work and be better."
Johnston is one of five new players to join Georgia's roster this year. Redshirt freshman Cooper Johnson and sophomore Gabriele Vulpitta are the only two returners, but have yet to play a fall season with the Bulldogs.
"No one that's here right now was here last fall, so that is incredible," Johnston said. "All the guys so far this fall have felt like family. We're hanging out every night, enjoying our time together, because we know it goes fast."
Johnston and Vulpitta recently received a wildcard bid to the ITA All-American Championships for doubles, but opted out of competing in order to continue training. Although he is unsure of when his first match in red and black will be, he is certain about one thing:
"I can't wait to wear the 'G' on my chest," Johnston said.
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