Today is trophy day in College Park as the finals of the US Open National Playoffs are just an hour away. At 10 am, Latvian Pjotrs Necajevs takes on England’s Matt Brooklyn. Brooklyn, a DC resident and Assistant Coach for Georgetown University Tennis, took the long way yesterday, advancing in two three-set matches. In the quarters, he was bageled in the first set before shocking defending champion Matt Gooch in three. An hour and a half later, he grueled through another three set win, this time against Tennessean Maxx Lipman in the semifinals.
The road was shorter for Necajevs. The Head Coach of the University of Detroit’s Women’s Tennis program hasn’t dropped a set all tournament. He knocked off Tyler Turenko in the quarters and Christiaan Lee-Daigle in the semis. Necajevs will also take the court today for the Mixed Doubles Final, as Sophia Abelson and her coach Necajevs try to take two titles home to Michigan.
On the women’s side, Nina Kukharchuk continues to dominate, defeating local favorite Amy Zhu in a straight sets semifinal. She has also not dropped a set in this tournament. She’ll face Monet Willis of Philadelphia, who beat Leslie Hansen 7-5, 6-3 in yesterday’s other semifinal. Willis is another player who hasn’t lost a set. One of those perfect records will come to an end today.
Don’t forget to follow us on twitter for the mens final, and keep an eye on the USTA Mid-Atlantic blog all afternoon.
US Open National Playoffs/ Men’s Sectional Qualifying
SF Pjotrs Necajevs d. Christiaan Lee-Daigle 6-4; 6-2
SF Matt Brooklyn d. Maxx Lipman 7-5; 4-6; 6-3
Q Christiaan Lee-Daigle d. Ryan lipman 7-5; 3-6; 7-6(7-4)
Q Pjotrs Necajevs d. Tyler Tulenko 6-1; 6-3
Q Maxx Lipman d. Yancy Dennis 7-5; 6-2
Q Matt Brooklyn d. Damon Gooch 0-6; 7-5; 6-4
US Open National Playoffs/ Women’s Sectional Qualifying
SF Monet Willis d. Leslie Hansen 7-5; 6-3
SF Nika Kukharchuk d. Amy Zhu 6-2; 6-3
US Open National Playoffs/Mixed Doubles Sectional Qualifying
SF Chambers/Jordan d. Pavlov/Stillwagon 2-6; 6-1; 10-8
SF Abelson/Necajevs d. Clarke/Hansen Def (ns)
Q Chambers/Jordan d. Heitzner/Heitzner 6-7(5); 6-1; 1-0(6)
Q Pavlov/Stillwagon d. Fowler/Leake 6-0; 7-5
Q Abelson/Necajevs d. Fogleman/Silbergeld 6-1; 6-0
Q Clarke/Hansen d. Jones/Sturzu Wd (emerg)
Tennis Atlantic 