Tennis Center at College Park

At @TheJTCC, A Local Search For Future Tennis Champions

Posted by Admin on May 4, 2014

Posted in: Junior Tennis, Junior Tennis Champions Center, Maryland, Tennis Center at College Park, Tennis Lessons and Instruction, USTA. Tagged: 2014, Camp, Center, champions, college park, Day, dc, denis kudla, Facility, frances tiafoe, junior tennis, kid's, Maryland, md, Summer, usta, Usue Arconoada.

Award-winning Junior Tennis Champions Center Fitting Backdrop For Young Talent Search
Steve Fogleman, Tennis East Coast

Yesterday, the Junior Tennis Champions Center in College Park, Maryland hosted its 15th annual Tennis Day to evaluate local children for summer camp scholarships at their USTA award-winning facility.

I’ve been to dozens of kids tennis events, but this one is so different. Kids are always sizing up adults, but the tables turn in this tennis fun house.

This is the time JTCC coaches take a look at the local crop of kids, some of whom might possess that obvious gift. It may be speed, coordination, strength or a combination thereof, but if they like what they see, the child is invited to the Center’s summer camp program at no cost to parents.

It’s like an old Yakov Smirnoff joke. In my country, people watch tennis. At Junior Tennis Champions Center, tennis watch you.

The younger kids are completely oblivious that they are being judged on their performances at the various drills set up on court at the College Park Tennis Center.

As a parent, it’s great to get a free assessment on your kids potential abilities in tennis. It’s easy to gauge results, too.

I saw a tiny 4-year-old run faster than most 5-year-olds, including my daughter, yesterday.

And that’s probably the best part of an event like this one. You’re almost certain one of these cute, little kids will be an NCAA champion someday or play at the professional level.

And you just don’t know which one yet, but you’re excited for that kid. And you’re excited for the ones who will attend the JTCC camps.

To get trained at a place like this, with coaches like these, is such an enormous blessing.

And keep your eye out for participant #202. She will probably never play pro tennis, but she might ‘commentate’ on it someday. Likely on ESPN9, when that channel is launched in 2028.

The Secret Is Out of the Racket Bag: @TheJTCC Awarded 2013 Outstanding Organization by @USTA

Posted by Admin on October 31, 2013

Posted in: Junior Tennis Champions Center, Maryland, Tennis Center at College Park, USTA. Tagged: 2013, award, college park, junior tennis champions center, Maryland, mid atlantic, Outstanding, usta.

The Secret Is Out of the Racket Bag: @TheJTCC Awarded 2013 Outstanding Organization by @USTAJUNIOR TENNIS CHAMPIONS CENTER HONORED BY THE UNITED STATES TENNIS ASSOCIATION

Honored for Excellence as Outstanding Member Organization

(College Park, Md.) October 31, 2013 – The Junior Tennis Champions Center (JTCC), the world-class tennis training center in College Park, Md., today announced that it has been recognized by the United States Tennis Association (USTA) as the 2013 Outstanding Mid-Atlantic Member Organization of the year award.

The award is given to organizations that best exemplify service to the community, service to its members through junior and adult programs, and service to the game of tennis. As a sectional winner of the Outstanding Organization Award, JTCC will be eligible for the national USTA Member Organization of the Year Awards.

“We are proud to recognize the Junior Tennis Champions Center and their dedication to their members and the community,” says USTA/Mid-Atlantic Executive Director, Rod Dulany. “JTCC and their staff are leaders in the tennis industry and we are grateful for their advocacy of USTA programs.”

JTCC has developed a unique community outreach program based on a mentoring model. High performing student athletes in their early teens become role models for pre-teen youth in the underserved communities of Washington, D.C. and Prince George’s County. In 2009, through a partnership with the D.C. government and GEICO, JTCC introduced Game On!, an out-of-school program offering tennis and academic enrichment to underserved children ages 6-13. In 2011, JTCC partnered with the Prince George’s County Department of Parks and Recreation and Maryland National-Capital Park and Planning Commission to bring its grassroots tennis program, Advantage Prince George’s, to children in Prince George’s County. Since its inception, Community Outreach has introduced tennis and life-skills lessons to more than 1,000 children in the District of Columbia and in Prince George’s County, Md.

“Giving back is a top priority for JTCC,” said Ray Benton, chief executive officer of the Tennis Center at College Park Home of the Junior Tennis Champions Center. “We are honored to be recognized for our work in the community which is a critical component of our program. We appreciate USTA’s continued support of JTCC.”

JTCC will be honored for the award on Nov. 23 at the 2013 USTA/Mid-Atlantic annual meeting and awards luncheon.

JUNIOR TENNIS CHAMPIONS CENTER TO HOST INTERNATIONAL TENNIS FEDERATION JUNIOR TOURNAMENT IN AUGUST
USTA Upgrades Second-Annual Tournament to Grade 1

(College Park, Md.) August 7, 2013 – The Junior Tennis Champions Center of College Park will host the second-annual International Tennis Federation Grade 1 Junior International Hard Court Championship Aug. 19-24. The Grade 1 tournament will feature 64 boys and 64 girls in the expanded draw tournament. The tournament also features girl’s and boy’s doubles.

Marika Akkerman, 2012 ITF Prince George’s County, Maryland

The tournament kicks off in College Park on Aug. 9-11 with the USTA Hard Court Championship Wildcard Tournament which is open to all USTA players ages 18 and under. In addition, the Junior Tennis Champions Center will also host the USTA Hard Court Championship Qualifying Tournament Aug. 17-18 before the USTA Hard Court Championship on Aug. 19-24. This is the first time the Junior Tennis Champions Center will host a USTA Grade 1 tournament.

Frank Tiafoe of the JTCC

“It is an honor to host the International Tennis Federation and the USTA Hard Court Championship,” said Ray Benton, chief executive officer of the Junior Tennis Champions Center at College Park. “In just its second year, the tournament is already a must-play for junior tennis players. With its designation as a Grade 1 tournament, this year’s championship will attract top junior talent. We are thrilled to be chosen by the ITF and USTA to host this event.”

“The USTA is pleased that the USTA Hard Court Championship is returning to the Junior Tennis Champions Center – this year as an International Tennis Federation Grade 1 tournament. The field was strong in 2012 and will likely be stronger this year,” said Lew Brewer the director of junior competition for the USTA. “The facility is outstanding and the staff at the JTCC do a great job making the players feel special. We think the tournament has found a great home at the JTCC in College Park and we hope to keep the tournament here for many years to come.”

JTCC Chief Ray Benton

The upgrade to a Grade 1 event makes the JTCC one of only three ITF Grade 1 tournaments within the United States, the other two being the Easter Bowl in Palm Springs, Calif. and the Orange Bowl in Bradenton, Fla. The Junior Tennis Champions Center hosted the inaugural International Hard Court Championship (Grade 2) last year when Jamie Loeb won the girls singles and Wayne Montgomery won the boys singles.

WTA Debutante Usue Arconada (Photo: S. Fogleman)

JTCC Standout Usue Arconada (Photo: S. Fogleman)

The Junior Tennis Champions Center (JTCC) a 501(c)(3) organization, is a world-class training facility located at The Tennis Center at College Park. Its goal is to provide the athletic and academic instruction needed for talented and highly committed young people to excel both on the tennis court and in the classroom. Since its inception in 1999, JTCC has placed all 95 of its graduates at top universities, with graduates earning more than $1.6 million in athletic scholarships.

@CitiOpen Post-Match Video Exclusive: Usue Arconada Cruises To Qualifying Final
Steve Fogleman, TennisEastCoast.com

Almost a year and a half ago, I interviewed Ray Benton, the CEO of the Junior Tennis Champions Center at The Tennis Center at College Park, Maryland.

During that interview, he brought up a name that made me call him back to spell-check. It was Usue Arconada.

Benton said that Arconada was “as good as any of them”, referring to the deep bench of junior talent that trains at the Tennis Center. He called her “a tiger” and said that JTCC Coach Frank Salazar was bringing her all the way from Argentina to train in Maryland.

Well, the JTCC finally let the tiger out of the cage today. 14-year-old Usue (OO-SWAY) Arconada showed power and poise in a 7-5, 6-3 mauling of qualifier Maria Irigoyen (ARG) at a Citi Open qualifying opening round match in Washington, D.C.

Today marked Arconada’s professional tennis debut and she did not disappoint.

After the match, I interviewed Coach Salazar and Arconada herself. It turns out that last night she stayed at the home of her coach with fellow JTCC phenom Francis Tiafoe and brother, Jordy Arconada, with his own name on the Junior Tennis Watch List.

To keep her mind off the big match, the boys distracted her with Xbox and jokes.

It worked.

WTA Debutante Usue Arconada (Photo: S. Fogleman)

Tomorrow, Arconada will play Alexandra Mueller for a spot in the main draw of a WTA International event. Even though Mueller is from Pennsylvania and would’ve been considered a local favorite, Arconada is already the toast of this town.

Scores of JTCC students, staff, coaches and supporters were in the stands today, cheering her on, including Tiafoe and brother Jordy.

As you can see from the video interview, Arconada’s poise shines through off the court as well.

As Ray Benton might say: “Go get ’em, Tiger!”

Free Tennis Festival @TheJTCC Means Fun for Kids, Chance To Get A Look From Coaches

Posted by Admin on April 22, 2013

Posted in: Kid's Day, Tennis Center at College Park, Tennis Lessons and Instruction. Tagged: college park, dc, free tennis day, junior champions tennis center, Lessons and Instruction, Maryland, tennis center at college park, Virginia, washington. Leave a comment

Junior Tennis Champions Center Hosts Free Tennis Festival

DC/Baltimore’s Premier Tennis Training Center Hosts Free Tennis Clinic for Local Children

JTCC’s 14th Annual Tennis Festival is May 4

The Junior Tennis Champions Center (JTCC), the world-class tennis training center in College Park, Md., will host its 14^th annual Tennis Festival on Saturday, May 4 from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. The complimentary tennis clinic for children of all skill levels, including those without any previous experience, will provide tennis techniques and tips. Kids ages 5 to 12 are invited to join JTCC’s esteemed coaching staff and junior tennis champions to practice game skills and participate in agility drills. Throughout the clinic, coaches will be noting the skill level of each participant and will invite 20 promising participants to enroll in the first three weeks of JTCC’s training summer camp free of charge.

This might be the best thing you do for your kid all year. There are two schools of thought when it comes to encouraging a sport and both of them come together on May 4. You want to expose your child to the sport you love. And at some point, you want to know how they compare against other youngsters in the game. Come out to College Park and do both. In addition to games and activities for the kids, they’ll also get some complimentary pointers from some of the world’s coaching on staff. So if your child looks like she has the incredible potential required of a junior champion, you might get an expert opinion right on the spot.

Due to the limited number of participant slots available for the JTCC Free Tennis Festival, parents are encouraged to register their children as soon as possible. To register, send child’s name and age as well as the family’s contact information to festival@thetccp.com.

Saturday, May 4, 3:00 – 5:00 p.m.

Junior Tennis Champions Center

5200 Paint Branch Parkway

College Park, MD 20740

RSVP: To reserve your child’s spot, send an email with child’s name and age along with family contact information to festival@thetccp.com.

About Junior Tennis Champions Center

The Junior Tennis Champions Center (JTCC) is a non-profit 501 (c)(3) organization and a world-class training program that provides highly motivated young people with the athletic and academic instruction they need to excel on the tennis court and in the classroom. Since its inception in 1999, JTCC has placed all 95 of its graduates at top universities, with graduates earning more than $1.6 million in athletic scholarships.

#USOpen National Playoffs Return for Fourth Season

Posted by Admin on March 6, 2013

Posted in: Tennis Center at College Park, US Open, US Open National Playoffs, US Open Qualifying, USTA. Tagged: billie jean kng, national playoffs, tennis center at college park, us open, usta, usta national tennis center. Leave a comment

US OPEN NATIONAL PLAYOFFS RETURN FOR FOURTH SEASON

OFFERING SINGLES AND MIXED DOUBLES PLAYERS AGE 14 AND OLDER

THE OPPORTUNITY TO EARN A BERTH INTO 2013 US OPEN

ENTRIES OPEN MARCH 15 FOR ALL 13 SECTIONAL QUALIFYING TOURNAMENTS

Remember how I made this sound like so much fun? Well, I did it and now it’s your turn…..

WHITE PLAINS, N.Y., March 6, 2013 – The USTA announced today that the US Open National Playoffs will return for a fourth year to expand the footprint of the US Open to cities nationwide by providing the opportunity for all players 14 years of age and older to earn a berth into the US Open. The US Open National Playoffs will again include both men’s and women’s singles, as well as mixed doubles in 2013.

The US Open National Playoffs men’s and women’s singles champions earn a wild card into the US Open Qualifying Tournament, held the week prior to the US Open. The US Open National Playoffs mixed doubles champions receive a wild card into the main draw of the 2013 US Open.

“Anyone who dreams of playing in the US Open—top junior players, collegians, teaching professionals, ‘weekend warriors,’ or recreational players—can make that dream a reality through the US Open National Playoffs,” said Dave Haggerty, USTA Chairman, CEO, and President. “The level of singles and mixed doubles competition is always strong, while our committed USTA sections do a terrific job running the sectional qualifying tournaments. It all makes the event unique and special for our sections, US Open fans and tennis players across the country.”

Registration and additional information for each of the 13 sectional qualifying tournaments begins on March 15 at www.USOpen.org/NationalPlayoffs. The entry fee for each of the sectional qualifying tournaments is $100 for singles and $120 for each mixed doubles team ($60 per player). All players competing must have a current USTA membership valid through August 26, 2013.

The US Open National Playoffs begin as a series of sectional qualifying tournaments and will be held in 13 USTA Sections throughout the country (see complete schedule on page 2). The 13 men’s, women’s and mixed doubles champions or top available finishers from each sectional qualifying tournament will advance to the US Open National Playoffs – Men’s and Women’s Singles Championship, held August 16-19, and the Mixed Doubles Championship, held August 21-24. All three tournaments will take place in conjunction with the New Haven Open at Yale presented by First Niagara, an Emirates Airline US Open Series event. Tickets for the 2013 New Haven Open at Yale went on sale on Tuesday, March 5, and can be purchased at www.emiratesusopenseries.com.

“It’s always amazing to see the passion and determination of those competing to fulfill their dreams of playing in the US Open,” said Derek Fisher, US Open National Playoffs Tournament Director. “We’re excited for another group of talented players and the perfect host—The New Haven Open at Yale presented by First Niagara—to make the fourth US Open National Playoffs the strongest yet.”

A player may only compete in singles and/or mixed doubles at one sectional qualifying tournament during a calendar year. Players competing in men’s singles or women’s singles and mixed doubles may opt to compete at different sectional qualifying tournaments for each event (one for singles and one for mixed doubles). The draw size at each sectional qualifying tournament will be a maximum of 256 for each singles event and a maximum of 128 teams for mixed doubles. Participants can be of any playing level, giving everyone an equal opportunity to advance.

More than 1,200 players competed in the 2012 US Open National Playoffs, ranging from experienced professionals who were once ranked in the Top 50, to upcoming junior players, to current and former college standouts to recreational players of all playing abilities and walks of life. Participants included those competing for charities as well as pastors, musicians, lawyers, reporters and stay-at-home mothers. Former notable participants include Olympic skier Bode Miller and ESPN’s Mike Greenberg, who teamed with six-time US Open champion Chris Evert in mixed doubles.

The past champions of the US Open National Playoffs are:

Year Men’s Singles Women’s Singles Mixed Doubles

2012 Clement Reix Alexandra Mueller Brian Battistone/ Nicole Melichar

2011 Blake Strode Robin Anderson David Martin/Christina Fusano

2010 Blake Strode Alexandra Mueller Not held

The US Open Qualifying Tournament will be held August 20-23 and the US Open Mixed Doubles Championship begins August 28 at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing, N.Y. The 2013 US Open begins on August 26.

Additional information on the US Open National Playoffs is available now at www.USOpen.org/NationalPlayoffs.

So THIS is Junior Tennis: Prince George’s County International Hard Court Hijinks

Posted by Admin on August 23, 2012

Posted in: ITF, Junior Tennis Champions Center, Maryland, Tennis Center at College Park, USTA. Tagged: college park, itf, junior tennis champions center, Maryland, prince george's hardcourt championship. Leave a comment

Marika Akkerman, 2012 ITF Prince George’s County, Maryland

I visited my first ITF tournament yesterday: the new Prince George’s County International Hard Court Championship in College Park, Maryland. Covering the ITF is another important stamp in my tennis blogger passport. “P.G. Hardcourts” is a Grade II event and it was my first opportunity to witness the “Mama Drama” that attends such events. The action was intense and frightening at times, and I’m naturally talking about what I saw from a parent, a coach and an absent-minded caller of balls and strikes. Luckily, there was a responsible adult there: ITF Referee Steve Reitman.

Now, a robbery in Prince George’s County is not all that rare, but the robbery I witnessed yesterday occurred on Court 18 and was pretty brazen. It involved the lone official of the duel between Marika Akkerman of Toronto and #1 seed Ching-Wen Hsu of Taiwan. The Chair seemed to have his eyes on everything but his match. I saw him watching other matches, watching the faces of the people he chatted up during the match, and I saw him checking out the sky a few times. Mind you, there were no storm clouds brewing overhead.

Sure, I’ll take the match!

But there was a storm brewing inside the coach of Marika Akkerman and to a lesser extent, her father, who were both nearly ejected. Every few minutes, a player would complain, “Didn’t you see that?” It was usually Akkerman, but to be fair, Hsu gave up on a few balls expecting them to be declared long. Akkerman’s coach started riding the official after a while.

Then, the ITF boss showed up and suggested that Coach pipe down, since he was talking trash about a man who could eject him from the match. He protested again to the ITF’s Reitman, and was told that if he said another word, he was outta there. Then, coach refused to answer Reitman on whether or not he was Akkerman’s coach upon multiple requests. You remember the game. When your parent or teacher told you to be quiet one minute and then asked you a question the next. You enjoyed their inconsistent commands, turned it against them and said nothing when they wanted to hear from you.

Long story short: The ITF’s Reitman said, “I don’t know who you think you are, but I didn’t come to hear all your nonsense. If you say another word, that’s it”. He then camped out behind the coach and Akkerman’s dad for the rest of the match, just waiting for testosterone to play itself out to a nasty end. Mind you, the Chair was still not paying full attention to the match and it was 4-3 Akkerman in the third. I forgot to mention something. I keep calling him the Chair, but he had no chair. If it matters.

I felt sorry for Akkerman. It was bad enough that all those long balls by Hsu weren’t being called out, but now she had the pressure of worrying whether her ride home was about to get tossed. At a tournament like this one, players can hear everything that goes on off the court. She heard every single word of the protracted exchanges. Her nerves got the better of her, and the #1 seed took the third set 7-5.

Not surprisingly, Akkerman went out of her way to avoid a handshake with the Chair. The Chair didn’t even go in her general direction to shake hers, either. As she left the court, her dad tried to gently grab her by the arm to speak to her, but she jerked away from him with a big swing of her racquet bag and ran like wildfire to the locker room. I am not certain who she was mad at, but she had every right to be with the Chair and with the Coach for compounding the trouble.

As for me, I’m hooked. This is entertainment at its finest. And the tennis was pretty good, too.

–S. Fogleman

[UPDATE 8/27/12: I’ve been told that roving umpires do not usually shake hands with players at these events. However, Hsu and her father made sure to shake with the ump after this one. This was also the first ITF match I watched. The rest weren’t nearly as dramatic in off-court antics.]

In a clash of coaching titans, Matt Brooklyn overcame Piotrs Necajevs today by a count of 6-4, 7-6 (5). Necajevs hadn’t dropped a set all weekend long, while Brooklyn had dropped two yesterday en route to the Final. It was fitting that Brooklyn, the Georgetown Assistant Coach, was declared the champion today, as he was the one who had defeated defending champion Damon Gooch the day before.

Brooklyn’s powerful backhand had him pinning his opponent deep in the corners early in the first set. Necajevs recovered nicely in the second set, but the tiebreak got away from him with Brooklyn winning the last four points and five out of the last six. Necajevs, the Detroit Titans Women’s Head Coach, did go on to win the Mixed Doubles title with Sophia Abelson 6-2, 6-1 hours later.

In the women’s final, overwhelming favorite Nina Kukharchuk erased any doubts about who was the best woman of the sectional with a 6-0, 6-0 win over Monet Willis.

Brooklyn, Kukharchuk, Necajevs and Abelson are off to New Haven for a late August meeting with destiny. Brooklyn and Kukharchuk are no more than four wins from a qualifying wild card for singles at the US Open. Abelson and Necajevs are three or four wins away from a main draw wild card in mixed doubles.

As always, the Tennis Center at College Park/Junior Tennis Champions Center and USTA/MAS ran a great event. There are only 360 practice days before next year’s event. Ready? Play!

Results

Abelson/Necajevs d. Chambers/Jordan

6-2; 6-1

Nika Kukharchuk d. Monet Willis

6-0; 6-0

Matt Brooklyn d. Pjotrs Necajevs

6-4; 7-6(7-5)

2012 US Open National Playoffs Finals Day @USTAMidAtlantic #USONP

Posted by Admin on June 5, 2012

Posted in: Maryland, Tennis Center at College Park, US Open National Playoffs, USTA, Washington. Tagged: college park, matt brooklyn, monet willis, national playoffs, necajevs, nina kukharchuk, sophia abelson, us open. Leave a comment

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)

2012 US Open National Playoffs, Mid-Atlantic Qualifying Day 2 @USTAMidAtlantic #USONP

Posted by Admin on June 3, 2012

Posted in: Baltimore, Maryland, Tennis Center at College Park, US Open National Playoffs, USTA. Tagged: dc, Maryland, national playoffs, us open, usta, Virginia. Leave a comment

Day 2 of the US Open National Playoffs Mid-Atlantic Sectional Qualifying at the Junior Tennis Champions Center at College Park was again blessed with unusually pleasant June weather. Top seeds Nika Kukharchuk and Damon Gooch both breezed into the later rounds. Kukharchuk will face Greenbelt, Maryland’s Amy Zhu in a semifinal tomorrow, alongside the Monet Willis/Leslie Hansen semi. Damon Gooch is scheduled to play a quarterfinal against Matt Brooklyn, who upset a beloved local, Gaithersburg’s Junior Ore in straights in a close match. Other scheduled men’s quarters include Yancy Dennis/Maxx Lipman, Piotrs Necajevs/Tyler Tulenko and Ryan Lipman/Christaan Lee-Daigle.

A most impressive run in this tournament belongs to Piotrs Necajevs. Necajevs hails from Latvia, where he is a former national doubles champion. He was an MVP at Mississippi State, and he’s currently the Interim Head Coach of the University of Detroit Women’s Tennis program. He went 5-0 in a span of 32 hours this weekend, winning 3 singles contests and 2 mixed doubles matches. Tomorrow, he’ll try to win another 2 in singles and a mixed doubles semi. If he can pull that off, he’ll have a relatively easier time on Tuesday, when he’ll only have to play 2 finals in 7 hours. His mixed doubles partner, Sophia Abelson, a National Open 14s doubles champion herself and is coached by Necajevs. She has a spinning kickserve that I’ll never forget. Sophia Silbergeld of Baltimore and I played them earlier today in a Quarterfinal. Though the official scoreline reads 6-1, 6-0 to the Michigan power duo, neither of us Marylanders remember it being that close at all. I apologize for the shakiness of the video below in the first few seconds, but my hand was still in perpetual motion from all that spin. I want to thank them for being so hospitable and for going easy on us. Thank you!