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No Sharing the Spotlight @CitiOpen Today For Jordi Arconada

Posted by Admin on July 26, 2014

Posted in: ATP, Citi Open, Junior Tennis Champions Center, Washington. Tagged: 2014, atp, Center, champions, Citi Open, dc, francis tiafoe, Jordi Arconada, junior, qualifying, tennis, Usue Arconada, washington.

No Sharing the Spotlight @CitiOpen Today For Jordi Arconada
Stephan Fogleman, Tennis East Coast

The Washington Nationals sit in first place atop the National League East. The Washington Kastles go for their fourth consecutive title tomorrow night. Things are so good, DC Sports Fans might forget another show of athletic competition is going on around them this weekend. The Citi Open features 30 qualifying matches today and tomorrow, and admission won’t even set you back $20.

Among the likes of Gio Gonzalez, Stephen Strasburg, Bryce Harper and the retiring Bobby Reynolds, you can add one more name to DC Summer Sports Legend:

Jordi Arconada.

Strangely, Jordi Arconada becomes the biggest local name this weekend at Citi Open. Arconada came up short against his good friend and classmate, Francis Tiafoe, at the Junior Tennis Champions Center in College Park, Maryland last month as part of the Citi Open Wild Card Challenge Final.

Today was supposed to be the day the much-heralded Tiafoe made his ATP debut as a qualifier. That’s what DC fans thought he’d earned by winning the Wild Card Challenge, until the BB&T Atlanta Open threw him a qualifying wild card (and threw a curveball to Citi Open/JTCC fans) last week. He promptly won his first match there, depriving DC fans of being able to say they were there to see it happen.

DC had to do one better, and I’m glad they did. They granted Tiafoe a main draw slot, setting up his historic first on Monday. The qualifying wild card Tiafoe had earned in defeating Arconada went to Arconada, as it should.

Another JTCC prodigy and Jordi’s sister, Usue Arconada, won her first WTA match here last year at Citi Open and was expected to play today. But she’s gone to tear it up in Austin.

That leaves Jordi Arconada as the Big Deal today. Often overshadowed by his sister, Usue, and BFF Francis, it is Jordi who will be lavished with support by area fans this weekend.

Sure, there’s the boisterous and sizable contingent of Virginia Cava-Cheerleaders who will bring the love for UVA’s Justin and Ryan Shane at their first ATP tour-level event appearance, but most eyes will be on Arconada.

For one, he’s 17. Every fan wants to say he saw a future star way back when. He’s also playing Michael Llodra, a 34-year-old Frenchman with 5 ATP titles, and get this….a 10-year old daughter.

Everyone loves the battle of the vet versus the kid. This is that battle.

And for once, a brother of a rising tennis star and best friend of another, he doesn’t have to share the spotlight.

CITI OPEN – WASHINGTON DC, USA
USD 1,654,295.00 (ATP)
USD 250,000.00 (WTA)
28 JULY – 3 AUGUST 2014

ORDER OF PLAY – SATURDAY, JULY 26, 2014
STADIUM COURT start 10:00 am
ATP – Qualifying – S Groth (AUS) vs [WC] S Kozlov (USA)

Not Before 11:30 am
ATP – Qualifying – R Ginepri (USA) vs S Diez (CAN)
ATP – Qualifying – A Kuznetsov (USA) vs [WC] R Shane (USA)
WTA – Qualifying – A Mueller (USA) vs T Townsend (USA)

GRANDSTAND 1 start 10:00 am
ATP – Qualifying – Y Bhambri (IND) vs S Bangoura (USA)
ATP – Qualifying – [WC] J Shane (USA) vs Z Zhang (CHN)

Not Before 1:00 pm
ATP – Qualifying – S Singh (IND) vs E Gomez (ECU)
WTA – Qualifying – [WC] T Black (USA) vs L Chirico (USA)

GRANDSTAND 2 start 10:00 am
ATP – Qualifying – Y Sugita (JPN) vs T Garanganga (ZIM)
ATP – Qualifying – J Donaldson (USA) vs G Lama (CHI)
WTA – Qualifying – M Larcher de Brito (POR) vs S Dubois (CAN)
WTA – Qualifying – T Smitkova (CZE) vs P Rampre (SLO)

COURT 1 start 10:00 am
ATP – Qualifying – A Benneteau (FRA) vs I Marchenko (UKR)
ATP – Qualifying – [WC] J Arconada (ARG) vs M Llodra (FRA)
WTA – Qualifying – S Marand (USA) vs H Kuwata (JPN)
WTA – Qualifying – T Paszek (AUT) vs E Webley-Smith (GBR)

COURT 2 start 10:00 am
ATP – Qualifying – M Copil (ROU) vs S Myneni (IND)
ATP – Qualifying – R Ram (USA) vs M Shabaz (USA)
WTA – Qualifying – O Rogowska (AUS) vs J Coin (FRA)
WTA – Qualifying – A Rodionova (AUS) vs G Dabrowski (CAN)

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.

Alison Riske/Sorana Cirstea Second Round Citi Open Preview

Posted by Admin on August 1, 2013

Posted in: Citi Open, Washington, WTA. Tagged: alison riske, Center, champions, Citi Open, dc, junior tennis, pittsburgh, Romania, Sorana Cirstea, washington, wta. Leave a comment

I’m hoping to do a similar interview with Alison today and ask the Pittsburgh native about her experiences with the Junior Tennis Champions Center in College Park, Maryland and her impressive run on the grass courts of England this summer.

Riske should be a crowd favorite and has already mentioned on twitter how thankful she is for the fan support that JTCC members have given her thus far.

The match is scheduled after the 2 p.m. third set conclusion of the ATP match postponed last night between James Duckworth and Kevin Anderson, with Anderson up 6-3, 3-6, 5-4. That should end quickly.

All we can do now is hope the rain holds off.

Stay tuned!

All ACES

JTCC affiliated player Alison Riske will take on No. 5 seed Sorana Cirstea in the second round today at the Citi Open. They are scheduled as the second match on Grandstand 2.

In their first round matches, Riske defeated Vania King, 6-3, 7-5 and Cirstea bounced Lesia Tsurenko, 7-5, 1-1 (ret.).

Last Meeting

The two faced off back in 2007 on the hard courts of the US Open. Riske defeated Cirstea 6-2, 7-6(4).

Tale of the Tape

Alison Riske		Sorana Cirstea
23	Age	23
96	Ranking	28
5’ 9”	Height	5’ 9”
145 lbs	Weight	130 lbs
Right-handed	Plays	Right-handed
28/17	Year-To-Date Won/Lost	22/18
184/129	Career Won/Lost	290/186
$448,410	Career Prize Money	$2,239,442
1	Head-to-Head Series
Wimbledon: Lost in 3rd Round	Last Grand Slam Result	Wimbledon: Lost in 2nd Round

The Road Ahead

The winner will be pitted against either the No. 4 seed Alize Cornet or Heather Watson…

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WTA Debut Success for Arconada, University of Virginia ATP Day @CitiOpen

Posted by Admin on July 28, 2013

Posted in: ATP, Citi Open, Washington, WTA. Tagged: atp, Center, champions, Citi Open, dc, Donald Young, junior tennis, michelle larcher de brito, University of Virginia, Usue Arconada, washington. Leave a comment

WTA Debut Success for Arconada, University of Virginia ATP Day @CitiOpen

Jarmere Jenkins

Qualifying play got underway without a hitch at the Citi Open yesterday, with only a late afternoon rain delay slowing down the proceedings.

On the men’s side, University of Virginia alumni and affiliates brought out a sizable crowd of support. Virginia Cavalier fans were treated to mixed results with Jarmere Jenkins and Somdev Devvarman winning in straight sets over Farukh Dustov and Jesse Witten. Virginia’s Mac Styslinger lost in three sets to Alex Kuznetsov, 6-3, 3-6, 6-1, while Mitchell Frank was off-form in a rain-delayed straight sets loss to Malek Jaziri.

Also in straight sets: 4 seed Jesse Levine had little trouble with Denys Molchanov, Yuichi Sugita dispatched Sekou Bangoura and Sam Groth beat Sanam Singh.

Donald Young

And yes, Donald Young let another match go in a predictable spiral. This time, it was Saketh Myneni to take advantage of a second set decline by Young, who seems to be a wonderful first set player. Young seemed to have the mental advantage until he was broken early in the second set. It was all slowly downhill from there for Young as Myneni prevailed 7-6(2), 6-3, 6-4.

Rhyne Williams, who won a first round main draw match against Denis Kudla on Monday night at the BB&T Atlanta Open, was forced to play a first round qualifying match against Robby Ginepri. Ginepri also played in the main draw at Atlanta this week. Williams had dinner with Ginepri on Friday night and looks up to the Georgia veteran of the tour. That didn’t stop Williams from grinding out Ginepri in three sets.

Christian Harrison

Christian Harrison continues to play beyond his young age after impressing in Atlanta earlier in the week. He survived the talented but lately unlucky Marinko Matosevic, 6-3, 3-6, 7-6(7). With each match, the younger Harrison seems to become wiser and more focused.

Tim Smyczek recovered after a second set letdown to advance to a qualifying final and emerging victorious over Alexander Peya in three sets.

WTA Debutante Usue Arconada (Photo: S. Fogleman)

WTA play was overwhelmingly dominated by the WTA debut and first pro win of 14-year-old Argentinian-American Usue Arconada, who trains ten miles away in College Park, Maryland. Arconada hardly looked under pressure in a straight sets win over Maria Irigoyen of Argentina.

WTA play was also dominated by quick and dominating victories. Only one women’s match went the distance on Saturday, while the men went to three sets six times. Jennifer Elie won the most contested WTA match over Adriana Perez, 6-0, 4-6, 6-2.

Larcher de Brito

Top qualifying seed Michelle Larcher de Brito had little trouble with rising American Louisa Chirico, 7-5, 6-1, while American Victoria Duval was able to advance over fellow American Lena Litvak, 6-4, 7-5. Other easy winners included Shuko Aoyama and Alexandra Mueller.

The qualifying field will be looking for main draw entries in the final round on Sunday.

On Stadium Court, Matt Ebden and Saketh Myneni will open at 10 a.m., with Rhyne Williams vs. Samuel Groth. Next up will be Somdev Devvarman against Christian Harrison, with Alex Kuznetsov and Malek Jaziri to finish.

On Grandstand 1, Jesse Levine and Yuichi Sugita will kick things off followed by Michelle Larcher de Brito matching up against young American Victoria Duval and Tim Smyczek taking on UVA’s Jarmere Jenkins.

On Grandstand 2, Irina Falconi faces Jennifer Elie, Jessica Pegula attempts to qualify against Shuko Aoyama, and Alex Mueller will play 14-year-old Usue Arconada.

CITI OPEN – WASHINGTON, DC, USA

USD 1,546,590.00 (ATP) USD 235,000.00 (WTA) JULY 27 – AUGUST 04, 2013

RESULTS – JULY 27, 2013

Men’s Qualifying Singles – First Round

Qualifying – R Williams (USA) d R Ginepri (USA) 62 36 63

Qualifying – T Smyczek (USA) d [Alt] A Peya (AUT) 60 26 63

Qualifying – J Levine (CAN) d D Molchanov (UKR) 64 76(5)

Qualifying – S Devvarman (IND) d J Witten (USA) 75 60

Qualifying – A Kuznetsov (USA) d [WC] M Styslinger (USA) 63 36 61

Qualifying – C Harrison (USA) d I Marchenko (UKR) 63 36 76(7)

Qualifying – Y Sugita (JPN) d [Alt] S Bangoura (USA) 63 75

Qualifying – S Myneni (IND) d D Young (USA) 67(2) 63 64

Qualifying – M Jaziri (TUN) d [WC] M Frank (USA) 64 62

Qualifying – [WC] J Jenkins (USA) d F Dustov (UZB) 64 63

Qualifying – S Groth (AUS) d S Singh (IND) 60 75

Women’s Qualifying Singles – First Round

Qualifying – M Larcher de Brito (POR) d L Chirico (USA) 75 61
Qualifying – J Pegula (USA) d A Gabueva (RUS) 62 64
Qualifying – [WC] U Arconada (USA) d M Irigoyen (ARG) 75 63
Qualifying – J Elie (USA) d A Perez (VEN) 60 46 62
Qualifying – S Aoyama (JPN) d J Lawrence (USA) 63 61
Qualifying – [WC] V Duval (USA) d L Litvak (USA) 64 75
Qualifying – A Mueller (USA) d A Weinhold (USA) 60 61

ORDER OF PLAY – SUNDAY, JULY 28, 2013 STADIUM COURT start 10:00 am
Qualifying – M Ebden (AUS) vs S Myneni (IND)
Qualifying – R Williams (USA) vs S Groth (AUS)
Qualifying – S Devvarman (IND) vs C Harrison (USA)
Qualifying – A Kuznetsov (USA) vs M Jaziri (TUN) – ATP

GRANDSTAND 1 start 10:00 am
Qualifying – J Levine (CAN) vs Y Sugita (JPN)
Qualifying – M Larcher de Brito (POR) vs [WC] V Duval (USA)
Qualifying – T Smyczek (USA) vs [WC] J Jenkins (USA) – ATP

GRANDSTAND 2 start 10:00 am
Qualifying – I Falconi (USA) vs J Elie (USA)
Qualifying – J Pegula (USA) vs S Aoyama (JPN)
Qualifying – A Mueller (USA) vs [WC] U Arconada (USA) – WTA