
The Queen City. Borough of Queens. Fuhgeddaboutit!

Sebastian Korda, 2018 AO Boy’s Champion

Mackenzie McDonald, 2018 Citi Open (Photo: Tennis Atlantic)



Cici Bellis


Shelby Rogers, 2017 Volvo Car Open (Photo: Tony Callaio, Tennis Atlantic)
The Queen City. Borough of Queens. Fuhgeddaboutit!
Sebastian Korda, 2018 AO Boy’s Champion
Mackenzie McDonald, 2018 Citi Open (Photo: Tennis Atlantic)
Cici Bellis
Shelby Rogers, 2017 Volvo Car Open (Photo: Tony Callaio, Tennis Atlantic)
American @MackieMackster McDonald to Face “Rusty” @Andy_Murray Tonight @CitiOpen; Interview
Steve Fogleman, Tennis Atlantic
Mackenzie McDonald is loving the hard courts summer. And he had some confidence headed into tonight’s showdown with two-time grand slam champion Andy Murray when we spoke with him on Sunday afternoon at the Citi Open in Washington.
“I love that (hard court season) is in the states so we get a good crowd cheering on all the Americans,” he said. “I definitely grew up on hard courts and I love hardcourts and I think it suits my game. It’s definitely a good time to be in the States during the Summer.”
As far as battling Murray in his next match, McDonald said, “He’s obviously a great player, has had a great career so far. He’s a grand slam champion so it’s gonna be pretty cool sharing the court with him.”
McDonald seems to like his chances against Murray. “He’s a little rusty. I think there are definitely some positives for me going into the match. I think I’m playing really good tennis so it should be a good match.”
Day 1 Qualifying Recap at 2016 Citi Open: Falla Wins Battle
Steen Kirby, Tennis Atlantic
Falla
A steamy day 1 at the 2016 Citi Open Qualifying held true to form, as most of the favored players advanced with ease into the second round of qualifying matches. On the ATP side, Matthew Barton, Alex Kuznetsov, Alexander Sarkissian, Marinko Matosevic, James Duckworth, Ernesto Escobedo and Amir Weintraub all turned away their opponents without dropping a set, or facing the threat of doing so.
The lone competitive qualifying match on the men’s side today was Alejandro Falla’s 6-3 3-6 7-6(4) victory over Mackenzie McDonald. The veteran took to stadium court, and was more consistent than his younger opponent. McDonald was relatively strong on serve, but spewed too many groundstroke errors when it counted, and although Falla squandered break point chances in the third set, including a match point up 5-4 on his opponent’s serve, he went on to win the final set tiebreak. Prior to that tiebreak, both games featured breaks of serve, and McDonald was broken serving for the match. With more ATP experience, McDonald will be able to convert tiring battles from losses, into wins, but as it stands he appeared to slow down his game in the heat.
Jennifer Elie
The WTA matches were generally closer. Jennifer Elie, playing in her fifth qualifying in Washington, lost in three to Lin Zhu. Jarmila Wolfe (formerly Gajdosova and Groth) played her first match since undergoing shoulder surgery and made it three sets against Hiroko Kuwata of Japan before Kuwata pulled away decisively in the third set, 6-4, 7-5, 6-0. 17-year-old Raveena Kingsley, who resides just 40 miles away in Baltimore, also went three, with another Japanese player, Shuko Aoyoma, also serving up a bagel in the final stanza and winning 6-3, 2-6, 6-0. Alla Kudryavtseva, known locally for playing WTT tennis for the Washington Kastles in 2013, was a three set winner against Danielle Lao, 7-5, 3-6, 6-3. Varvara Flink, Sanaz Marand, Shilin Xu and Lauren Albanese were also winners.
Raveena Kingsley (Photo: @tennis_shots Christopher Levy)
2016 Citi Open Qualifying Preview
Steen Kirby, Tennis Atlantic
2016 Citi Open ATP and WTA qualifying starts Saturday, as does Tennis Atlantic’s comprehensive weeklong coverage of the tournament. Here is a look at standouts set to feature in the qualifying draws.
ATP Washington Qualifying
Four ATP events this week, and the end of Davis Cup play, and three ATP tournaments last week means that the player field for Citi Open ATP qualifying was stretched thin. There are six qualifying spots, and four of them are being contested by three players each.
Wimbledon qualifier Dennis Novikov, a former top junior player, has just one ATP win this year, but he’s been solid in challengers and ATP qualifying, and he’s the top seed for qualifying at the Citi Open (#128). 20 year old American Ernesto Escobedo stands in his way. Escobedo is a rising young player who made his ATP debut in Nottingham after qualifying this year. Escobedo will open with local Citi Open practice court partner Leon Vessels in his first match, before facing Novikov.
Embed from Getty ImagesFrench veteran Vincent Millot has a recent challenger final on his resume, and gets a bye, before facing either young American Mackenzie McDonald or Colombian veteran Alejandro Falla. McDonald, a recent NCAA champion at UCLA, hasn’t won a pro match this season, while Falla has been in poor form himself, making that match an intriguing one as both players look for form before facing Millot.
19 year old American Jared Donaldson is 0-4 at the ATP level this year, and he’ll be eager to find some form in Washington. He’s still the favorite to qualify against either doubles specialist Scott Lipsky, or former top 40 Australian Marinko Matosevic. Matosevic hasn’t reached an ATP main draw this year, and desperately wants to return to top tier tennis.
Embed from Getty ImagesDespite some solid weeks earlier in the season, the now 24 year old Ryan Harrison has been struggling for weeks and has to be happy to return to his favored hard courts. Virginia’s Ryan Shane faces Israeli journeyman favorite Amir Weintraub in round 1 qualifying before facing Harrison, who is the favorite in his section.
Australia’s Matthew Barton will face local high schooler Nikita-Girey Demir of Bethesda, Maryland. Barton has been solid on the challenger tour level this year, and is 3-3 in ATP main draw play this season. Barton should face veteran American journeyman Alex Kuznetsov in round 2 qualifying, presuming veteran doubles specialist Eric Butorac doesn’t provide much resistance for Kuznetsov. Kuznetsov qualified in Newport and has been in good form in recent weeks.
Embed from Getty ImagesFormer UGA Bulldog Nate Pasha faces Alexander Sarkissian, who hasn’t had near as good of a season this year, compared to 2015. The winner of that match should face a struggling James Duckworth, who hasn’t won a match in two months, Duckworth opens with standout high schooler Ulises Blanch.
Play over the weekend will determine the six qualifiers who will enter the main draw.
WTA Washington Qualifying
WTA qualifying has four main draw spots on offer, and a full qualifying draw as a result. The top seed is Lin Zhu of China, who is still looking for her WTA breakthrough. Zhu faces an in-form Jennifer Elie in round 1, with the in-form Ksenia Lykina or Sanaz Marand to follow.
Struggling Hiroko Kuwata will face Jarmila Wolfe, who has played sparingly this season. Young Varvara Flink will face a struggling Zhaoxuan Yang, and the winners of both of those matches will compete for a qualifying spot.
Former WTA main draw regular Alla Kudryavtseva is perhaps the best known player in WTA qualifying this year. The 28 year old faces Danielle Lao. She’s the favorite but she needs to find form before facing Shilin Xu, a recent Bucharest qualifier, or Victoria Kan.
Embed from Getty ImagesThe ITF level Shuko Aoyama will face Raveena Kingsley, a young blue chip high schooler, and Maryland resident, looking to make her mark at her home tournament. The winner will face American Lauren Albanese, or a struggling Miyu Kato for the final qualifying spot.
Enjoy our coverage of the 2016 Citi Open this week!
WASHINGTON (July 13, 2016) — Mackenzie “Mackie” McDonald, who captured both the singles and doubles NCAA Championship, has received an ATP singles qualifying wild card into the Citi Open® Tennis Tournament. Qualifying play will begin Saturday, July 16, at the Rock Creek Park Tennis Center.
McDonald, 21, is the first player in 15 years to win both the singles and doubles NCAA Championship while attending UCLA. He is a three-time All-American, 2016 ITA National Men’s College Player of the Year, and in 2013 at age 18, became the first unranked player in ATP history to qualify for an ATP Masters 1000 tournament.
He replaces Thanasi Kokkinakis, who previously received a qualifying wild card, but had to withdraw to recover from a shoulder injury.
Sam Crawford (Photo: USTA)
In the women’s field, 21-year-old Samantha Crawford will receive a WTA singles main draw wild card. The Atlanta, Ga., native reached the second round at the 2016 Wimbledon Championships, her first Grand Slam win. Varvara Flink joins the women’s qualifying rounds with a wild card.
Brian Baker is Back!
I normally don’t like Mondays at a tennis tournament. You get leftover qualifying rounds and a few first round matches. The real red meat of the tournament always starts later in the week. So Monday is tennis subsistence day. Like watching Lucas Lacko, who reached the third round of Wimbledon, flame out in the first round at Newport. The best part of that match was learning that the victor, Dudi Sela, was traveling with his 2 year old and 7 month old, and he looked really busy after the match, like “we need you now” busy. Sela faces off against defending champ Rajeev Ram in the second round.
Ram cruised over Mackenzie McDonald later in the day to set up the second round match. As for McDonald, the UCLA champ was in great spirits just to have had the opportunity to play on Center Court in Newport. That made Monday better.
The first sign that it wasn’t going to be the usual Monday were the qualifiers: Old hands Frank Dancevic and Alex Kuznetsov advancing in three grueling, up-and-down sets.
Kuzentsov
Dudi had a Baby
As he heads to the Olympics next month to represent the U.S., Baker told Tennis Atlantic, “I feel great. I’m getting fitter and better each week. I just need to get some more matches. This year has been a little bit of a struggle just because coming back from so much time off, and playing the bigger events with my protected (ranking), if you’re not winning a ton, you’re just not getting a lot of matches. It’s nice this week to already get two matches under my belt and hope to get more”.
One good thing about Mondays is a chance to see young players on the rise and local players of interest. Today, the crowds got to see Rhode Island’s own Jared Donaldson. In fact, they wouldn’t have been much of a press corps here today without Donaldson on the schedule. Donaldson is an intense young player with a bright future. I will let the entire local press corps tell you all about him, because going against the grain is what Mondays are all about. I will tell you that he lost in straights to Donald Young, but that is all.
2016 @ITATennis All-Indoor Mens’ National Standouts
Jeff McMillan, Tennis Atlantic
The men’s ITA Indoor National Championships have come and gone and what a tournament it was. Several great matches took place, with the finale being the best of all. The North Carolina Tar Heels stunned the college tennis world by taking out the heavily favored Virginia Cavaliers on their home courts in Charlottesville 4-2 in a match that had two 3rd set tiebreakers and one match decided at 7-5 in the 3rd. It was an explosive end to an overall electric event.
I have selected an All-Indoor Team for the MVP of the tournament in each position. Several were tough to select while a few were fairly simple selections. See what you think of my All-Indoor Team and if you agree with my choices.
Singles:
1. Mackenzie McDonald, UCLA – The #1 position was probably the toughest to select an MVP from. No player was completely dominant in Charlottesville. I chose McDonald because he re-established himself as a top national player this weekend and had an important win for his team by coming back from a set down to defeat Wayne Montgomery of Georgia. He also had a straight sets win over Brayden Schnur. He did not lose a match over the weekend as his 3rd match with Arthur Rinderknech went unfinished.
2. Alex Rybakov, TCU – Rybakov gets the nod here at #2, just barely over Petros Chysochos of Wake, based on his dramatic 3rd set breaker win over Max De Vroome that gave TCU the 4-3 win over Southern Cal. His win turned out to be one of the highlights of the whole weekend. He also routinely neat Jared Hiltzik in the round of 16, confirming his spot as one of the nation’s top #2 players. He was in a tight match with Thai-Son Kwiatkowski before it was ended due to Virginia’s 4-1 win. Excellent weekend from the Freshman.
3. Colin Altamirano, Virginia – Dropped a total of 13 games in Virginia’s 1st three matches on their march towards the final. He blasted Filip Vittek of San Diego, Jonathan Ho of Wake Forest and Guillermo Nunez of TCU giving Virginia a quick point in each of those matches, huge for momentum. He would have been the MVP of the entire tournament regardless of position had he finished off Brett Clark of North Carolina in the final. He never got that chance due to his Virginia being unable to win one of the two tiebreaks on courts 1 & 2. If it was 3-3, you would have had to have liked Altamirano’s chances vs Clark late in the 3rd.
4. Jack Murray, UNC – Murray is the selection at #4 over several other candidates (Bogaerts of Wake, Cailleau of Texas Tech and Sell of UCLA) because the last image of the entire event features Murray triumphantly capturing the championship for his Tar Heels with a 6-4 0-6 7-5 win over Mac Styslinger of Virginia. Sometimes a single victory is more important than an entire event worth of results. But Murray was no slouch the rest of the event either, he crushed Herkko Pollanen of Ohio State 6-2 6-3 in the quarterfinals and did not lose his other two matches, splitting sets with other candidates for this selection Karue Sell and Jolan Cailleau before they were abandoned.
5. JC Aragone, Virginia – Virginia did not win the Championship this year but it was in no way the fault of JC Aragone who brought his best stuff in UVA’s toughest matches in the event. In both of Virginia’s 4-3 matches (the win over Wake and the loss vs UNC) Aragone obliterated his opponent at #5. Both of these destructions were very important for Virginia. In the Wake match it was critical to get a point on the board quick after losing doubles and in the UNC match it was big to extend the lead to 2-0 after a short amount of time. His results this week show that he is one of the top lower lineup players in America.
6. Anudeep Kodali, North Carolina – The Freshman gets the selection based on his play in the later critical stages of the ITA indoor championships. He started the event with a 6-1 6-3 win over Bjorn Thompson of Texas Tech. He did take one on the chin vs Ohio State but bounced back admirably. He was a critical point for the Tar Heels vs UCLA in his one set down rally defeat of Austin Rapp. But the true reason he makes the All-Indoor team is the way he dismantled Henrik Wiersholm of Virginia 6-2 6-2. Wiersholm had been playing great tennis and was the prime candidate for this selection before this match. UVA was considered to be a big favorite at #6, nobody really though Kodali would challenge Wiersholm, let alone beat him, let alone destroy him! That point set a tone and showed that UNC was there to play.
Doubles:
Martin Redlicki/Mackenzie McDonald, UCLA – 3-0 for the weekend for this pair of Bruins. Beating 2 top 15 doubles teams 6-3 is quite impressive, as well as a close clincher win over Texas A&M to give UCLA the doubles point. Definitely the doubles stars of the indoor event.
Alex Sendegeya/Bjorn Thompson, Texas Tech – 2 big wins for this combo. A 6-1 destruction of Baylor and a 7-6 win over UNC that gave Texas Tech the doubles point as they attempted to pull off the upset.
Romain Bogaerts/Dennis Uspensky, Wake Forest – Had a dominating win over Soutern Cal and a critical 7-6(3) victory over the Virginia doubles team of Altamirano and Aragone which gave Wake Forest the critical doubles point in that match.
McDonald, Brymer, Chirico, Black, Peus Advance at ASICS Easter Bowl
RANCHO MIRAGE, Calif. (April 11, 2013) – Future UCLA teammates and fellow Californians Mackenzie McDonald and Gage Brymer recorded convincing straight-set victories on Thursday in the Boys’ 18s division on Day 5 of the 46th annual ASICS Easter Bowl being played at the Sunrise Country Club.
The No. 2-seeded McDonald of Piedmont, Calif., beat No. 15-seeded Dennis Uspensky of Atlantic Beach, N.Y., 6-3, 6-1, and the unseeded Brymer of Irvine, Calif., got past Henrik Wiersholm, the No. 14-seed from Kirkland, Wash., 6-2, 7-5, as both now move on to Friday’s quarterfinals.
The defending champion and former boys’ 14s champion McDonald is looking to become the first back-to-back boys’ 18s winner at the ASICS Easter since 1971-72.
“I feel like Palm Springs brings out the best in my game,” said McDonald, who played in warm 85-degree, but ideal conditions. “I feel like just going out there and playing. I want to stay in the present and not think about the past and just get through each point and each match.”
McDonald, 17, next meets Martin Redlicki, the No. 5-seed from Boca Raton, Fla., while Brymer will face Michael Mmoh, the No. 8-seed from Temple Hills, Md.
In the upset of the day, 13-year-old Ryan Peus of Carpinteria, Calif., beat 12-year-old and No. 1-seeded Claire Liu of Thousand Oaks, Calif., in the girls’ 14s quarterfinals, 6-2, 6-3. The two are training partners at the USTA Training Center – West in Carson, Calif.
Peus was elated after the match, advancing to her first 14s semifinal of a USTA Nationals. “It was a good win for me,” she said. “We’ve played like eight times and it always goes three sets. I was just a lot more aggressive and I felt like I had nothing to lose today. She was tight the entire match and the she had all the pressure on her.”
Peus wore her sweat-stained Roger Federer hat with three signatures on the bill of the cap belonging to R-Fed, Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal. “It’s my lucky hat,” she said, adding she got all the signatures at the nearby BNP Paribas Open just down the road in Indian Wells.
A 13- and 14-year-old both advanced to the semifinals of the girls’ 18s as unseeded Michaela Gordon, 13, of Los Altos Hills, Calif., beat Raquel Pedraza of Claremont, Calif., 6-3, 6-3, and No. 6-seeded Tornado Ali Black, 14, upset No. 2 Marika Akkerman in a nearly three-hour marathon, 6-4, 3-6, 6-4.
Serving for the match at 5-4, Black was called for a time violation up 30-love but was able to close it out. “I got down 3-1 in the first set and was thinking, ‘she can’t keep this level up,’ ” said Black, who recently left training with the USTA and has began working with the L’Academie de Tennis Academy in Boynton Beach, Fla.
Louisa Chirico, 16, of Harrison, N.Y., and Mayo Hibi, 17, of Irvine, Calif., are the other semifinalists and both have WTA rankings with Chirico at No. 427 and Hibi at No. 368 in the world. Hibi had no problems with last year’s 18s finalist Brooke Austin, 6-0, 6-2.
The 18s singles draws can be found here: http://tennislink.usta.com/Tournaments/TournamentHome/Tournament.aspx?T=122977
For 16s and 14s go to TennisLink here:
http://tennislink.usta.com/Tournaments/TournamentHome/Tournament.aspx?T=122896
To keep up with all the ASICS Easter Bowl news, visit the website at www.easterbowl.com and check out the tournament on Facebook (www.facebook.com/EasterBowl) and Twitter (@easterbowl). For more information on ASICS, check out: www.ASICSAmerica.com and follow on Twitter @ASICSAmerica.
Thursday’s Scores
Boys’ 18s Singles (Round of 16)
Michael Mmoh (8) Temple Hills, MD def. Justin Butsch (12) Miami Beach, FL 7-5, 6-0
Alexandru Gozun Sarasota, FL def. Francis Tiafoe (10) College Park, MD 6-2, 7-6(4)
Martin Redlicki (5) Boca Raton, FL def. Brandon Sutter El Dorado Hills, CA 6-1, 6-3
Gage Brymer Irvine, CA def. Henrik Wiersholm (14) Kirkland, WA 6-2, 7-5
Luca Corinteli (3) Alexandria, VA def. Stephen Watson Orlando, FL 6-3, 6-2
Mackenzie McDonald (2) Piedmont, CA def. Dennis Uspensky (15) Atlantic Beach, NY 6-3, 6-1
Ernesto Escobedo West Covina, CA def. Deiton Baughman Carson, CA 6-3, 2-6, 6-3
Noah Rubin (1) Rockville Centre, NY def. Logan Smith Carlsbad, CA 7-5, 7-5
Boys’ 18s Doubles (Round of 16)
JC Aragone / Mackenzie McDonald (4) def. Deiton Baughman / George Goldhoff Wo (inj)
Robbie Bellamy / Joseph Di Giulio def. Farzin Amiri / Nicholas Crystal (8) 6-2, 6-3
Michael Mmoh / Francis Tiafoe (3) def. Jake De Vries / Trevor Johnson 6-4, 7-5
Gregory Garcia / Tyler Lu def. Alexandru Gozun / Carter Lin 7-5, 6-4
Jordi Arconada / Spencer Papa (2) def. Aron Hiltzik / John Mee 7-6(1), 3-6, 10-7
Luca Corinteli / Martin Redlicki (1) def. Walker Duncan / Thomas Mayronne 7-6(3), 6-3
AJ Catanzariti / Dennis Uspensky (7) def. William Blumberg / Nathan Ponwith 6-3, 6-1
Justin Butsch / Tommy Mylnikov (5) def. Jake Stefanik / Stephen Watson 6-3, 3-6, 10-7
Girls’ 18s Singles (Quarterfinals)
Louisa Chirico (14) Harrison, NY def. Monica Robinson Valley Center, CA 6-3, 6-1
Michaela Gordon Los Altos Hills, CA def. Raquel Pedraza Claremont, CA 6-3, 6-3
Tornado Ali Black (6) Miami, FL def. Marika Akkerman (2) 6-4, 3-6, 6-4
Mayo Hibi (13) Irvine, CA def. Brooke Austin Indianapolis, IN 6-0, 6-2
Girls’ 18s Doubles (Quarterfinals)
Brooke Austin / Mayo Hibi def. Ayla Aksu / Hadley Berg (6) 6-4, 6-3
Spencer Liang / Peggy Porter def. Marika Akkerman / Rianna Valdes (2) 6-3, 6-2
Maegan Manasse / Jamie Loeb def. Monica Robinson / Mira Ruder-Hook 6-1, 6-1
Josie Kuhlman / Katerina Stewart def. Louisa Chirico / Dasha Ivanova (1) 6-2, 7-5
Boys’ 16s Singles (Round of 16)
Kalman Boyd (17) Rancho Santa Fe, CA def. Kial Kaiser (5) Saratoga, CA 6-0, 6-2
Sameer Kumar (1) Carmel, IN def. Spencer Richey Memphis, TN 7-5, 6-3
Chase Colton (4) Davie, FL def. Michael Lorenzini (17) Clarendon Hills, IL 6-2, 6-2
Kyle Seelig (2) Hatfield, PA def. Yancy Dennis (17) Reisterstown, MD 6-3, 6-2
Emil Reinberg (17) Atlanta, GA def. Stephen Madonia (17) Lakeland, FL 6-4, 6-3
Victor Pham (9) Saratoga, CA def. Catalin Mateas (8) Braintree, MA 6-2, 6-3
Jake DeVine (17) Boca Raton, FL def. Artemie Amari New York, NY 6-1, 2-6, 7-6(4)
Taylor Fritz (3) Rancho Santa Fe, CA def. Austin Rapp (17) Rancho Mirage, CA 6-2, 6-2
Boys’ 16s Doubles (Quarterfinals)
Henry Gordon / Austin Rapp (6) def. Daniel Gealer / Michael Lorenzini 6-2, 7-6(4)
Chase Colton / Alfredo Perez (12) def. Yancy Dennis / Brian Tsao 6-2, 6-2
Jake DeVine / Catalin Mateas (7) def. Taylor Fritz / Riley Smith (10) 4-6, 6-1, 10-6
Grayson Broadus / Jean Thirouin (5) def. Michael Chen / Julian Rozenstein (4) 6-2, 6-1
Girls’ 16s Singles (Round of 16)
Meredith Xepoleas (3) Huntington Beach, CA def. Jaclyn Switkes (17) Ponte Vedra Beach, FL 3-6, 6-2, 6-1
Emma Davis (17) Cohasset, MA def. Brienne Minor (6) Mundelein, IL 6-1, 4-6, 7-6(4)
Caroline Dolehide (7) Hinsdale, IL def. Madison Clarke (17) Phoenix, AZ 6-2, 6-0
Hanna Chang Fontana, CA def. Alaina Miller Saratoga, CA 6-3, 6-7, 6-2
Meghan Kelley (11) Falmouth, ME def. Rebecca Weissmann (17) Loveland, CO 6-4, 4-0 Ret (inj)
Emma Higuchi (4) Los Angeles, CA def. Katharine Fahey (14) Fair Haven, NJ 6-2, 6-2
Francesca Dilorenzo (1) New Albany, OH def. Jessie Aney Rochester, MN 6-2, 6-2
Catherine Bellis (8) Atherton, CA def. Kenadi Hance (17) Torrance, CA 4-6, 6-0, 6-0
Girls’ 16s Doubles (Round of 16)
Jessica Livianu / Alexandra Sabe def. Paige Cline / Gaby Pollner (5) 7-5, 6-1
Kenadi Hance / Risa Nakagawa (8) def. Madison Clarke / Michelle Lui 6-1, 6-1
Ena Shibahara / Savannah Slaysman (7) def. Annemarie Emme / Alexandra Sanford 7-5, 6-2
Caroline Dolehide / Brienne Minor (1) def. Ilana Oleynik / Drew Spinosa 6-0, 6-3
Emma Higuchi / Rebecca Weissmann (3) def. Kennedy Shaffer / Jaclyn Switkes (13) 6-4, 6-4
Jessie Aney / Alexis Nelson (6) def. Elizabeth Tsvetkov / Sabrina Xiong (16) 6-2, 6-3
Katharine Fahey / Jacqueline Urbinati (2) def. Lauren Goodman / Danielle Wolf (10) 6-2, 6-7(4), 10-8
Jada Hart / Stephanie Hazell def. Nadia Gizdova / Christina Rosca (12) 6-3, 6-3
Boys’ 14s Singles (Quarterfinals)
Zeke Clark (3) Tulsa, OK def. Jacob Brumm (6) Rancho Santa Fe, CA 6-3, 6-1
Nathan Perrone (5) Mount Laurel, NJ def. Robert Baylon, Buena Park, CA, 7-5, 6-1
John McNally (1) Cincinnati, OH def. Max Pham Newport Coast, CA 7-5, 6-3
Connor Hance (2) Torrance, CA def. Justin Lee (8) Cos Cob, CT 6-2, 6-2
Boys’ 14 Singles (Silver Draw 4th Round Losers, Quarterfinal Round)
Michael Zhao Princeton Jct, NJ def. Sam Riffice Roseville, CA 6-3, 6-2
Jake Van Emburgh Verona, WI def. Alafia Ayeni San Diego, CA 6-3, 6-4
Patrick Kypson Greenville, NC def. Alex Gee Bellaire, TX 6-1, 6-3
Conrad Russell Palo Alto, CA def. Noah Makarome Wesley Chapel, FL 6-2, 7-6(2)
Boys’ 14 Singles (Silver Draw 4th Round Losers, Semifinal Round)
Michael Zhao Princeton Jct, NJ def. Jake Van Emburgh Verona, WI 7-5, 6-3
Conrad Russell Palo Alto, CA def. Patrick Kypson Greenville, NC 6-0, 6-2
Boys’ 14s Doubles (Quarterfinals)
Connor Hance / Sam Riffice (14) def. Hady Habib / John McNally (2) 7-6(3), 0-6, 10-3
Bryce Pereira / Michael Zhao (5) def. Richard Ciamarra / Peter Conklin (9) 6-3, 6-2
Jonathan Dollahite / Dylan Levitt (16) def. Trent Bryde / Aleks Huryn 7-6(12), 6-1
Jake Van Emburgh / JJ Wolf (6) def. Brandon Lam / Max Pham 6-7(7), 6-2, 10-7
Girls’ 14s Singles (Quarterfinals)
Jaeda Daniel (3) Port Charlotte, FL def. Kylie McKenzie (6) Anthem, AZ 6-4, 6-4
Ashley Lahey (11) Hawthorne, CA def. Ellie Douglas (10) McKinney, TX 7-5, 6-2
Alexa Graham (17) Garden City, NY def. Janice Shin (17) Houston, TX 6-2, 6-0
Ryan Peus (9) Carpinteria, CA def. Claire Liu (1) Thousand Oaks, CA 6-2, 6-3
Girls’ 14 Singles (Silver Draw 4th Round Losers, Quarterfinal Round)
Samantha Martinelli Denver, CO def. Abigail Chiu Austin, TX 6-1, 6-3
Loren Haukova Elmsford, NY def. Christie Wan Rowland Heights, CA 6-3, 6-1
Abigail Desiatnikov Gates Mills, OH def. Sofia Sewing Doral, FL 6-3, 6-4
Riley McQuaid Tustin, CA def. Rachel Lim Briarcliff Manor, NY 6-3, 6-2
Girls’ 14 Singles (Silver Draw 4th Round Losers, Semifinal Round)
Riley McQuaid Tustin, CA def. Samantha Martinelli Denver, CO 6-3, 6-0
Abigail Desiatnikov Gates Mills, OH def. Loren Haukova Elmsford, NY 6-3, 6-0
Girls’ 14s Doubles (Semifinals)
Hada Chang / Abigail Chiu (1) def. Darya Possokhova / Katya Tabachnik (8) 6-2, 7-5
Kelly Chen / Annette Goulak (2) def. Samantha Martinelli / Delaney Nothaft (3) 6-4, 6-2
—S. Pratt
MCDONALD ATTEMPTS TO BE 1ST REPEAT WINNER OF ASICS EASTER BOWL SINCE 1971-72
UCLA Recruit Will Face Strong Field In Boys’ 18s; New Venue Highlights
Year of Change for Iconic USTA Junior Spring Nationals Starting Sunday
RANCHO MIRAGE, Calif. (April 6, 2013) – UCLA recruit Mackenzie McDonald will attempt to become the first boys’ 18s back-to-back winner since Grey King in 1971-72 as the 46th annual ASICS Easter Bowl, the nation’s elite junior tennis tournament, begins on Sunday.
The ASICS Easter Bowl will be played for the first time at the Sunrise Country Club just down the road from its former home in Rancho Mirage, Calif. The ASICS Easter Bowl is a USTA National Spring Championships in boys’ and girls’ 14s and 16s and an International Tennis Federation Grade 1 level tournament in the 18s.
McDonald is also attempting to become a three-time winner of the event, having previously won the boys’ 14s in 2009. In recent years, Donald Young did the same, winning the 14s and then the boys’ 18s twice in 2004 and 2006. In 2005, US Davis Cup player Sam Querrey took home the 18s title.
In last year’s 18s final, McDonald defeated Alexios Halebian in straight sets. On the girls’ side, ITF world No. 1 junior Taylor Townsend took home the singles title in the 18s.
Once again this year, the winner of the boys’ and girls’ 18s this year will receive a wild card into the main draw at the US Open Juniors and a USTA Pro Circuit Futures event.
ASICS America is a popular athletic footwear, apparel and accessories company headquartered in Irvine, Calif., ASICS has made a huge leap with its involvement into tennis by offering award-winning tennis footwear and apparel, launching a collection of tennis rackets, and sponsoring some of the top professional tennis athletes in the world such as WTA former No. 1 Samantha Stosur of Australia. The U.S. ASICS tennis team features former Easter Bowl standouts Steve Johnson and Irina Falconi, both currently making huge waves on the national and international stages.
Laurel Springs School, an accredited, online private school, has signed on as a major sponsor of the event and like ASICS will be on-site all week during the tournament. On Monday night, Laurel Springs will host an informational gathering and Coaches Seminar as Laurel Springs School founder Marilyn Mosley Gordanier will be on hand to answer questions and share information about Laurel Springs. The event begins at 5 p.m. at the Sunrise Country Club. Coaching legends Larry Stefanki (John McEnroe, Marcelo Rios and Andy Roddick) and USC men’s coach Peter Smith will entertain questions. More than 60 Easter Bowl players attend Laurel Springs.
Here are the top three seeded players in each division:
Boys’ 18s: Noah Rubin (Rockville Centre, N.Y.); Stefan Kozlov (Pembroke Pines, Fla.); Mackenzie McDonald (Piedmont, Calif.)
Girls’ 18s: Jamie Loeb (Ossing, N.Y.); Louisa Chirico (Westchester, N.Y.), Marika Akkerman (Toronto, Canada)
Boys’ 16s: Sameer Kumar (Carmel, Ind.); Kyle Seelig (Hatfield, Pa.); Taylor Fritz (Rancho Santa Fe, Calif.)
Girls’ 16s: Francesca Dilorenzo (New Albany, Ohio); Ena Shibahara (Rancho Palos Verdes, Calif.); Meredith Xepoleas (Huntington Beach, Calif.)
Boys’ 14s: John McNally (Cincinnati); Connor Hance (Torrance, Calif.); Zeke Clark (Tulsa, Okla.)
Girls’ 14s: Claire Liu (Thousand Oaks, Calif.); Kelly Chen (Cerritos, Calif.); Jaeda Daniel (Port Charlotte, Fla.).
Another significant change at this year’s ASICS Easter Bowl is that Lornie Kuhle has taken over as tournament chairman, seeking to continue a tradition started in 1968 by New Yorker and tournament founder Seena Hamilton.
First played in 1968, the ASICS Easter Bowl has been noted not only for the hospitality given to players and parents, but for its far-reaching media exposure and for keeping all the game’s important issues in public view.
Sponsors include ASICS America, Laurel Springs School, Advantage Tennis Academy and the Southern California Tennis Association.
The 18s ITF page for the 2013 event can be found here: http://www.itftennis.com/juniors/tournaments/tournament/info.aspx?tournamentid=1100028051
For 16s and 14s go to TennisLink here:
http://tennislink.usta.com/Tournaments/TournamentHome/Tournament.aspx?T=122896
To keep up with all the ASICS Easter Bowl news, visit the website at http://www.easterbowl.com and check out the tournament on Facebook (www.facebook.com/EasterBowl) and Twitter (@easterbowl). For real deal coverage, follow @zootennis!
—S. Pratt
McDonald Wins Battle of the Future Bruins
At USTA International Spring Championships, NY’s Rubin Rolls On
CARSON, Calif., (Wednesday, April 3, 2013) – It won’t be long now before Mackenzie McDonald and Joseph DiGiulio trade in their matching blue Nike hats they wore on Wednesday for Adidas Bruin blue.
The good friends and future collegiate teammates squared off in the second round of the USTA International Springs Championships with McDonald coming out the victor at the ninth annual event being played at the Home Depot Center, 4-6, 6-2, 6-3.
UCLA men’s coach Billy Martin had a conflict earlier in the day so he missed the match, before arriving later in the day. “I was glad to hear it was a good match, a close match,” Martin said. “I did have a conference call I had to be on, but I was kind of glad. I don’t really like to watch two recruits like that play. They may be thinking, ‘Coach is watching, is this a challenge match?’ ”
Martin later watched his third future recruit Gage Brymer of Irvine battle top-seeded Noah Rubin of Rockville Centre, N.Y., eventually falling, 7-6 (6), 6-3. “It’s good to see these guys in this environment,” Martin said. “I get to see how they set up points and exactly where they might fit into our lineup. “
McDonald said after the match that he and DiGiuilo are good friends, having formed a bond on tennis trips together to the Czech Republic and Spain. “It was a little hard playing him, but we know we are going to be teammates,” McDonald said. “We’re going to have a deep team next year.”
Martin said the two should not have to worry about trading in their Nike gear for Adidas. “It’s free, so they can’t complain,” he said. “Believe me, that’s the least of their concerns entering college.”
In the biggest upset of the day, 14-year-old Caroline Dolehide, the No. 14-seed in the girls’ 16s from Hinsdale, Ill., defeated top-seeded Ally Miller-Krasilnikov of Boca Raton, Fla., 3-6, 6-2, 6-3. Dolehide was watched by sister Courtney’s college coach Stella Sampras-Webster of UCLA in just her second ITF junior event. “It was pretty excited,” Dolehide said. “I tried not to think about the seedings and just went out there and played.”
In another big upset on the day, qualifier Kimberly Yee from Las Vegas defeated No. 7-seeded Dasha Ivanova of Beaverton, Ore., convincingly, 6-1, 6-2. “I just had fun out there,” Yee said. “I don’t even know who I’m playing half the time. I just go out there and try to do the best I can. Today everything worked.”
On her 17th birthday, unseeded Mayo Hibi of Irvine beat No. 6-seeded Rianna Valdes of Boca Raton, Fla., 6-1, 6-0.
Local South Bay resident Maegan Manasse of Redondo Beach upset No. 4-seeded Sandra Samir, 7-6 (6), 6-4, in a girls’ 18s match. Hawthorne’s Ashley Lahey fell to No. 2-seeded Jada Robinson of Reisterstown, Md., 6-2, 7-5, in the girls’ 16s.
The Hance siblings also fell in 16s action on Wednesday in singles as Kenadi lost to Angela Kulikov of Sun Valley, 6-4, 6-0, and top-seeded William Blumberg of Greenwich, Conn., defeated her brother Connor, 7-6 (5), 6-1.
To see the updated Girls’ 16s singles draw, click here:
To see the updated Girls’ 18s singles draw, click here:
To see the updated Boys’ 16s singles draw, click here:
To see the updated Boys’ 18s singles draw, click here:
For a complete run down of Wednesday’s scores and updated draws, log onto the website at http://www.usta.com/isc.
Boys’ 18 Singles (Round of 32)
Mackenzie. McDonald (3), Piedmont, CA def. Joseph DiGiulio 4-6, 6-2, 6-3
Andres Alfonso, Paredes Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of def. Logan Smith, Carlsbad, CA 6-1, 6-4
Grant Solomon, Dallas, TX def. Stephen Watson, Orlando, FL 6-2, 6-1
Stefan Kozlov (2), Pembroke Pines, FL def. Stefan Doehler, Santa Ana, CA 7-5, 3-6, 6-3
Naoki Nakagawa (4), Japan def. Thomas Mayronne, Monroe, LA 6-3, 6-4
Alex Rybakov, Coral Springs, FL def. Sameer Kumar, Carmel, IN 2-6, 6-1, 6-4
Daniel Kerznerman (10), Brooklyn, NY def. Terrance Whitehurst, Tallahassee, FL 6-2, 6-3
Spencer Papa (6), Edmond, OK def. Diego Omar Nunez Felix, Mexico 5-7, 6-4, 6-3
Francis Tiafoe (14), College Park, MD def. Tommy Paul, Deerfield Beach, FL 6-3, 6-3
AJ Catanzariti, Pittsburgh, PA def. William Bushamuka, Princeton, NJ 7-6(4), 6-2
Tommy Mylnikov, (9) Bradenton, FL def. Carter Lin, Bradenton, FL 7-5, 6-4
Henrik Wiersholm, Kirkland, WA def. Jake Stefanik, Coral Springs, FL 6-3, 6-3
JC Aragone, Yorba Linda, CA def. Deiton Baughman, Carson, CA 6-3, 6-4
Noah Rubin (1), Rockville Centre, NY def. Gage Brymer, Irvine, CA 7-6(6), 6-3
Ciro Riccardi, Los Angeles, CA def. Martin Redlicki (8), Hawthorn Woods, IL 7-6(5), 6-4
Alexander Zverev (11), Wesley Chapel, FL def. Dylan Nunez, Boca Raton, FL 6-1, 6-1
Boys’ 18 Doubles (Round of 16)
Justin Butsch / Lucas Gomez (6) def. Stefan Doehler / Tyler Lu 6-1, 7-5
Luca Corinteli / Martin Redlicki (1) def. Anudeep Kodali / Lamar Remy 6-1, 6-2
Tommy Mylnikov / Naoki Nakagawa (2) def. Santiago Cevallos / Jake Stefanik 6-1, 6-2
Michael Mmoh / Francis Tiafoe (4) def. Andrew Li Hei Yin / Arkadijs Slobodkins 6-2, 7-5
Jordi Arconada / Tommy Paul def. Farzin Amiri / Gerardo Lopez Villasenor 6-2, 4-6, 11-9
Walker DUNCAN / John Mee def. Christian Langmo / Javier Restrepo 6-3, 6-0
Spencer Papa / Alexander Zverev (3) def. Deiton Baughman / Robbie Bellamy 6-3, 6-7(5), 10-4
JC Aragone / M. Mackenzie. McDonald (5) def. Nicholas Crystal / Mac Roy 6-2, 6-4
Girls’ 18 Singles (Round of 32)
Madison Bourguignon (8), Boynton Beach, FL def. Camila Wesbrooks, McKinney, TX 7-6(6); 7-6(3)
Nicole Frenkel, Winchester, MA def. Johnnise Renaud (9), North Miami, FL 3-6; 6-4; 6-2
Peggy Porter, Dallas, TX def. Alyssa Smith, Laguna Niguel, CA 6-3; 6-0
Kimberly Yee, Las Vegas, NV def. Dasha Ivanova (7), Beaverton, OR 6-1; 6-2
Mayo Hibi, Irvine, CA def. Rianna Valdes (6), Boca Raton, FL 6-1; 6-0
Spencer Liang, Potomac, MD def. Usue Arconada (10), Rio Piedras, PR 6-3; 6-1
Alejandra Cisneros Gomez (3), Mexico def. Raquel Pedraza, Claremont, CA 6-1; 6-2
Ellie Halbauer (12), Daniel Island, SC def. Denise Starr, Boca Raton, FL 6-4; 6-4
Christina Makarova (1), San Diego, CA def. Ayla Aksu, San Francisco, CA 6-4; 6-4G
Maegan Manasse, Redondo Beach, CA def. Sandra Samir (4), 7-6(6), 6-4
Jamie Loeb (5), Ossining, NY def. Maddie Pothoff, Tucson, AZ 6-0, 6-0
Maria Shishkina (11), Bradenton, FL def. Alexa Anton-Ohlmeyer, Calabasas, CA 6-1, 6-1
Adeliya Zabirova, Pembroke Pines, FL def. Marie Norris (13), Burdett, KS 6-3, 3-6, 6-2
Ines Vias, Germantown, MD def. cassandra vazquez (16), Houston, TX 6-4, 6-0
Ellyse Hamlin, Fairfield, CT def. Kaitlyn McCarthy (15), Cary, NC 5-5 Ret (inj)
Victoria Rodriguez (2), Weston, FL def. Monica Robinson, Valley Center, CA 6-1, 6-2
Girls’ 18 Doubles (Round of 16)
Tornado Ali Black / Sandra Samir (3) def. Ayla Aksu / Emma Critser 7-6(4), 7-5
Brooke Austin / Kimberly Yee def. Cassandra Vazquez / Camila Wesbrooks 6-3, 6-1
Mayo Hibi / Denise Starr (7) def. Mayci Jones / Alyssa Smith 6-1, 6-2
Jamie loeb / Maegan Manasse def. Dasha Ivanova / Christina Makarova (2) 6-2, 6-4
Mingxiu DU / Johnnise Renaud def. Ndindi Ndunda / Maria Shishkina 6-1, 6-4
Alejandra Cisneros Gomez / Victoria Rodriguez (1) def. Alexandra Bourguignon / Madison Bourguignon 6-1, 6-2
Usue Arconada / jessica cortes (8) def. Mary Haffey / Emma Higuchi 2-6, 6-3, 10-8
Boys’ 16 Singles (Round of 16)
Catalin Mateas (7), Braintree, MA def. Jake Gabay (11), Safety Harbor, FL 6-3, 6-0
Jake Devine (4), Boca Raton, FL def. Charles Pei, San Diego, CA 6-1, 6-3
Kyle Seelig (12), Hatfield, PA def. Chase Colton (8), Davie, FL 6-2, 6-2
Jean Thirouin (2), Houston, TX def. Grayson Broadus (16), Carrollton, TX 4-6, 6-2, 1-1 Ret (inj)
Robert Levine (5), Bedford, NY def. Ethan Young-Smith, Ojai, CA 6-2, 3-0 Ret (inj)
Kalman Boyd, Rancho Santa Fe, CA def. Taylor Fritz (13), Rancho Santa Fe, CA 6-2, 7-6(4)
Alexander Lebedev, Island Park, NY def. Sam Riffice (10), Roseville, CA 7-5, 6-2
William Blumberg (1), Greenwich, CT def. Connor Hance (15), Torrance, CA 7-6(5), 6-1
Boys’ 16 Doubles (Round of 16)
Taylor Fritz / Daniel Gealer (8) def. Ryan Cheng / William Genesen 6-0, 6-3
Grayson Broadus / Jean Thirouin (2) def. Ethan Young-Smith / Andy Zhou Wo (inj)
Jake Gabay / Alan Sweet (7) def. Maxwell Cancilla / Victor Miglo 6-3, 5-7, 10-4
Michael Genender / James Wasserman def. Johnathan Small / Jack VanSlyke (3) 5-7, 6-4, 10-8
Chase Colton / Kyle Seelig (5) def. Zac Brodney / Connor Hance 6-0, 7-5
Emil Reinberg / Brian Tsao (6) def. Max Liu / Charles Pei Wo (inj)
Hady Habib / Max Pham def. Jake Devine / Spencer Furman (1) 6-3, 4-6, 10-4
Robert Levine / Evan Zhu (4) def. Kalman Boyd / Konrad Kozlowski 6-3, 7-6(7)
Girls’ 16 Singles (Round of 16)
Jada Robinson (2), Reisterstown, MD def. Ashley Lahey, Hawthorne, CA 6-2, 7-5
Angela Kulikov, Sun Valley, CA def. Kenadi Hance, Torrance, CA 6-4, 6-0
Claire Liu, Thousand Oaks, CA def. Alexis Nelson, Saint Paul, MN 6-1, 6-1
Sydney Van, Alphen Laguna Beach, CA def. Marjorie Antohi, El Paso, TX 3-6, 6-4, 7-6(6)
Kylie McKenzie (7), Anthem, AZ def. Jessica Failla, Ramona, CA 6-4, 6-4
Ena Shibahara (13), Rancho Palos Verdes, CA def. Rebecca Weissmann (3), Loveland, CO 6-3, 6-1
Samantha Martinelli (12), Denver, CO def. Jessica Livianu, Brooklyn, NY 6-1, 6-3
Caroline Dolehide (14), Hinsdale, IL def. Ally Miller-Krasilnikov (1), Boca Raton, FL 3-6, 6-2, 6-3
Girls’ 16 Doubles (Round of 16)
Ena Shibahara / Savannah Slaysman def. Samantha Martinelli / Delaney Nothaft (7) 6-3, 6-3
Alexa Corcoleotes / Vanessa Nommensen (2) def. Ashley Lahey / Ryan Peus 6-3, 4-6, 10-8
Abigail Chiu / Madison Tedford def. Kenadi Hance / Ally Miller-Krasilnikov (3) 6-2, 2-6, 10-3
Marjorie Antohi / Rylie Cox def. Caitlin Calkins / Jada Robinson (4) 6-3, 6-2
Caroline Dolehide / Alexis Nelson (8) def. Kelly Chen / Annette Goulak 6-4, 6-0
Aliya Alenikov / Kalani Soli def. Paige Cline / Gaby Pollner (5) 6-0, 6-4
Paulina Ferrari / Jada Hart (6) def. Stephanie Hazell / Tracy Van 6-2, 6-7(5), 10-3
Madison Appel / Rebecca Weissmann (1) def. Yuki Asami / Risa Nakagawa 6-2, 7-5
—S. Pratt