2013/05/21

Kozlov Continues Dominance Over Wiersholm; Hibi Captures Girls’ 18s At USTA International Spring Championships

 

By Steve Pratt

CARSON, Calif., (Sunday, April 7, 2013) – Stefan Kozlov’s dominance over Henrik Wiersholm continued on one of the biggest stages in junior tennis on Sunday in the final of the ninth annual USTA International Spring Championships.
The 15-year-old Kozlov from Pembroke Pines, Fla., dominated his USTA National Training Center practice partner and buddy, 16-year-old Wiersholm from Kirkland, Wash., beating him for the eighth consecutive time, 6-2, 6-3, at the Home Depot Center to capture the coveted Carson boys’ 18s singles title.
In the girls’ final, recently turned 17-year-old Mayo Hibi of Irvine, Calif., played flawless tennis to take out Jamie Loeb of Ossining, N.Y., 6-2, 6-1, to win the girls’ 18s championship.
Kozlov was a finalist here a year ago, falling to Mitchell Krueger on the final day. He controlled the play on Sunday and overcame a mental lapse up 3-0 in the second set to record the win.
“At 3-0, 30-love I kind of made some unforced errors and thought he might be able to get back in it,” Kozlov said. “He couldn’t find his rhythm. I tried to keep him off balance and to hit a lot of winners.”
Wiersholm said losing to someone over and over again can take its toll on a player. “The more I play him the more chances I’ll have, but it’s all mental now,” he said. “Once it gets to 8-0, 7-0, whatever, it just gets into your head. You can’t really perform how you want to. It’s like, ‘I’ve lost seven times to this guy, I can’t lose again.’ You just can’t focus on winning when you haven’t won before.”
He added: “There’s not much to say. The score kind of says it all. I don’t think it was my highest level, but part of that was him throwing me off my rhythm. That’s why he’s such a good player.”
Kozlov admitted there was pressure on him to do well after making the final last year. “I kind of had a little bit of pressure too because I thought he would just come out and start spraying balls, but he played a little bit different than I thought he would,” the No. 2-seeded Kozlov said. “He had more pressure than me today but I’m starting to get better at staying loose and dealing with it.”
Kozlov said he hopes to make it into the Top 12 of the International Tennis Federation junior rankings after winning the title, and that his goals are to eventually get into the Top 10 and do well at the remaining three junior Grand Slams, as well as play some USTA Pro Circuit and ITF Futures professional tournaments.
In the girls’ final, former Carson 16s finalist Hibi just couldn’t seem to miss in her win over University of North Carolina-bound Loeb. “I haven’t played a junior event in awhile so it’s good to get a win in my first one back,” said Hibi, currently ranked around No. 370 on the WTA Tour.
Hibi said working with former WTA pro Debbie Graham has upped her game.
“She’s been on the Tour and knows what it takes to get to that level,” Hibi said. “She knows what you need to beat the top players. She’s played players like Lindsay Davenport and I’m going to have to play players like that. She knows what I have to work on.”
Loeb said Hibi didn’t give her any free points. ”If I hit a better shot she came up with an even better one,” she said. “It was tough. She played a very good match. She missed one slice all day and got to a lot of my balls.”
It’s onto the USTS Spring Nationals at the Easter Bowl next week in the desert for all four players. “I think it’s good for me to get back out there tomorrow,” Loeb said. “I tend to spend too much time on my losses and dwell on it. So having a match tomorrow gives me a chance to forget about it. It’s not that I played horrible, Mayo just played that much better.”
For a complete look at final draws, log onto the website at www.usta.com/isc.
Boys’ 18 Singles (Final)
Stefan Kozlov (2), Pembroke Pines, Fla., def. Henrik Wiersholm, Kirkland, Wash., 6-2, 6-3
Girls’ 18 Singles (Final)
Mayo Hibi, Irvine, Calif., def. Jamie Loeb (5), Ossining, N.Y., 6-2, 6-1
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Ena Shibahara Pulls Out Two Titles At USTA International Spring Championships

Ena Shibahara photo by Cynthia Lum / USTA

Ena Shibahara photo by Cynthia Lum / USTA

By Steve Pratt
CARSON, Calif., (Saturday, April 6, 2013) – They came from all parts of the United States and even countries like Japan, Mexico, Canada, Colombia, Germany, Argentina and Venezuela, but on the final day of the 16-and-under division at the USTA International Spring Championships on Saturday, a player from Pete Sampras’ childhood hometown just eight miles up the hill from here captured both the singles and doubles titles.
Ena Shibahara, 15, of Rancho Palos Verdes swept past 12-year-old Claire Liu of Thousand Oaks, 6-1, 6-2, to win the girls’ 16s singles title, and then teamed with Savannah Slaysman to capture the doubles at the prestigious event being played at the Home Depot Center.
“She sure doesn’t look 12,” Shibahara said of Liu, who trains at the USTA Training Center West in Carson three days a week. “She had a little more power than I thought.”
Shibahara trains with her father and coaches Oliver Messerli and Kimberly Po-Messerli near her home at the Peninsula Racquet Club. Po-Messerli was a successful WTA player winning the Wimbledon mixed doubles title in 2000 with Donald Johnson and made it all the way to the Australian Open quarterfinals in 1997.
Shibahara said winning a gold ball at the USTA Winternationals helped boost her confidence over the last few months.
Liu said she picked a bad time to play her worst match of the tournament, especially with USTA coach Adam Peterson looking on. “He just said I played well in the rounds before and just learn from it,” Liu said.
You can’t get much closer than boys’ 16s singles finalists Jake Devine and Catalin Mateas have been this week as the two USTA National Training Center practice partners shared a room during the entire week.
Using his booming serve to get him out of several tight spots throughout the match, the No. 4-seeded Devine of Boca Raton, Fla., beat Mateas No. 7 from Braintree, Mass., 2-6, 6-3, 6-4.
“I don’t think we’ve ever played a match in a tournament where it hasn’t gone three sets,” said Devine, who blamed nerves on his slow start. “It was kind of a pattern for me in this tournament. I started slow and it took me awhile to find my game and I finally started to hit my forehand.”
With Devine serving leading 3-2 in the final set, Mateas had a break-point chance to get it back on serve, but missed an easy down the line passing shot just wide. “I had a chance there, but I just couldn’t convert,” he said. “Every chance I had he came up with a big serve.”
In a battle of 15-year-olds in one 18s semifinal, No. 2-seeded Stefan Kozlov of Pembroke Pines, Fla., came up with the bigger shots against Francis Tiafoe of College Park, Md., 6-3, 6-4.
It marks a return trip to the final for Kozlov, who as a 14-year-old lost to Mitchell Krueger in last year’s final. “Last year in the final I wasn’t playing my game and attacking, I was playing more defense and letting him dictate the points,” said Kozlov, ranked No. 21 in the ITF junior world rankings.
He faces 16-year-old Henrik Wiersholm of Kirkland, Wash., in the 9 a.m. Sunday final. Wiersholm trains with Kozlov at the National Training Center in Boca. “It hasn’t been much of a rivalry because I have never beaten him,” said Wiersholm, calling Kozlov one of the smartest players in junior tennis. “I’m hoping to change that in the final.”
In the girls’ 18s final the same time as the boys, Jamie Loeb of Ossining, N.Y., will take on Irvine’s Mayo Hibi. Loeb ended Kimberly Yee’s run, 6-2, 6-4. Yee, who trains at Mike Agassi’s No Quit Academy in Las Vegas, was a qualifier who was riding a seven-match winning streak entering the match. Hibi beat top-seeded Christina Makarova of San Diego, 6-4, 6-1.
Loeb and Redondo Beach’s Maegan Manasse downed Hibi and Denise Starr for the 18s doubles title, 6-3, 6-3, while Tommy Mylnikov and Naoki Nakagawa beat Spencer Papa and Alexander Zverev, 6-4, 7-5, for the 18s boys’ title. In the boys’ 16s doubles final, Taylor Fritz and Daniel Gealer beat Chase Colton and Kyle Seelig, 6-2, 6-3.
For a complete run down of Saturday’s scores and updated draws, log onto the website at www.usta.com/isc.
Boys’ 18 Singles (Semifinals)
Henrik Wiersholm, Kirkland, WA def. Naoki Nakagawa (4), Japan 6-4, 6-3
Stefan Kozlov (2), Pembroke Pines, FL def. Francis Tiafoe (14), College Park, MD 6-3, 6-4
Boys’ 18 Doubles (Final)
Tommy Mylnikov / Naoki Nakagawa (2) def. Spencer Papa / Alexander Zverev (3) 6-4, 7-5
Girls’ 18 Singles (Semifinals)
Jamie Loeb (5), Ossining, NY def. Kimberly Yee, Las Vegas, NV 6-2, 6-4
Mayo Hibi, Irvine, CA def. Christina Makarova (1), San Diego, CA 6-4, 6-1
Girls’ 18 Doubles (Final)
Jamie Loeb / Maegan Manasse def. Mayo Hibi / Denise Starr (7) 6-3, 6-3
Boys’ 16 Singles (Final)
Jake Devine (4), Boca Raton, FL def. Catalin Mateas (7), Braintree, MA 2-6, 6-3, 6-4
Boys’ 16 Doubles (Final)
Taylor Fritz / Daniel Gealer (8) def. Chase Colton / Kyle Seelig (5) 6-2, 6-3
Girls’ 16 Singles (Final)
Ena Shibahara (13), Rancho Palos Verdes, CA def. Claire Liu, Thousand Oaks, CA 6-1, 6-2
Girls’ 16 Doubles (Final)
Ena Shibahara / Savannah Slaysman def. Caroline Dolehide / Alexis Nelson (8) 7-6(1), 6-2
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Qualifier Yee Turns Tables On Porter At USTA International Spring Championships

Kimmie Yee photo by USTA

Kimmie Yee photo by USTA

By Steve Pratt

CARSON, Calif., (Friday, April 5, 2013) – Getting stronger and stronger as each round progresses, Las Vegas qualifier Kimberly Yee won her seventh match in seven days on Friday, exacting some revenge against Dallas’ Peggy Porter in convincing fashion, 6-1, 6-2, to advance to the girls’ 18s semifinals at the USTA International Spring Championships being played at the Home Depot Center.
Just last week, Yee fell to Porter in the quarterfinals of the Claremont ITF. “I just felt more confident today, I was the attacker,” said Yee, 16. “She was making a few more errors but it was because I was forcing them.”
Yee feels fortunate just to be alive in the tournament as she has won two third-set tiebreaks, including one in the quarterfinals on Thursday where she faced a match point, and in her second-round qualifying match last Sunday when she overcame two match points. Later that day she qualified for the main draw with a straight-set win before a much needed day of rest on Monday.
Yee will next face No. 5 seeded Jamie Loeb of Ossining, N.Y., who needed nearly three hours to defeat No. 2-seeded Victoria Rodriguez of Weston, Fla., 5-7, 6-3, 6-3.
In the other 18s semifinal, top-seeded Christina Makarova will face unseeded Mayo Hibi of Irvine, as both were easy straight-set winners on Friday.
In the boys’ 18s, two 16-year-olds and a pair of 15-year-olds all won big matches Friday to make the Final Four weekend. Henrik Wiersholm, 16, of Kirkland, Wash., upset top-seeded top Noah Rubin of Rockville Centre, N.Y., 6-4, 6-3. Just like Yee’s revenge win, the same was true for Wiersholm, who fell to Rubin in their only other meeting at the ITF Pan American Championships in Tulsa, Okla., last fall.
“The ’97 and ’98s (years born) are coming through here,” Wiersholm said. “We all train together and push each other a lot so when we come to big events like this it really shows.”
Wiersholm is a former winner of Les Petits As, a prestigious Under-14 event played in France, and he’s joined in the semifinals by another former Les Petits As victor, 15-year-old Francis Tiaofe of College Park, Md.
Tiafoe, the No. 14 seed who is No. 114 in the ITF world rankings, won his second consecutive third-set tiebreak match, and said afterward that he doesn’t fear anyone in the draw, including his semifinal opponent, fellow 15-year-old Stefan Kozlov.
“He’s considered the best from ’98 in the U.S., and I put myself at No. 2,” Tiafoe said of Kozlov. “He’s an unbelievable player, Top 15 in the world. I’ve never been able to beat him and he’s gotten the better of me the three or four times we’ve played.”
Tiafoe said his confidence level is at an all-time high. “I know I can beat anyone in the draw,” he said. “You can never be too confident. Every match I play I believe I can win.”
In the girls’ 16s final, 12-year-old Claire Liu of Thousand Oaks will face No. 13-seeded Ena Shibahara of Rancho Palos Verdes. It’s a home match for Liu, a seventh-grader who trains three days a week at the Carson site which is the home for the USTA Training Center West. Shibahara beat No. 12-seeded Samantha Martinelli of Denver, Colo., 6-2, 6-1.
In the boys’ 16s final, No. 7-seeded Catalin Mateas of Braintree, Mass., will face No. 4-seeded Jake Devine of Boca Raton, Fla.
For a complete run down of Friday’s scores and updated draws, log onto the website at www.usta.com/isc.
Boys’ 18 Singles (Quarterfinals)
Stefan Kozlov (2), Pembroke Pines, FL def. Spencer Papa (6), Edmond, OK 6-2, 6-2
Naoki Nakagawa (4), Japan def. Alexander Zverev (11), Wesley Chapel, FL 2-6, 6-3, 6-3
Henrik Wiersholm, Kirkland, WA def. Noah Rubin (1), Rockville Centre, NY 6-4, 6-3
Francis Tiafoe (14), College Park, MD def. Daniel Kerznerman (10), Brooklyn, NY 3-6, 6-3, 7-6(3)
Boys’ 18 Doubles (Semifinals)
Tommy Mylnikov / Naoki Nakagawa (2) def. Walker Duncan / John Mee 6-2, 6-2
Spencer Papa / Alexander Zverev (3) def. Luca Corinteli / Martin Redlicki (1) 3-6, 6-4, 10-4
Girls’ 18 Singles (Quarterfinals)
Christina Makarova (1), San Diego, CA def. Madison Bourguignon (8), Boynton Beach, FL 6-3, 6-2
Mayo Hibi, Irvine, CA def. Alejandra Cisneros Gomez (3), Mexico 6-1, 6-1
Kimberly Yee, Las Vegas, NV def. Peggy Porter, Dallas, TX 6-1, 6-2
Jamie Loeb (5), Ossining, NY def. Victoria Rodriguez (2), Weston, FL 5-7, 6-3, 6-3
Girls’ 18 Doubles (Semifinals)
Mayo Hibi / Denise Starr (7) def. Alejandra Cisneros Gomez / Victoria Rodriguez (1) 6-4, 2-6, 10-6
Jamie Loeb / Maegan Manasse def. Brooke Austin / Kimberly Yee 6-2, 6-1
Boys’ 16 Singles (Semifinals)
Catalin Mateas (7), Braintree, MA def. Kalman Boyd, Rancho Santa Fe, CA 7-6(3), 6-1
Jake Devine (4), Boca Raton, FL def. Kyle Seelig (12), Hatfield, PA 7-6(5), 4-6, 6-1
Boys’ 16 Doubles (Semifinals)
Chase Colton / Kyle Seelig (5) def. Grayson Broadus / Jean Thirouin (2) 6-2, 6-4
Taylor Fritz / Daniel Gealer (8) def. Emil Reinberg / Brian Tsao (6) 6-3, 2-6, 10-8
Girls’ 16 Singles (Semifinals)
Claire Liu, Thousand Oaks, CA def. Caroline Dolehide (14), Hinsdale, IL 7-5, 6-0
Ena Shibahara (13), Rancho Palos Verdes, CA def. Samantha Martinelli (12), Denver, CO 6-2, 6-1
Girls’ 16 Doubles (Semifinals)
Caroline Dolehide / Alexis Nelson (8) def. Madison Appel / Rebecca Weissmann (1) 6-1, 6-3
Ena Shibahara / Savannah Slaysman def. Paulina Ferrari / Jada Hart (6) 6-1, 6-2
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Tight Matches Rule the Day At USTA International Spring Championships

Spring1_USTAISCBy Steve Pratt
CARSON, Calif., (Thursday, April 4, 2013) – It’s safe to say that if you make it to Friday of the USTA International Spring Championships you are considered one of the best junior tennis players in the world.
Sixteen was cut to eight in the boys’ and girls’ 18s division on Thursday as some very close three-set matches highlighted the day of play at the Home Depot Center.
In one of the straight-set matches, Jamie Loeb, the No. 5 seeded player from Ossining, N.Y., used her experience to defeat 14-year-old Maria Shishkina, the No. 11 seed from Bradenton, Fla., 6-3, 6-4.
The 18-year-old Loeb is headed to the University of North Carolina on a full-ride tennis scholarship in the fall, but first would like to use her positive results in Carson and possibly next week at the Easter Bowl to qualify for the main draw of the junior French Open, Wimbledon and US Open over the next five months.
“I’m going to try and get into all the remaining junior Grand Slams,” said Loeb, who trains at the John McEnroe Academy on Randall’s Island in New York. “I really haven’t thought much about it, that this is it for my junior career; my last Carson and Easter Bowl. But, you know, it’s time to move on.”
Moving on is what 15-year-old Francis Tiafoe, the No. 14 seed from College Park, Md., did taking out No. 3 seeded Mackenzie McDonald of Piedmont, Calif., 7-6 (4), 1-6, 7-6 (3) in two hours and 26 minutes in one of the day’s most competitive matches.
Similarly, Las Vegas qualifier Kimberly Yee pulled out a nearly three-hour marathon, also needing a three-set tiebreak to down Nicole Frenkel of Winchester, Mass., 6-3, 1-6, 7-6 (6).
“I couldn’t just keep it in and get it back because I knew she would put away everything if I did,” said Yee, who battled a mid-afternoon wind. “It can get windy in Las Vegas so I’m used to it.”
With his grandmother loyally watching him all week, No. 6-seeded Spencer Papa of Edmond, Okla., beat Tommy Mylnikov, the No. 9 seed from Bradenton, Fla., 7-5, 6-4, to advance to the quarterfinals on Friday.
He next meets friend and USTA National Training partner for the past two years Stefan Kozlov, the No. 2 seed.
“It’s always nice to have someone in your family at your matches,” said Papa, whose father’s family is from nearby Orange County. His grandmother Sharon Tisdale Papa resides in Laguna Niguel.
Papa, 17, is a junior in school, but still has no plans for college. “I’ve always wanted to turn pro,” he said. “I have no idea where I’d go if I had to decide tomorrow.”
Loeb later teamed with Maegan Manasse of Redondo Beach to make the semifinals of the doubles with a straight-set win over Usue Arconada and Jessica Cortes, 6-4, 6-3.
Manasse’s singles run ended earlier in the day as she fell to Dallas’ Peggy Porter, 6-1, 6-2.
In the biggest upset of the day in the boys’ 16s, top-seeded William Blumberg of Greenwich, Conn., fell to No. 7 Catalin Mateas of Braintree, Mass., 6-4, 6-2.
For a complete run down of Thursday’s scores and updated draws, log onto the website at www.usta.com/isc.
Boys’ 18 Singles (Round of 16)
Naoki Nakagawa (4), Japan def. AJ Catanzariti, Pittsburgh, PA 1-6, 6-4, 6-2
Francis Tiafoe (14), College Park, MD def. Mackenzie McDonald (3), Piedmont, CA 7-6(4), 1-6, 7-6(3)
Spencer Papa (6), Edmond, OK def. Tommy Mylnikov (9), Bradenton, FL 7-5, 6-4
Stefan Kozlov (2), Pembroke Pines, FL def. Alex Rybakov, Coral Springs, FL 6-1, 7-5
Henrik Wiersholm, Kirkland, WA def. Ciro Riccardi, Los Angeles, CA 6-0, 6-3
Daniel Kerznerman (10), Brooklyn, NY def. Grant Solomon, Dallas, TX 6-1, 6-0
Alexander Zverev (11), Wesley Chapel, FL def. Andres Alfonso, Paredes, Venezuela, 6-0, 6-2
Noah Rubin (1), Rockville Centre, NY def. JC Aragone, Yorba Linda, CA 2-6, 6-4, 6-4
Boys’ 18 Doubles (Quarterfinals)
Luca Corinteli / Martin Redlicki (1) def. Justin Butsch / Lucas Gomez (6) 7-5, 7-6(6)
Spencer Papa / Alexander Zverev (3) def. JC Aragone / Mackenzie. McDonald (5) 6-2, 6-0
Walker Duncan / John Mee def. Michael Mmoh / Francis Tiafoe (4) 2-6, 7-6(4), 10-7
Tommy Mylnikov / naoki nakagawa (2) def. Jordi Arconada / Tommy Paul 6-4, 7-5
Girls’ 18 Singles (Round of 16)
Jamie Loeb (5), Ossining, NY def. Maria Shishkina (11), Bradenton, FL 6-3, 6-4
Victoria Rodriguez (2), Weston, FL def. Adeliya Zabirova, Pembroke Pines, FL 7-5, 6-1
Madison Bourguignon (8), Boynton Beach, FL def. Ellie Halbauer (12), Daniel Island, SC 6-4, 3-0 Ret.
Peggy Porter, Dallas, TX def. Maegan Manasse, Redondo Beach, CA 6-1, 6-2
Kimberly Yee, Las Vegas, NV def. Nicole Frenkel, Winchester, MA 6-3, 1-6, 7-6(6)
Mayo Hibi, Irvine, CA def. Spencer Liang, Potomac, MD 6-2, 6-4
Alejandra Cisneros Gomez (3), Mexico def. Ellyse Hamlin, Fairfield, CT 6-2, 2-6, 6-0
Christina Makarova (1), San Diego, CA def. Ines Vias, Germantown, MD 6-0, 6-4
Girls’ 18 Doubles (Quarterfinals)
Brooke Austin / Kimberly Yee def. Tornado Ali Black / Sandra Samir (3) 6-2, 6-1
Mayo Hibi / Denise Starr (7) def. Nicole Frenkel / Rianna Valdes (4) 6-3, 3-6, 12-10
Alejandra Cisneros Gomez / Victoria Rodriguez (1) def. Mingxiu DU / Johnnise Renaud 6-3, 2-6, 10-6
Jamie Loeb / Maegan Manasse def. Usue Arconada / Jessica Cortes (8) 6-4, 6-3
Boys’ 16 Singles (Round of 8)
Kalman Boyd, Rancho Santa Fe, CA def. Robert Levine (5), Bedford, NY 6-1, 6-7(3), 6-3
Kyle Seelig (12), Hatfield, PA def. Jean Thirouin (2), Houston, TX 6-3, 4-6, 7-5
Jake Devine (4), Boca Raton, FL def. Alexander Lebedev, Island Park, NY 6-3, 6-0
Catalin Mateas (7), Braintree, MA def. William Blumberg (1), Greenwich, CT 6-4, 6-2
Boys’ 16 Doubles (Quartefinals)
Chase Colton / Kyle Seelig (5) def. Michael Genender / James Wasserman 6-3, 3-6, 10-7
Taylor Fritz / Daniel Gealer (8) def. Hady Habib / Max Pham 6-1, 6-3
Grayson Broadus / Jean Thirouin (2) def. Jake Gabay / Alan Sweet (7) 6-3, 6-3
Emil Reinberg / Brian Tsao (6) def. Robert Levine / Evan Zhu (4) 7-5, 6-2
Girls’ 16 Singles (Quarterfinals)
Caroline Dolehide (14), Hinsdale, IL def. Angela Kulikov, Sun Valley, CA 6-1, 3-6, 6-3
Claire Liu, Thousand Oaks, CA def. Sydney Van Alphen, Laguna Beach, CA 6-4, 6-1
Ena Shibahara (13), Rancho Palos Verdes, CA def. Kylie McKenzie (7), Anthem, AZ 2-6, 6-4, 6-4
Samantha Martinelli (12), Denver, CO def. Jada Robinson (2), Reisterstown, MD 6-4, 6-4
Girls’ 16 Doubles (Quarterfinals)
Madison Appel / Rebecca Weissmann (1) def. Aliya Alenikov / Kalani Soli 6-4, 2-6, 10-3
Ena Shibahara / Savannah Slaysman def. Abigail Chiu / Madison Tedford 6-1, 6-1
Caroline Dolehide / Alexis Nelson (8) def. Marjorie Antohi / Rylie Cox 6-0, 6-0
Paulina Ferrari / Jada Hart (6) def. Alexa Corcoleotes / Vanessa Nommensen (2) 6-2, 6-4
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McDonald Wins Battle of the Future Bruins At USTA International Spring Championships

Spring1_USTAISC

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 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
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Kozlov Outlasts Escobedo To Advance At USTA International Spring Championships

Stefan Kozlov photo by Cynthia Lum / USTA

Stefan Kozlov photo by Cynthia Lum / USTA

CARSON, Calif., (Tuesday, April 2, 2013) – If past results are any indication, the future of American tennis is on display this week at the ninth annual USTA International Spring Championships being played at the Home Depot Center.
Sam Querrey, Vania King, Melanie Oudin and Sloane Stephens are just a few of the players who made stopovers at this event as juniors before enjoying success soon after on the pro tour.
Two young pro prospects who may someday follow that same path as those listed met in the first round on Tuesday in the Boys’ 18s and battled for more than two and a half hours before No. 2-seeded Stefan Kozlov, 15, of Pembroke Pines, Fla., pulled away from 16-year-old wild-card Ernesto Escobedo from West Covina, winning 4-6, 6-4, 6-3.
Kozlov was a finalist here last year as a 14-year-old, a year before he turned professional. He currently trains at the USTA National Training Center in Boca Raton, Fla.
“I really like playing here, the conditions fit my game great,” Kozlov said. “I had never played Ernesto before but he has a big game. I’ve seen forehands like that in the juniors, but not that often.”
Just two weeks ago, Kozlov made the final of an ITF Grand A event at the Copa Gerdau tournament in Porto Alegre, Brazil, losing to the top-seeded player from Italy in the final.
Escobedo, 16, is currently ranked in the 900s on the ATP Tour and was playing in his first ITF junior event of the year. He has instead decided to concentrate on ITF Pro Futures level events playing in four of them already this year, including two in Southern California.
In the top Girls’ 18s matchup on the day, Peggy Porter of Dallas beat Tornado Ali Black, 7-5, 7-5. Porter had beaten Black in the only other time they played back in 2011 in an ITF event in Waco, Texas.
“We played once before and I won in three sets,” Porter said. “We’ve both developed so much since then. I knew she had a big forehand.”
Porter will next play Laguna Niguel’s Alyssa Smith in the second round. Porter has beaten Smith in both their meetings, including in the final of the USTA Hardcourt 16s Nationals in 2011 in San Diego and again last week in the semifinals of the Claremont ITF event.
Torrance’s Connor Hance, the No. 15 seed in the boys’ 16s, opened with a 6-4, 6-4 win over Evan Zhu. He next takes on top-seeded William Blumberg. Hance’s sister Kenadi also had a nice win on Tuesday, upsetting No. 8-seeded Alexa Corcoleotes of Hillsborough, Calif., in the Girls’ 16s, 6-1, 6-3.
In an 18s matchup on Wednesday of last year’s Easter Bowl winners in the 18s and 16s, respectively, No. 3-seeded Mackenzie McDonald takes on wild-card and UCLA recruit Joseph DiGiulio.
Article written by Steve Pratt, special to USTA.com
For a complete run down of Tuesday’s scores and updated draws, log onto the website at www.usta.com/isc.
Boys’ 18 Singles (Round of 64)
Gage Brymer, Irvine, CA def. Aidan Jiang, Ojai, CA 7-6(7), 7-6(5)
Jake Stefanik, Coral Springs, FL def. Michael Mmoh (12), Temple Hills, MD 6-3, 6-2
Ciro Riccardi, Los Angeles, CA def. John Mee, Dallas, TX 6-2, 7-5
Terrance Whitehurst, Tallahassee, FL def. Jose Pablo Gil, Honduras 6-2, 6-2
Daniel Kerznerman (10), Brooklyn, NY def. Gregory Garcia, Poway, CA 6-2, 6-1
Mackenzie McDonald (3), Piedmont, CA def. Justin Butsch, Miami Beach, FL 6-1, 6-2
Spencer Papa (6), Edmond, OK def. Steven Chen, San Diego, CA 6-3, 6-3
Diego Omar Felix, Mexico def. Anudeep Kodali, Durham, NC 6-4, 6-0
Naoki Nakagawa (4), Japan def. William Griffith, Fresno, CA 6-4, 7-6(2)
Thomas Mayronne, Monroe, LA def. Javier Restrepo, Miami, FL 6-4, 5-7, 6-1
Sameer Kumar, Carmel, IN def. Justin Byrd, Union City, GA 6-4, 6-1
Stefan Doehler, Santa Ana, CA def. Gerardo Lopez, Villasenor Mexico 6-4, 6-1
Logan Smith, Carlsbad, CA def. Luca Corinteli (5), Alexandria, VA 0-6, 7-6(5), 7-6(2)
Alexander Zverev (11), Wesley Chapel, FL Germany def. Mac Roy, San Antonio, TX 6-4, 6-7(3), 6-3
Stephen Watson, Orlando, FL def. Lucas Gomez (7), San Ysidro, CA 0-6, 6-4, 6-2
Stefan Kozlov (2), Pembroke Pines, FL def. Ernesto Escobedo, West Covina, CA 4-6, 6-4, 6-3
Boys’ 18 Doubles (Round of 32)
Anudeep Kodali / Lamar Remy def. Ciro Riccardi / Santiago Sierra 6-3, 6-1
Jordi Arconada / Tommy Paul def. Daniel Kerznerman / Henrik Wiersholm (7) 3-6, 6-3, 10-7
Tommy Mylnikov / Naoki Nakagawa (2) def. Joseph DiGiulio / Logan Smith 6-3, 6-7(2), 10-2
Santiago Cevallos / Jake Stefanik def. Justin Byrd / Stephen Watson 6-4, 6-4
Farzin Amiri / Gerardo Lopez Villasenor def. Sterling Galli / Shane Monroe 7-5, 6-2
Luca Corinteli / Martin Redlicki (1) def. Milen Ianakiev / Dennis Uspensky 6-3, 6-1
Stefan Doehler / Tyler Lu def. Luke Gamble / Jose Pablo Gil 6-3, 6-3
Justin Butsch / Lucas Gomez (6) def. Sameer Kumar / Alex Rybakov 6-2, 6-3
Christian Langmo / Javier Restrepo def. Andres Alfonso Paredes / Nathan Ponwith 6-2, 6-4
Michael Mmoh / Francis Tiafoe (4) def. Terrance Whitehurst / Terrell Whitehurst 7-6(5), 7-6(3)
Andrew Li Hei Yin / Arkadijs Slobodkins def. Alexandru Gozun / Carter Lin 6-4, 3-6, 11-9
Spencer Papa / Alexander Zverev (3) def. Sunay BHAT / Dylan Nunez 6-2, 6-2
Walker Duncan / John Mee def. Diego Omar Nunez Felix / Adrian Ortiz (8) 4-6, 6-3, 10-8
JC Aragone / M. Mackenzie. McDonald (5) def. William Bushamuka / Toshiki Matsuya 6-3, 4-6, 18-16
Nicholas Crystal / Mac Roy def. Gregory Garcia / Ilya Vasilyev 6-4, 6-4
Deiton Baughman / Robbie Bellamy def. AJ Catanzariti / Thomas Mayronne 6-4, 3-6, 10-6
Girls’ 18 Singles (Round of 64)
Christina Makarova (1), San Diego, CA def. Maia Magill, Studio City, CA 6-0, 6-2
Ines Vias, Germantown, MD def. Megan McCray, Oceanside, CA 6-3, 6-4
Alexa Anton-Ohlmeyer, Calabasas, CA def. Ndindi Ndunda, Burke, VA 6-4, 6-4
Monica Robinson, Valley Center, CA def. Christine Maddox, Santa Monica, CA 6-2, 6-2
Peggy Porter, Dallas, TX def. Tornado Ali Black (14), Miami, FL 7-5, 7-5
Nicole Frenkel, Winchester, MA def. Devin Chypyha, Richmond Hill, Canada 6-2, 6-2
Raquel Pedraza, Claremont, CA def. Kyra Wojcik, Goodyear, AZ 6-7(0), 6-1, 4-0 Ret (inj)
Madison Bourguignon (8), Boynton Beach, FL def. Kristina Hovsepyan, Danville, CA 6-3, 6-1
Sandra Samir (4), Egypt def. Hadley Berg, Greenbrae, CA 6-1, 6-0
Kimberly Yee, Las Vegas, NV def. Jessica Cortes, Mexico 6-2, 6-4
Ellyse Hamlin, Fairfield, CT def. Meghan Kelley, Falmouth, ME 6-3, 6-2
Dasha Ivanova (7), Beaverton, OR def. Madison Westby, Tulsa, OK 6-4, 6-4
Usue Arconada (10), Rio Piedras, PR def. Michaela Gordon, Los Altos Hills, CA 7-6(3), 2-6, 6-4
Girls’ 18 Doubles (Round of 32)
Usue Arconada / jessica cortes (8) def. Maddie Pothoff / Claudia Wiktorin 4-6, 6-4, 10-6
Chloe Ouellet-Pizer / Monica Robinson def. Gabriela Knutson / Ines Vias Wo (inj)
Dasha Ivanova / Christina Makarova (2) def. Ilana Oleynik / Raquel Pedraza 6-1, 6-4
Alejandra Cisneros Gomez / Victoria Rodriguez (1) def. Ellyse Hamlin / Meghan Kelley 6-7(5), 6-2, 10-2
Alexandra Bourguignon / Madison Bourguignon def. Jessica Ho / Spencer Liang 0-6, 6-1, 12-10
Ndindi Ndunda / Maria Shishkina def. Alexandria Stiteler / Kyra Wojcik Wo (inj)
Nicole Frenkel / Rianna Valdes (4) def. Josie Kuhlman / Peggy Porter 6-4, 7-6(2)
Mayci Jones / Alyssa Smith def. Raveena Kingsley / Adeliya Zabirova 6-2, 5-7, 10-3
Mayo Hibi / Denise Starr (7) def. Hadley Berg / Madison Westby 7-6(3), 6-3
Brooke Austin / Kimberly Yee def. Kaitlyn McCarthy / Marie Norris (5) 7-6(2), 6-3
Cassandra Vazquez / Camila Wesbrooks def. Andie Daniell / Cassidy Spearman 7-5, 6-1
Tornado Ali Black / Sandra Samir (3) def. Elysse Graci / Taylor Shukow 6-1, 7-6(6)
Mary Haffey / Emma Higuchi def. Teertha Iska / Anita Safronenka 6-4, 6-2
Jamie Loeb / Maegan Manasse def. Constanza Gorches / Jessica Hinojosa 6-3, 6-4
Ayla Aksu / Emma Critser def. Lauren Proctor / Sydney Riley 7-5, 6-2
Mingxiu DU / Johnnise Renaud def. Ellie Halbauer / Alexandra Morozova (6) 6-4, 6-2
Boys’ 16 Singles (Round of 32)
Robert Levine (5), Bedford, NY def. Maxwell Cancilla, Huntington Beach, CA 6-2, 6-1
Jake Devine (4), Boca Raton, FL def. Daniel Gealer, Los Angeles, CA 6-2, 6-3
Charles Pei, San Diego, CA def. Johnathan Small (14), Midland, MI 2-6, 6-2, 6-3
Alexander Lebedev, Island Park, NY def. Spencer Furman (6), Woodinville, WA 6-4, 0-6, 7-5
Catalin Mateas (7), Braintree, MA def. Michael Genender, Los Angeles, CA 6-2, 6-2
Ethan Young-Smith, Ojai, CA def. Brian Tsao (9), Sparks Glencoe, MD 3-6, 6-4, 6-1
Taylor Fritz (13), Rancho Santa Fe, CA def. James Wasserman, New York, NY 6-0, 6-2
Kalman Boyd, Rancho Santa Fe, CA def. Jack VanSlyke (3), Toronto, Canada 6-3, 6-1
Jake Gabay (11), Safety Harbor, FL def. David Goulak, Oak Park, CA 6-0, 6-1
William Blumberg (1), Greenwich, CT def. Vasil Kirkov, Tampa, FL 6-0, 6-2
Chase Colton (8), Davie, FL def. Jacob Brumm, Rancho Santa Fe, CA 7-6(4), 6-1
Kyle Seelig (12), Hatfield, PA def. Liam Caruana, New Braunfels, TX 6-4, 6-3
Jean Thirouin (2), Houston, TX def. Emil Reinberg, Atlanta, GA 7-6(2), 6-1
Grayson Broadus (16), Carrollton, TX def. Ryan Shen, Newbury Park, CA 1-6, 6-3, 7-6(6)
Sam Riffice (10), Roseville, CA def. Steven Christie, New Braunfels, TX 2-6, 6-1, 6-2
Connor Hance (15), Torrance, CA def. Evan Zhu, Greenbelt, MD 6-4, 6-4
Boys’ 16 Doubles (Round of 32)
Hady Habib / Max Pham def. Steven Christie / Fernando Ramirez 6-3, 6-2
Kalman Boyd / Konrad Kozlowski def. David Goulak / Brandon Lam 6-1, 7-5
Max Liu / Charles Pei def. Jacob Brumm / Justin Lee 6-4, 7-5
Zac Brodney / Connor Hance def. Peter Shin / Eric Wagner 6-2, 6-1
Michael Genender / James Wasserman def. Ninan Kumar / Cotter Wilson 6-0, 6-2
Maxwell Cancilla / Victor Miglo def. Alexander Lebedev / Oliver Sec Wo (inj)
Ethan Young-Smith / Andy Zhou def. Alex Ross / Gianni Ross 6-0, 6-4
Girls’ 16 Singles (Round of 32)
Sydney Van Alphen, Laguna Beach, CA def. Tiffany Huber (4), West Bloomfield, MI 6-2, 6-7(1), 6-1
Ena Shibahara (13), Rancho Palos Verdes, CA def. Ryan Peus, Carpinteria, CA 6-4, 4-6, 6-2
Jessica Failla, Ramona, CA def. Gaby Pollner (10) Scarsdale, NY 6-1, 4-6, 7-6(7)
Kylie McKenzie (7), Anthem, AZ def. Abigail Desiatnikov, Gates Mills, OH 4-6, 6-4, 7-5
Claire Liu, Thousand Oaks, CA def. Jada Hart (6), Colton, CA 7-6(3), 6-2
Rebecca Weissmann (3), Loveland, CO def. Andrea Kevakian, Glendale, CA 6-2, 4-6, 6-1
Marjorie Antohi, El Paso, TX def. Jacqueline Pelletier (15), Huntington Beach, CA 6-3, 6-4
Jada Robinson (2), Reisterstown, MD def. Sarah Hu, Oakland, CA 7-6(7), 6-4, 6-3
Kenadi Hance, Torrance, CA def. Alexa Corcoleotes (8), Hillsborough, CA 6-1, 6-3
Angela Kulikov, Sun Valley, CA def. Hada Chang (11), Trophy Club, TX 6-1, 6-0
Caroline Dolehide (14), Hinsdale, IL def. Jaeda Daniel, Port Charlotte, FL 6-3, 6-1
Alexis Nelson, Saint Paul, MN def. Vanessa Nommensen (9), San Jose, CA 6-0, 4-6, 6-3
Jessica Livianu, Brooklyn, NY def. Madison Appel (5), Delray Beach, FL 6-3, 6-4
Ashley Lahey, Hawthorne, CA def. Abigail Chiu (16), Austin, TX 6-4, 6-3
Ally Miller-Krasilnikov (1), Boca Raton, FL def. Paulina Ferrari, San Diego, CA 6-4, 6-1
Samantha Martinelli (12), Denver, CO def. Deepa Dhore, Monte Sereno, CA 6-2, 6-2
Girls’ 16 Doubles (Round of 32)
Marjorie Antohi / Rylie Cox def. Sarah Hu / Elizabeth Yao 6-0, 7-6(4)
Ashley Lahey / Ryan Peus def. Deepa Dhore / Felicity Maltby 7-5, 6-4
Abigail Chiu / Madison Tedford def. Jennifer Lu / Ally McKenzie 6-0, 6-4
Ena Shibahara / Savannah Slaysman def. Jaeda Daniel / Jessica Livianu 6-0, 7-5
Kelly Chen / Annette Goulak def. Claire Liu / Riley McQuaid 6-3, 6-4
Yuki Asami / Risa Nakagawa def. Julia Goldberg / Andrea Kevakian 6-3, 6-4
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Mayo Hibi Downs Brooke Austin In First Round At USTA International Spring Championships

Mayo Hibi photo by Cynthia Lum / USTA

Mayo Hibi photo by Cynthia Lum / USTA

CARSON, Calif., (Monday, April 1, 2013) – The International Tennis Federation rankings may not show it, but Mayo Hibi and Brooke Austin represent two of the top tennis players currently playing on the international junior circuit.
Unfortunately matched against each other in the first round of the USTA International Spring Championships that started on Monday at the Home Depot Center, Japan’s Hibi, of Irvine, Calif., downed Indianapolis’ Austin, 6-3, 6-0, in a battle of unseeded players with extensive tennis resumes.
Hibi, who turns 17 on Wednesday, is currently ranked No. 367 in the WTA world rankings, just 18 spots lower in the rankings than highly touted young American Taylor Townsend (No. 349 WTA). Austin is currently No. 542 in the world WTA rankings.
“That’s a pretty tough opponent for a first round,” said Hibi, who has spent more time playing professional-level events than she has ITF junior tournaments. “We’ve played so many of the same events but have never played each other.”
In last year’s Easter Bowl, Townsend got past Hibi in the semifinals and then Austin in the final. She turned pro later in the year.
Hibi said the moderate wind at the Home Depot Center hurt Austin more than her, but not because she’s more used to the breeze being from Southern California. “She takes the ball early and it threw her timing off a bit,” Hibi said. “I was moving well which is always tough to do in the first round.”
Added Hibi: “The ultimate goal is to play pro tennis so I figure my WTA ranking is more important to me now than my ITF ranking.”
Top-seeded boys’ 18s player Noah Rubin of Rockville Centre, N.Y., got off to a good start, opening with a 6-2, 6-2 victory over Shane Monroe of Ventnor City, N.J.
In one big upset in the boys’ 18s, Logan Smith of Carlsbad, Calif., overcame a blanking in the first set to beat No. 5-seeded Luca Corinteli of Alexandria, Va., 0-6, 7-6 (5), 7-6 (2).
For a complete run down of Monday’s scores and updated draws, log onto the website at www.usta.com/isc.
Article written by Steve Pratt, special to USTA.com
Boys’ 18 Singles First Round
Grant Solomon, Dallas, TX def. Nicholas Crystal, Waccabuc, NY, 6-3, 6-4
Deiton Baughman, Carson, CA def. Adrian Ortiz (15), 6-1, 6-2
Alex Rybakov, Coral Springs, FL def. Jordi Arconada (13), Rio Piedras, PR, 6-0, 6-2
Andres Alfonso, Paredes def. Luke Gamble Boise, ID, 6-3, 4-1 Ret (inj)
Francis Tiafoe (14), College Park, MD def. Walker Duncan, 7-6(6), 7-5
William Bushamuka, Princeton, NJ def. Farzin Amiri (16), Port Saint Lucie, FL 4-6, 6-2, 6-1
Tommy Mylnikov (9), Bradenton, FL def. Nathan Ponwith, Scottsdale, AZ 6-4, 6-3
AJ Catanzariti, Pittsburgh, PA def. Robbie Bellamy, Pacific Palisades, CA 7-5, 6-1
Martin Redlicki (8), Hawthorn Woods, IL def. Andrew Li Hei Yin, 7-5, 6-2
Henrik Wiersholm, Kirkland, WA def. Arkadijs Slobodkins, 6-2, 6-4
JC Aragone, Yorba Linda, CA def. Dennis Uspensky, Atlantic Beach, NY 6-2, 7-5
Dylan Nunez, Boca Raton, FL def. Santiago Cevallos, 6-3, 6-4
Tommy Paul, Deerfield Beach, FL def. Milen Ianakiev, 6-3, 6-2
Carter Lin, Bradenton, FL def. Christian Langmo, Boca Raton, FL 7-5, 6-2
Noah Rubin (1), Rockville Centre, NY def. Shane Monroe, Ventnor City, NJ 6-2, 6-2
Logan Smith, Carlsbad, CA def. Luca Corinteli (5), Alexandria, VA 0-6, 7-6(5), 7-6(2)
Joseph DiGiulio def. Toshiki Matsuya, Redmond, WA 6-0, 6-3
Girls’ 18 Singles First Round
Maria Shishkina (11), Bradenton, FL def. Mary Haffey, Naples, FL 6-3, 6-2
Adeliya Zabirova, Pembroke Pines, FL def. Jessica Ho, Wexford, PA 7-6(7), 7-5
Victoria Rodriguez (2), Weston, FL def. Josie Kuhlman, Ponte Vedra Beach, FL 6-2, 4-6, 6-2
Johnnise Renaud (9), North Miami, FL def. Raveena Kingsley, Fulton, MD 6-3, 5-7, 7-6(1)
Denise Starr, Boca Raton, FL def. Alexandra Morozova, Plantation, FL 6-1, 6-1
Alyssa Smith, Laguna Niguel, CA def. Constanza Gorches, 6-4, 6-3
Rianna Valdes (6), Boca Raton, FL def. Alexandria Stiteler, Bradenton, FL 6-2, 6-0
Mayo Hibi, Irvine, CA def. Brooke Austin, Indianapolis, IN 6-3, 6-0
Ayla Aksu, San Francisco, CA def. Teertha Iska, Bradenton, FL 6-2, 6-0
Alejandra Cisneros, Gomez (3) def. Chloe Ouellet-Pizer, Chapel Hill, NC 4-6, 6-3, 6-2
Ellie Halbauer (12), Daniel Island, SC def. Sydney Riley, Dallas, TX 6-2, 6-3
Camila Wesbrooks, McKinney, TX def. Anita Safronenka, Bradenton, FL 7-6(2), 6-2
Maegan Manasse, Redondo Beach, CA def. Alexandra Bourguignon, Boynton Beach, FL 2-6, 6-3, 6-4
Jamie Loeb (5), Ossining, NY def. Mingxiu Du, 6-1, 6-0
Marie Norris (13), Burdett, KS def. Emma Higuchi, Los Angeles, CA 6-4, 7-5
Cassandra Vazquez (16), Houston, TX def. Elysse Graci, Ocean Ridge, FL 6-3, 7-6(4)
Maddie Pothoff, Tucson, AZ def. Lauren Proctor, Bradenton, FL 6-2, 6-2
Spencer Liang, Potomac, MD def. Jessica Hinojosa, 2-6, 6-1, 7-5
Kaitlyn McCarthy (15), Cary, NC def. Gabriela Knutson, Fair Oaks, CA 6-3, 6-7(3), 6-4
Boys’ 16 Singles First Round
Jacob Brumm, Rancho Santa Fe, CA def. Max Liu, San Diego, CA 6-3, 6-4
Maxwell Cancilla, Huntington Beach, CA def. Jonathan Star, Calabasas, CA 6-3, 6-0
Charles Pei, San Diego, CA def. William Genesen, Tulsa, OK 7-6(5), 6-1
David Goulak, Oak Park, CA def. Andy Zhou, Palo Alto, CA 6-4, 3-6, 6-1
Liam Caruana, New Braunfels, TX def. Ryan Cheng, San Marino, CA 6-2, 6-1
Michael Genender, Los Angeles, CA def. Alex Ross, Burr Ridge, IL 6-2, 6-2
Emil Reinberg, Atlanta, GA def. Oliver Sec, New York, NY 7-6(6), 6-7(5), 7-5
Ryan Shen, Newbury Park, CA def. Hady Habib, Irvine, CA 6-1, 7-5
Alexander Lebedev, Island Park, NY def. Konrad Kozlowski, Irvine, CA 6-1, 6-0
Steven Christie, New Braunfels, TX def. Victor Miglo Kew, Gardens, NY 6-1, 4-6, 6-2
Evan Zhu, Greenbelt, MD def. Gianni Ross Burr Ridge, IL 6-3, 6-3
Ethan Young-Smith, Ojai, CA def. Eric Wagner, Roslyn Hts, NY 6-4, 6-2
James Wasserman, New York, NY def. Max Pham, Newport Coast, CA 6-2, 2-6, 7-6(4)
Vasil Kirkov, Tampa, FL def. Fernando Ramirez, Plano, TX 6-4, 6-1
Daniel Gealer, Los Angeles, CA def. Noah Makarome, Wesley Chapel, FL 6-3, 6-4
Kalman Boyd, Rancho Santa Fe, CA def. Justin Lee, Cos Cob, CT 7-5, 7-5
Boys’ 16s Doubles First Round
Hady Habib / Max Pham def. Steven Christie / Fernando Ramirez 6-3, 6-2
Maxwell Cancilla / Victor Miglo def. Alexander Lebedev / Oliver Sec Wo (inj)
Ethan Young-Smith / Andy Zhou def. Alex Ross / Gianni Ross 6-0, 6-4
Michael Genender / James Wasserman def. Ninan Kumar / Cotter Wilson 6-0, 6-2
Zac Brodney / Connor Hance def. Peter Shin / Eric Wagner 6-2, 6-1
Kalman Boyd / Konrad Kozlowski def. David Goulak / Brandon Lam 6-1, 7-5
Max Liu / Charles Pei def. Jacob Brumm / Justin Lee 6-4, 7-5
Girls’ 16 Singles First Round
Sarah Hu, Oakland, CA def. Riley McQuaid, Tustin, CA 6-7(3), 7-5, 7-5
Claire Liu, Thousand Oaks, CA def. Darya Possokhova, San Francisco, CA 6-2, 6-3
Marjorie Antohi, El Paso, TX def. Delaney Nothaft, Tempe, AZ 6-0, 6-3
Angela Kulikov, Sun Valley, CA def. Jennifer Lu, Cypress, CA 6-0, 6-1
Jessica Livianu, Brooklyn, NY def. Yuki Asami, Irvine, CA 6-2, 6-2
Sydney Van Alphen, Laguna Beach, CA def. Hanna Chang, Fontana, CA 6-4, 6-3
Kenadi Hance, Torrance, CA def. Felicity Maltby, Sunnyvale, CA 6-4, 6-3
Paulina Ferrari, San Diego, CA def. Caitlin Calkins, Tulsa, OK 6-0, 6-3
Alexis Nelson, Saint Paul, MN def. Savannah Slaysman, Phoenix, AZ 6-3, 6-2
Abigail Desiatnikov, Gates Mills, OH def. Kelly Chen, Cerritos, CA 6-3, 7-6(5)
Jaeda Daniel, Port Charlotte, FL def. Rylie Cox, Rockwall, TX 6-2, 6-0
Jessica Failla, Ramona, CA def. Risa Nakagawa, Rancho Palos Verdes, CA 6-1, 6-0
Ryan Peus, Carpinteria, CA def. Elizabeth Yao, Sunnyvale, CA 6-2, 6-2
Andrea Kevakian, Glendale, CA def. Stephanie Hazell, Irvine, CA 6-4, 5-7, 6-1
Deepa Dhore, Monte Sereno, CA def. Madison Tedford, Dallas, TX 6-4, 6-4
Ashley Lahey, Hawthorne, CA def. Paige Cline, Kentfield, CA 6-2, 3-6, 6-3
Girls’ 16 Doubles First Round
Marjorie Antohi / Rylie Cox def. Sarah Hu / Elizabeth Yao 6-0, 7-6(4)
Ena Shibahara / Savannah Slaysman def. Jaeda Daniel / Jessica Livianu 6-0, 7-5
Kelly Chen / Annette Goulak def. Claire Liu / Riley McQuaid 6-3, 6-4
Abigail Chiu / Madison Tedford def. Jennifer Lu / Ally McKenzie 6-0, 6-4
Yuki Asami / Risa Nakagawa def. Julia Goldberg / Andrea Kevakian 6-3, 6-4
Ashley Lahey / Ryan Peus def. Deepa Dhore / Felicity Maltby 7-5, 6-4
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USTA International Spring Championships To Be Contested at Carson’s Home Depot Center

Sony Ericsson 2011
CARSON, Calif., (Friday, March 29, 2013) – Some of the world’s top junior tennis players – including five boys ranked within the International Tennis Federation’s Top 50 – will converge here next week as the ninth annual USTA International Spring Championships takes place beginning Monday at the Home Depot Center.
Noah Rubin, 17, is expected to be the top-seeded boys’ 18s player and hails from Rockville Centre, N.Y. Currently No. 20 in the world ITF rankings, Rubin was a semifinalist here last year in the 18s after winning the 16s in 2011, overcoming a 1-4 deficit in a third-set tiebreaker in a memorable final.
Rubin made the semifinals at a USTA Pro Circuit Futures event last year, the Easter Bowl, the USTA Hardcourt Nationals at Kalamazoo, Mich., as well as the quarterfinals at the French Open Juniors.
Last year’s 18s singles finalist Stefan Kozlov, 15, from Pembroke Pines, Fla., is right behind Rubin at No. 21 in the world rankings and will be seeded No. 2.
Last year’s ISC 18s doubles winner Mackenzie McDonald from Northern California is No. 3 (No. 36 in the world), Japan’s Naoki Nakagawa No. 4 (No. 40), and American’s Luca Corintelli and Spencer Papa, No. 5 (No. 43) and No. 6 (No. 52), respectively, are expected to round out the Top 6.
Top juniors from Mexico, Canada, Colombia, Germany, Argentina and Venezuela will be represented in the boys’ 18s.
On the girls’ side, Christina Makarova, 16, from San Diego comes in with the highest ITF ranking at No. 14 and is expected to be the top-seeded girl in the 18s. Makarova has a WTA world ranking of No. 872 and took advantage of a wild-card opportunity at a USTA $25,000 Pro Circuit event in February and won a round.
Irvine’s Mayo Hibi, who represents Japan, will turn 17 next Wednesday and is currently WTA ranked No. 374 in the world, but doesn’t have a high enough ITF ranking to be placed within the top 16 seeded players in the 64-player draw. In 2010 Hibi made the final in the 16s here losing to Alyssa Smith.
In the same USTA Pro Circuit event that Makarova won a round in at Rancho Mirage, Hibi did the same, falling to reigning NCAA singles champion Nicole Gibbs of Stanford in the second round.
Indianapolis’ Brooke Austin is also one to watch and is ranked No. 541 in the world WTA rankings. Mexico’s Victoria Rodriguez (No. 24 ITF), Mexico’s Alejandra Cisneros (No. 25), Egypt’s Sandra Samir (No. 42) and Jamie Loeb (No. 67) are the other top girls’ 18s players.
“This year’s USTA International Spring Championships should be another exciting event,” said tournament director John Lansville. “I expect a lot of great tennis next week. There are a number of strong competitors in all of the age divisions, so I wouldn’t be surprised to see a lot of upsets at this year’s event.”
In the girls’ 16s, top players will include Ally Miller-Krasilnikov (Boca Raton, Fla.), Jada Robinson (Reisterstown, Md.), Rebecca Weissman (Loveland, Colo.), Tiffany Huber (West Bloomfield, Mich.) and Madison Appel (Locust Valley, N.Y.).
Miller-Krasilnikov, 15, moved to Florida from Ohio with her family four years ago to enroll at the USTA Player Development Training Center in Boca Raton, Fla. Her father was a former top player in Russia.
On the boys’ side in the 16s, William Blumberg of Greenwich, Conn., who won the 14s Easter Bowl last year, is the top-seeded player. Jean Thirouin (Houston, Texas), Jack Van Slyke (Canada), Jake Devine (Boca Raton, Fla.) and Robert Levine (Bedford, N.Y) are the top players.
Notable wild cards in the boys’ 18s include Southern California stalwarts Robbie Bellamy (committed to play for USC), Joseph DiGiulio (UCLA), and Gage Brymer (UCLA). Perhaps the top SoCal wild-card prospect to watch, however, is 16-year-old Ernesto Escobedo who currently holds an ATP ranking of No. 967 in the world. On the girls’ side the wild cards include: Emma Higuchi, Alyssa Smith and Spencer Liang.
Last year Allie Kiick won the girls’ 18s. Just two weeks ago, Kiick beat former ISC champion Vania King (2005) on her way to qualifying for the WTA Sony Ericsson Miami Open.
Past champions of the event include Sam Querrey (2005), Ryan Thacher (2007), Bradley Klahn (2008), Sloane Stephens (2009) and Melanie Oudin (2008), just a few who have gone on to bigger and better things on the pro and collegiate circuit.
Singles qualifying will take place this Saturday and Sunday with main-draw matches beginning on Monday. The finals will take place in the boys’ and girls’ 16s on Saturday, April 7, and boys’ and girls’ 18s on Sunday, April 8.
For more information on the tournament log onto the website at www.usta.com/isc.
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Krueger and Kiick Complete Winning Runs at USTA International Spring Championships

 

By Steve Pratt

CARSON, Calif., (Sunday, April 8, 2012) – Mitchell Krueger and Allie Kiick recorded resounding Easter Sunday straight-set victories on the final day of the USTA International Spring Championships at the Home Depot Center.

 

The top-seeded 18-year-old Krueger of Aledo, Texas, needed just under two hours to beat 14-year-old Stefan Kozlov of Pembroke Pines, Fla., 6-3, 6-4, in a very close, competitive and entertaining match in the boys’ 18s final.

 

The girls’ 18s final finished first between two 16-year-olds from Florida as No. 7-seeded Allie Kiick of Plantation, Fla., got off to a strong start and then finished off No. 3 Chalena Scholl of Pompano Beach, Fla., 6-0, 6-2.

 

Kozlov refused to go down without a fight, playing big on the crucial points and staving off four match points before Krueger served himself out of some trouble and converted for the victory in the important ITF Grade 1 junior event which brought together some of the world’s top-ranked junior players.

 

“He played some good points on those match points,” Krueger said. “The way he plays is really unique and very different. He plays very slowly and it’s easy to get into the trap of playing exactly the way he wants you to.”

 

Krueger continued: “I wasn’t feeling that I was hitting it all that cleanly today. He definitely makes you think because he plays such a different game. I don’t even know how to describe it; just lots of slices, lots of drop shots, lots of lobs. A lot of older guys who play him are going to come out tight because they’re not going to be able to hit out from the start. He doesn’t miss much. It was an interesting match.”

 

Kozlov felt like he was the victim of some tough line calls at crucial stages of the match, but didn’t make any excuses afterward. “It doesn’t bother me,” he said. “I played well and didn’t expect to get this far. I had my chances. I had a chance to go up 3-0 and 5-2 on break points but couldn’t convert. I had nothing to lose. Win or lose it didn’t matter to me.”

 

Krueger was impressed with Kozlov, who he has seen him play but had never met in a match.

 

“He’s got incredible potential,” he said. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen a player so good at his age; except maybe Donald Young. I think he has a chance to do some of the things Donald has done. If he keeps going I think he has a great future.”

 

Kiick and Scholl renewed their rivalry from their days playing Florida section events after both started playing tennis. “We’ve played so many times,” Scholl said. “I can’t even remember how many times we’ve played each other.”

 

The tournament victory was Kiick’s first at a Grade 1-level ITF event. She beat Scholl in the final of the Amelia Island Pro Circuit tournament last October but lost to Scholl at the ITF Grade B1 Pan American Championships in Tulsa.

 

“It’s really exciting since this is one of my last junior tournaments,” said Kiick, who has been training at the USTA Training Center in Boca Raton, Fla., and is coached by Kathy Rinaldi, who was on site Sunday, and Troy Hahn. “I’ll play Easter Bowl and then the French Open and Wimbledon and Nationals in San Diego.”

 

“I’m going to be playing more pro events,” she added. “My goal is to be top 200 (WTA) by the end of the year.”

 

For final draws log onto the website at www.usta.com/isc.

 

SUNDAY’S RESULTS

Boys’ 18 Singles (Final)

Mitchell Krueger (1) Aledo, TX  def.  Stefan Kozlov Pembroke Pines, FL  6-3, 6-4

 

Girls’ 18 Singles (Semifinals)

Allie Kiick (7) Plantation, FL  def. Chalena Scholl (3) Pompano Beach, FL  6-0, 6-2

 

 

–www.USTA.com/isc—

 

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Safiullin and Ho Capture 16s Titles at USTA International Spring Championships

Jessica Ho (photo by Cynthia Lum)

By Steve Pratt
CARSON, Calif., (Saturday, April 7, 2012) – The sting of a first-round loss last year at the USTA International Spring Championships fresh on her mind all week, Jessica Ho of Tampa, Fla., put a halt to Los Angeles resident Emma Higuchi’s strong play in a 6-1, 6-1 victory in the Girls’ 16s final at the Home Depot Center on Saturday.
It was one year ago that Ho, from Wexford, Pa., and training in Tampa, Fla., lost to eventual champion Yuki Chiang on Day 1 of the tournament.
“I came out and played well from the start and felt my game matched up with hers,” said Ho, who said she did not start to feel nervous until she went ahead 5-0 in the first set. After tournament director John Lansville handed her the crystal bowl trophy given to each winner, Ho seemed surprised. “Do I get to keep this?” she asked.
While Higuchi had dropped just 17 games in five matches without losing a set during the week, including a win over top-seeded Nicole Frenkel in the quarterfinals, Ho had to win consecutive three-set matches in the quarters and semis to contest the final.
Higuchi, who recently turned 14, began training at the USTA Training Center – West in Carson at age 9 five years ago. The top-ranked USTA player in the nation in the 14s, she will be the top-seeded player beginning Sunday in the 14s at the Easter Bowl in Rancho Mirage, Calif.

Roman Safiullin (Photo by Cynthia Lum)

Fourteen-year-old qualifier Roman Safiullin, playing for Russia but living currently in San Diego, was taking part in his just his second ITF tournament having lost in qualifying last week in the Claremont 18s. He came back to beat Frances Tiafoe from College Park, Md., 6-7 (6), 6-3, 6-1 in the boys’ 16s final.
Safiullin has been staying in San Diego with top 18s player Christine Makarova. “My father met Christina’s mother (Luda) at the Orange Bowl and she invited us to come stay with them in San Diego,” Safiullin said. “It’s been really great to be here, about five month now. I plan to go back to Russia on May 15 and will play the Russian junior championships and more ITFs this summer.
The 14-year-old Tiafoe was being coached all week by Junior Tennis Champions Center (JTCC) Senior Director of High Performance Frank Salazar, who was the 2008 United States Olympic Committee (USOC) National Development Coach of the Year. The JTCC is a USTA Regional Training Center.
Salazar moved to Atlanta to coach at Racquet Club of the South for a year, but recently returned to Maryland where he groomed such notables as Denis Kudla, Mitchell Frank, Junior Ore and Beatrice Capra.
“It just feels like the place I should be,” said Salazar, who said he first saw Tiafoe hanging around the club at age 2 and who spent his formative years watching those named above.
In Sunday’s boys’ 18s final, top-seeded Mitchell Krueger of Aledo, Texas, will play 14-year-old Stefan Kozlov of Pembroke Pines, Fla. Krueger gutted out a tough three-set win over No. 3-seeded Noah Rubin of Rockville Centre, N.Y.,  7-6 (4), 3-6, 6-2. Kozlov beat Luca Corinteli of Alexandria, Va., 6-2, 6-3 in the other semifinal.
In the girls’ 18s final, No. 7-seeded Allie Kiick of Plantation, Fla., will take on No. 3-seeded
Chalena Scholl (3) of Pompano Beach, Fla. Kiick lost the first set to No. 1 seeded Taylor Townsend of Stockbridge, GA, 6-2, but came back to win the final two, 7-5, 6-1.
Later in the day, Townsend and Gabby Andrews repeated as 18s doubles champions, continuing a streak started in January when they won the Australian Open Juniors. Tiafoe also left Carson a winner, teaming with Yancy Dennis to win the 16s doubles title.
Both 18s boys’ and girls’ singles finals will be contested at the same time on Sunday morning at 9 a.m.
For complete draws log onto the website at www.usta.com/isc.
SATURDAY’S RESULTS
Boys’ 18 Singles (Semifinals)
Mitchell Krueger (1) Aledo, TX  def.  Noah Rubin (3) Rockville Centre, NY,  7-6 (4), 3-6, 6-2
Stefan Kozlov Pembroke Pines, FL  def.  Luca Corinteli Alexandria, VA,  6-2, 6-3
Boys’ 18 Doubles (Final)
Mackenzie McDonald / Trey Strobel (2)  def. Thomas Colautti / Josh Hagar,  6-4, 6-3
Boys’ 16 Singles (Final)
Roman Safiullin San Diego, CA  def. Frances Tiafoe College Park, MD,  6-7 (6), 6-3, 6-1
Boys’ 16 Doubles (Final)
Yancy Dennis / Frances Tiafoe  def.  Augustus Ge / Jean Thirouin  7-6 (4) 6-4
Girls’ 18 Singles (Semifinals)
Alexandra Kiick (7) Plantation, FL  def. Taylor Townsend (1) Stockbridge, GA,  2-6, 7-5, 6-1
Chalena Scholl (3) Pompano Beach, FL  def.  Jennifer Brady (8) Boca Raton, FL,  3-6, 6-0, 6-0
Girls’ 18 Doubles (Final)
Gabrielle Andrews / Taylor Townsend (1)  def.  Stephanie Nauta / Chalena Scholl (2), 7-5, 6-2
Girls’ 16 Singles (Final)
Jessica Ho Wexford, PA  def. Emma Higuchi Los Angeles, CA 6-1, 6-1
Girls’ 16 Doubles (Final)
Yuki Asami / Ilana Oleynik  def.  Natalie Da Silveira / Ena Shibahara,  7-5, 1-6 (10-1)
–www.USTA.com/isc—
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