FLORIDA’S ANGELICA BLAKE CROWNED CHAMPION
AT USTA GIRLS’ 16s NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS
Chen to Meet Kratzer in Girl’s 18s Singles Final on Sunday
SAN DIEGO – (August 12, 2017) – Ninth-seeded Angelica Blake of Boca Raton, Fla., used two late service breaks to win the singles title at the USTA Girls’ 16s National Championships as she defeated her close friend and doubles partner Nikki Redelijk of Windermere, Fla., 3-6, 6-2, 6-4.
Playing before a large crowd on Stadium Court at the Barnes Tennis Center and a Tennis Channel television audience, Blake and the 14th seeded Redelijk split the first two sets and were locked in a 3-3 tie in the third set.
Redelijk broke serve to take a 4-3 lead and appeared to have the momentum. However, Blake took control as she came back to break serve twice and win the final three games of the match to clinch the championship.
Following the match, Blake, native of Philadelphia, was awarded a USTA gold ball and will receive and wild card into this year’s US Open girls’ singles draw.
“The third set was filled with lots of ups and down, breaks and holds. We were trying so hard and we were both so tight, but I think we ended up playing pretty well. It was a competitive match. I just thought, ‘Go out there and go for it,’” Blake said.
The 16-year-old Blake admitted feeling nervous at the beginning of the well-attended match.
“It was very intimidating. I’m not going to lie. I felt like I was playing a pro match, which I’ve never done before. I’ve been on a court with line officials before, but the atmosphere with Tennis Channel and everyone watching, it was very nerve-wracking,” she said. “I just focused and played my game and got through it. Playing in front of all of those people was very special.”
A match featuring two Californians will highlight the Girls’ 18s singles final, which is scheduled for Sunday at 1 p.m. (PDT). Third-seeded Ashley Kratzer of Newport Beach, Calif., will take on 33rd seeded Kelly Chen of Cerritos, Calif.
In Saturday’s Girls’ 18s semifinals Kratzer eliminated eighth-seeded Whitney Osuigwe of Bradenton, Fla., 7-6 (6), 6-0 and Chen defeated 12-seeded Caty Mcnally of Cincinnati, 6-2, 3-6, 6-3.
For complete tournament results, please go to:
http://tennislink.usta.com/tournaments/TournamentHome/Tournament.aspx?T=185581#&&s=8Results0
For the latest updated tournament draws, please go to: http://tennislink.usta.com/tournaments/TournamentHome/Tournament.aspx?T=185581#&&s=7
Tennis Channel will broadcast the Girls’ 18s singles final on Sunday, from 4-6 p.m. ET (1-3 p.m. PT) immediately following the Rogers Cup and Western & Southern first round.
Over 400 girls aged 16 and 18 and under are competing for the title of National Champion, as well as a wild card entry into the Women’s Singles main draw of the US Open (for the 18s Champion) and a wild card into the US Open Junior Championships (for the 16s Champion). The 18s Doubles Champions will also receive a wild card into the US Open Women’s Doubles main draw.
Sunday’s schedule will begin at 9 a.m. (PDT). Admission and on-site parking at the Barnes Tennis Center is free.
About USTA Girls’ 16s – 18s Nationals:
The USTA Girls’ 16 & 18s National Championships are the premiere hard court tennis tournaments for amateur and professional American girls aged 18 and 16 and under in the United States. In 2010, both age groups began playing their events concurrently at San Diego’s Barnes Tennis Center. Tournament participants, who represent nearly every state in the United States, have been endorsed by their respective USTA Section or have received USTA special exemptions based on their results in qualifying tournaments, junior rankings, or results on the WTA Tour or International Tennis Federation Junior Circuit. Past tournament champions include Chris Evert, Tracy Austin, Andrea Jaeger, Zina Garrison, Mary Jo Fernandez, Jennifer Capriati and Lindsay Davenport.
