JOVIC TO FACE GLOZMAN IN 18S SINGLES FINAL AT 1 P.M. ON SUNDAY
AT USTA BILLIE JEAN KING GIRLS’ 16S AND 18S NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS
Ishika Ashar Defeats Nicole Weng 7-5, 6-2 to Win 16s Singles Championship
SAN DIEGO – (August 10, 2024) – It was a day to remember for 17th-seeded Ishika Ashar as the 16 year old from Boca Raton, Fla., defeated ninth-seeded Nicole Weng of South Pasadena, Calif., 7-5, 6-2 in one-hour and 32 minutes to win the 16 singles title of the 2024 USTA Billie Jean King Girls’ 16s and 18s National Championships at Barnes Tennis Center.
Ashar will receive a wild card entry into the Girls’ Singles draw of the Junior US Open later this month in New York. While Ashar has attended the tournament in the past as a spectator this will be her first appearance as a player.
“It’s a dream come true. The past year, this is what I’ve been working towards and now I get to go to New York and do my best,” Ashar said after being presented her first USTA Gold Ball. “It feels unreal. I saw the ball go out (on match point) and my emotions were let out. My stress was gone.”
Ashar, who trains in Delray Beach, Fla., had never advanced past the second round of a Level One National Championship and lost in the first round of last year’s event. However, when she arrived in San Diego this year, Ashar felt good about her chances to make a run.
“I knew coming into this tournament I was playing well. I got better with every match I played. My confidence just kept going,” Ashar said. “I’m coming to net more and I’m feeling more comfortable. My fitness has gotten better and I’m feeling very confident.”
Following her title victory, Ashar spoke about her hard-fought win over third-seed Isabelle DeLuccia in the Round of 16 that helped her get through to the championship match.
“The Round of 16 was my only three-set match. I lost the first set, 6-7 and then I was able to win 6-1, 6-1. That match really gave me the confidence to know that I can compete and stay out there as long as I needed to,” she said.
Fourteenth-seeded Lyla Middleton of Santa Fe, N.M., won the 16s Third-Place match and a USTA bronze ball when 16th-seeded Nancy Lee of Belmont, Mass., could not play the match due to injury.
Later in the day, Middleton teamed with Jordyn Hazelitt of Henderson, Nev., to win the 16s doubles title with an impressive 0-6, 7-5, 6-2 victory over fifth-seeded Bella Payne of Bradenton, Fla., and Sara Shumate of Bradenton Beach, Fla.
Two surprising results highlighted the 18s singles semifinals on Saturday as top-seeded Clervie Ngounoue of Orlando, Fla., and second-seed Akasha Urhobo of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., were eliminated in straight sets.
Playing on Stadium Court, third-seeded Iva Jovic of Torrance, Calif., continued her dominating play in this week’s tournament as she shocked Ngounoue, the defending champion, 6-1, 6-2 in 72 minutes. The 16-year-old Jovic has dropped only 14 games in her six singles matches.
In the lower half of the draw fifth-seeded Valerie Glozman of Bellevue, Wash., who will begin playing collegiate tennis at Stanford University this fall, dismissed Urhobo 6-2, 6-4 on Court 10 in 73 minutes.
Glozman will meet Jovic in Sunday’s 18s singles championship at 1 p.m. (PDT). The match will mark Glozman’s second appearance in the 18s singles finals in the last three years.
To view singles and doubles draws for each age division, click here.
Admission is free each day of the tournament and there is no charge for parking at Barnes Tennis Center. To view the official tournament website, click here. To view the official Tournament Program, click here.
About USTA Billie Jean King Girls’ 16s & 18s Nationals – The USTA Billie Jean King Girls’ 16s & 18s National Championships are the premiere hard court tennis tournaments for amateur and professional American girls aged 16 and 18 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 Joe Fernandez, Jennifer Capriati, Lindsay Davenport and Sofia Kenin.
About Barnes Tennis Center – Barnes Tennis Center is a three-time award-winning multi-racquet sports facility in San Diego. It was constructed between 1995 and 1997 and named after its lead donor family, the “George E. Barnes Family Junior Tennis Center.” The capital campaign was led by Dr. Homer Peabody Jr., who spearheaded the project and is greatly appreciated by Youth Tennis San Diego. The Center is dedicated to serving the youth of San Diego, and children aged 18 and under have court priority and play for free. The facility offers 7 Padel courts and 19 Pickleball courts.
Youth Tennis San Diego, owner and operator of Barnes Tennis Center, has brought the game of tennis right to the backyards of thousands of children and adults across San Diego County–eliminating long-standing financial barriers and dramatically increasing the accessibility of the sport. At the head of tennis organizations, YTSD has developed outreach programs, with its signature Kathy Chabot Willette After School Tennis at the forefront, in a central location at Barnes Tennis Center in the heart of San Diego. For additional information, go to: https://www.barnestenniscenter.com/.
