USTA News
Giron v Novikov
2011-08-10 Marcos Giron would like to make it a hat trick of wins over Dennis Novikov when the two meet in the boys 18s quarterfinals. The two have already met twice this year, at the Carson and Easter Bowl, with Giron winning both. On Wednesday, Giron, the fourth seed from Thousand Oaks, Calif., advanced with a 6-3, 6-2 win over Hunter Reese (21), Kennesaw, Ga., in a match interrupted for one hour 10 minutes by a cloudburst. Novikov (5), Boca Raton, Fla., defeated Dane Webb (16), Richardson, Texas, 6-1, 6-3 in a match that ended just before the rain. Giron knew that Reese had a marathon match on Tuesday, winning 6-3, 6-7(3), 7-6(5) over Gordon Watson (12), Naples, Fla. “I knew he was gonna be a little stiff coming out, so I took advantage early on, broke him, and played well,” Giron said. “I took care of my serves later on. He threatened me later in the set, but then early on in the second set, I broke him first game, up 2-0. Then he ended up breaking me back, so I was a little nervous. “Then it started pouring. He definitely started playing a little better. You could tell he was looser and moving better.” During the delay, Giron said he took it easy, talked to his coach, drank a lot and kept moving so he wouldn’t stiffen up. After the break, “the first game he held at love, and then I ended up holding my next serve at love, also, and I just kinda from there was really feeling it. I was just accelerating on everything and my shots were going in “Tough for him, but I’m happy with the way I played.” Other early winners were Mac Styslinger (9), Birmingham, Ala., over Dennis Mkrtchian, Reseda, Calif., 6-3, 6-2 in 18s and Noah Rubin (3), over Grant Solomon (14), Dallas, Texas, 6-3, 6-2, in 16s.
Frank Pulls Out Three-Setter over Smith
2011-08-10 Mitchell Frank, the No. 2 seed from Annandale, Va., lost just three games in his first three matches. In Wednesday’s Round of 16, he dropped the first set before defeating Austin Smith (15), Cumming, Ga., 3-6, 6-1, 6-1 in boys 18s. He’ll face Hunter Callahan (23), Lower Gwynedd, Pa., who also pulled out a three-setter, 4-6, 6-4, 7-5, over Brett Clark (11), Naples, Fla. “In the first set, he was just playing well,” Frank said. “My ball was a little short. I was a little nervous, then I got down a break in the second, but this whole summer I felt like I’ve been playing from behind, I’ve been playing good competition. There was no reason for me to panic down a set and a break. “I just stayed in the match and kept working and things turned quickly. That’s what happens.” During the 10--minute break between the second and third sets, Frank stayed on the court. “I’ve been playing Futures all summer and I don’t really agree with the 10-minute break,” he said. “I don’t think it’s really good. The fact of the matter is, at this point, I better be able to figure it out on my own. “I didn’t leave the court, I told my coach I didn’t want coaching, I’ve got to figure this out on my own. I don’t know how I would have felt if I had lost, but obviously, I’ve been doing it all summer.” In the third set, “I was up 2-1, a break, and I was up 40-love and he brought it back to deuce and I ended up holding,” Frank said. “And that was a huge momentum shift for me when it could have turned either way. I stayed strong there and was able to pull it out pretty easily after that in the third.” In other midday 18s matches, Jack Sock (1), Lincoln, Neb., defeated Emmett Egger (10), Issaquah, Wash., 6-1, 6-1; Alexios Halebian (8), Glendale, Calif., defeated Spencer Newman (14), Miami, 7-6(2), 1-6, 6-2; and Junior Ore (29), Gaithersburg, Md., beat Charles Depaolo, Asheville, N.C. 6-1, 6-3. Other 16s results include J.C. Aragone (13), Yorba Linda, Calif., over Gage Brymer (5), Irvine, Calif, 7-6, 4-6, 6-3; Luca Corinteli (4), Alexandria, Va., over John Carswell, Pleasant Prairie, Wis., 4-6, 6-1, 6-1; Connor Farren (1), Hillsborough, Calif, over Spencer Papa (9), Edmond, Okla, 6-1, 7-6(7); and Ronnie Schneider (2), Bloomington, Ind., over Thai Kwiatkowski (15), Charlotte, N.C., 6-3, 6-2 .
Congratulations Volunteer Award Winners
2011-08-10 In order to host the USTA Boys' 18 & 16 National Championships each year in Kalamazoo, tournament organizers rely on more than 800 volunteers. Several are recognized each summer for their dedication. The 2011 Special Award Recipients and their awards are as follows:Nancy Anderson & Joanne Barretta received the Green Jacket;
Grace Flesche & Bob Kent received Distinguished Service;
Dave Franson & Lyn Maurer received Community Service;
Sage Sackett received the Pat & Rolla Anderson Youth Volunteer.
Congratulations to all!
Junior Ore defeats Bjorn Fratangelo
2011-08-09 Bjorn Fratangelo, the third seed in 18s, pulled out a tough three-setter after losing the first set to Christopher Diaz on Monday. On Tuesday, he wasn’t as fortunate. Junior Ore, the 29th seed from Gaithersburg, Md., defeated Fratangelo, 6-2, 6-4, to advance to Wednesday’s round of 16. “A key was keep my focus, keep calmed down and relax,” Ore said. “Obviously he came from being the top junior in the world, just won the (junior) French, so I was really excited. “I knew I had to keep my emotions in control. I just had to press and trust my game.” Ore let out a shout on the final point. “Yes, it’s emotional for me that I won this match,” he said. “After the Open last year, I went down to Florida to work with Steve Smith. ”All I did was basically rebuild my strokes. I didn’t play points or anything. All I basically did was hit off the cone for hours and hours and hours. “
Conner Farren Survives
2011-08-09 Conner Farren, the boys 16s top seed, survived a three-setter against Elliott Orkin (18), Marietta, Ga., 4-6, 6-3, 6-2. “He played really well in the first set,” Farren said. “He came out and didn’t make any errors. “I just wasn’t putting enough balls in play. I started playing my game more in the second set. the third, I actually felt the best that I have in a while.” The last time the two met, last year at Clay Courts, Farren won 6-2, 6-1. “He’s improved a lot.” Farren said.
Oosterbaan loses to Rubin
2011-08-09 Kalamazoo’s Paul Oosterbaan (31) lost to No. 3 Noah Rubin, 6-3, 6-2. Rubin, from Rockville Centre, N.Y., knew he’d be playing before a partisan crowd. “This was fine,” Rubin said. “They were clapping for his shots. It was a good match.” “I knew he was a bigger kid (6-foot-4), so I was expecting a big serve. I mean, the clock said I was big and I don’t know how that was possible (116, 118 mph). I knew he wasn’t as well moving just because of how tall he is. I was just focusing on that. It was just a pretty good match.”
Farren Enjoys Top Seed Designation
2011-08-08 Connor Farren’s first match of the tournament got off to a shaky start on Sunday. The top seed in boys 16s struggled in the first set before defeating Christopher Barrus, Marmora, N.J., 7-5, 6-0, on one of the three front courts at Stowe Stadium. Farren thought he’d be a top five seed, but was surprised to be No. 1. “I didn’t know if they were gonna use the ITF rankings for the seeding,” he said. “I knew I would be one of the top five, but it’s great to be the top seed. “I love being the top seed. I think it’s the first time in a USTA tournament I’ve ever been a No. 1 seed. I was always playing up.” The last time Farren competed in 16s was a year ago in Kalamazoo. “My coach wanted me to push myself to try to do well and put pressure on myself to do well in a tournament in my own age group,” he said. Farren said the first round is always tough. “Nerves and I focused a little more in the second set,” he said. “I was just trying to get used to the conditions in the first set.” Farren finished his match before the thunderstorm puddled the courts, forcing several in-progress 16s singles matches inside. The delay lasted 3 hours, 20 minutes until the outside courts were playable. The top five seeds in 16s all advanced in second-round, straight-set wins. The 18s don’t play their third round until Monday. Ronnie Schneider (2), Bloomington, Ind., defeated Samuel Lam, Old Westbury, N.Y., 6-3, 6-0; Noah Rubin (3), Rockville Centre, N.Y., beat Robert Seby, Oro Valley, Ariz., 6-1, 6-1; Luca Corintelli (4), Alexandria, Va., defeated Alexander Solonin, Tarzana, Calif., 6-3, 6-3, and Gage Brymer (5), Irvine, Calif., beat Joshua Yablon, New York City, 6-3, 6-2. In doubles, 16s top seeds Schneider and Yale Goldberg, Beachwood, Ohio, defeated Minnesotans Charlie Adams, Wayzata, and Myles Tang, Minneapolis, 6-1, 6-1. Second seeds Corinteli and Spencer Papa, Edmond, Okla., got past Edgar Diaz, Gurabo, Puerto Rico, and Isaiah Mayerchak, Princeton, Minn., 6-0, 6-3.
Fratangelo Avoids Upset
2011-08-08 Bjorn Fratangelo, the third seed in 18s, avoided an upset bid by unseeded Christopher Diaz, Columbus, Ohio, on Monday. After dropping the first set, Fratangelo, from Pittsburgh, rallied for a 3-6, 6-2, 6-3 third-round win. “He was making a lot of balls in the beginning and really throwing no pace at me, so it was hard for me to really get things going,” Fratangelo said. “I got the third set out, so I’m happy. This is my last hurrah. “There’s a little panic (when losing the first set), but the last couple months I’ve been playing really well and my confidence is high and I’ve gutted some tough ones out lately. “I know I can do it and it’s just a matter of staying calm out there, which I think I’m doing a better job of that. To get these matches out of the way early, it’s good for your confidence.” Fratangelo said he had to change his original strategy after the first set. “I was ripping balls at the beginning, just trying to hit winners,” he said. “I thought I could overpower him off the court. Obviously that wasn’t working. “I just tried to relax, make a bit more balls, get myself in a groove out there because he was giving me rhythm. It was a matter of me missing or making balls. “Once I started making balls and moving him around more, I was more patient to wait until I got my opportunity rather than just smack away.” Fratangelo said he didn’t expect the 10-minute break between the second and third sets, a new rule this year. “That was weird,” he said. “I didn’t expect that at all. Usually 18s we just keep playing. I felt like I was a little kid again. “I changed my shirt, drank a little water, I don’t even know why I left the court because I came back on two minutes later. Just kinda gathered my thoughts, tried to stay loose, stay calm. I think I did a good job.” Fratangelo and partner Alexios Halebian, Glendale, Calif., the second seeds, advanced to the doubles round of 16 with a 6-3, 6-1 win over Californians James Boyd, Rancho Santa Fe, and Brendan McClain, Ventura.
Sock Rolls into Fourth Round
2011-08-08 Jack Sock, the 18s top seed, defeated Austin Ansari, Greensboro, N.C., 6-1, 6-1. The key was “Probably me just trying to dictate points and make a lot of first serves and, once again, just play some points and get a feel for it again,” Sock said. “He had a good return. He was standing on the baseline for my first serves and inside the baseline for my second serve, which you don’t see very often. So I was just trying to make a lot of first serves, make him turn back and play. which he was doing for a while. “In the second set, he was breaking down a little bit, so I got a couple more free points. I played a lot of the match with my forehand, which is probably why the score is what it was.” Nebraska’s Sock, from Lincoln, and Jackson Withrow, Omaha, the top seeds, defeated Aaron Gomez, La Plata, Md., and Ryan Shane, Falls Church, Va., 6-2, 6-2, in the third round of doubles.
Redlicki Likes Stadium Courts
2011-08-08 Playing on one of the front three courts at Stowe Stadium suits Michael Redlicki just fine. The 18s No. 20 seed, from Hawthorn Woods, Ill., defeated Matthew Alves, Gold River, Calif., 6-4, 6-4. “In the beginning, I was especially comfortable because last year on Court 2 was my semifinal and it was a cloudy day and today was also a cloudy day, so it was like it was just yesterday playing on it,” said Redlicki, who won the 16s singles title last year. “It always was and always will be a great accomplishment in my career, winning Kalamazoo, because only a select few do it,” he said. Redlicki and Robert Stineman, Winnetka, Ill, seeded 10th, advanced in doubles with a 6-1, 7-5 win over Jonathan Carcione, Franklin Lakes, N.J. and Andrew Yaraghi, Mill Neck, N.Y,