USTA News
2011-08-08
Marcos Giron, seeded 4th in 18s, advanced to the fourth round with a 6-3, 6-4 win over Morgan Mays, Longboat Key, Fla.
“I really took care of my serve well,” Giron said. “He’s got a good forehand. I never really let him dictate with the forehand.
“I kept on taking the ball early, came to the net quite a few times, just really had him on the defensive side. I was dictating. I broke him early on. He’s a very energetic guy, so you can’t let him overwhelm you.”
Seeded seventh in doubles, Giron, Thousand Oaks, Calif., and Nick Chappell, Indianapolis, pulled out a barnburner, 7-5, 6-7(5), 1-0(8) over Jeffrey Brown, Mandeville, La., and Becker O'Shaughnessey, Macon, Ga.
2011-07-28
Tennis brothers Luke Jensen and Murphy Jensen will headline the 2011 Rx Optical/Greenleaf Trust & Greenleaf Hospitality Exhibition at Kalamazoo College’s Stowe Stadium on Friday, Aug. 5 at 7 p.m.
The exhibition match follows the opening ceremonies for the USTA Boys’ 18 & 16 National Championships which runs Aug. 5-14. Tickets for the exhibition match are $10 for adults and $5 for students and are available in advance by calling the tournament office at (269) 337-7343.
“The Jensen brothers will provide a great night of entertainment to help kick off the tournament,” said Mark Riley, Tournament Director. “They are known for their high energy level and are very fun to watch. It will definitely be an entertaining evening."
The Jensen brothers were both born in Northern Michigan and went on to successful careers in professional doubles play, highlighted by a championship at the 1993 French Open. Both players played college tennis at the University of Southern California.
Luke won the USTA Boys’ 18 doubles championship with Patrick McEnroe in 1984. He earned the nickname “Dual Hand Luke” for his ability to serve with either hand. Luke is currently the head coach of the women’s tennis team at Syracuse University.
Murphy is the head coach of the Washington Kastles in World Team Tennis. He also hosts a show on the Tennis Channel and has acted in films such as Wimbledon and Tennis, Anyone…?.
Kalamazoo has hosted the USTA Boys’ 18 & 16 National Championships for the past 68 years and currently hosts over 400 outstanding juniors from all parts of the United States. The tournament is hosted by Kalamazoo College and Western Michigan University. More information about the tournament can be found online at http://www.ustaboys.com or by calling the tournament office at (269) 337-7343.
2011-07-27
The memorial service for Coach George Acker will be held on Sunday, July 31 at 2:00pm in Stetson Chapel on the campus of Kalamazoo College.
2011-07-20
George Acker, 82, legendary coach of Kalamazoo College's Men's Tennis teams, died at Bronson Hospital on Wednesday after suffering a stroke on July 12.
Acker coached the Kalamazoo College Hornets men's tennis team from 1958 to 1993, compiling a 537-231 overall record which included a 209-1 record in the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association. In his 35 years at Kalamazoo College, the Hornets won 35 consecutive MIAA tennis titles and seven NCAA Division III National championships under Acker's guidance. Acker was a recipient of the Florence J. Lucasse Award for Excellence in Teaching in 1985 and was inducted into the Kalamazoo College Hall of Fame in 1998.
Coach Acker was actively involved in the Boys' 18 & 16 National Tennis Championships from 1959 until his death. He served in many capacities through the years, most notably as a Nationals Official, and received a Green Jacket in 1983. In 1993 he was named as the Honorary Referee for that year's tournament.
Coach Acker is survived by his wife Nancy and four daughters. Funeral arrangements are pending.
2011-05-31
Jim Van Zandt was inducted into the National Junior College Athletic Association Women’s Tennis Hall of Fame on May 8, 2011 at Randolph Tennis Center in Tucson, Arizona during the National Junior College Women’s National Championship tournament.
Van Zandt has served as the Kalamazoo Valley Community College women’s tennis coach for 17 years with his teams qualifying for Nationals 11 of the 17 years.
Van Zandt is a Kalamazoo county native and a 1960 graduate of Kalamazoo College who has served in many capacities at the Nationals in his over 60 years of service. Always a fan of the Nats, he began attending the matches while in high school and was asked to call lines in the quarterfinals. In 1959 he was a student worker for Coach George Acker, keeping the red clay courts in playing order. Over the years Jim has served in many capacities including running the Feed-Ins, training Ball Runners, managing the Pro Shop, serving as Chair Umpire and leading the Site Preparation and Maintenance committee (Red Crew). He received the prestigious Green Jacket Award in 1987 and the Community Service Award in 2001. Jim, along with wife Ellie, now Co-Chair the T-Shirt Distribution Committee.
Van Zandt, formerly a teacher, coach, and principal at Galesburg-Augusta High School, was inducted into the Michigan High School Tennis Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 1989 for his Galesburg-Augusta tennis team achievements of six Class C-D state championship teams and four runners-up. Additionally, Jim was inducted into the Galesburg-Augusta High School Hall of Fame with the inaugural class in 2009.
2010-08-15
Michael Redlicki is headed to the Junior U.S. Open after winning the boys 16s singles title Sunday.
Redlicki, the fourth seed from Hawthorn Woods, Ill., defeated top seed Shane Vinsant, Keller, Texas, 7-5, 6-4.
“We had a really good match,” Redlicki said. “It’s a dream come true; all the year’s hard work, my whole life’s hard work; my coach, the blood, sweat and tears that went into it.
“It wasn’t about who was better or who has the better history. I mean, we’re both really good players. Today I just wanted it more.
“That’s what it came down to — the desire, putting everything into action. I wanted it more and I got it.”
2010-08-15
Jack Sock said he was prepared to go the full five sets in the boys 18s final Sunday, but he needed only three.
Sock, the third seed from Lincoln, Neb., defeated Bob van Overbeek, the ninth seed from Boca Raton, Fla., 6-2, 7-5, 6-4. Along with the winner’s gold ball, Sock earned a wild card into the U.S. Open main draw, where he wouldn’t mind playing “Federer or Nadal or Murray,” he said.
“How many chances do you get to play one of those guys or just play in the U.S. Open? Hopefully I’ll have more chances in the future, but this one would be fun just to play someone big to see where I am.”
The high school senior streaked to a 4-0 first-set lead. “My game plan was to come out with a lot of energy, a lot of bouncing around, a lot ‘come ons’, a lot of positive energy,” Sock said. “He’s obviously been serving really well this tournament ... to get up two breaks that early, I can’t say I was expecting that, no, but I started out returning really well; my backhand return was on fire today.”
In the second set, Sock was down 5-2, then reeled off the next five games for the set.
“I thought the second set was pretty big and crucial,” Sock said. “I actually got broken, which wasn’t good, but that’s why I kept watching him against (Denis) Kudla (in the semifinal on Saturday). He got broken, at 5-3 serving. “He played a loose game there and I hit some good returns again, so I kinda tried to put pressure on at 5-3 and make him win the set from me. At that point, I broke and just had to hold; broke again at 5-all, which was another good game.”
Van Overbeek, a sophomore at University of Florida, begins school next week, said, “I’m just looking forward to getting back to school, football season. “It’ll be a good season and I’m just looking forward to getting back to school and hopefully doing better than last year."
2010-08-14
Sunday’s 16s singles final is set, with top-seeded Shane Vinsant, Keller, Texas, and Michael Redlicki (4), Hawthorn Woods, Ill., both advancing in straight sets on Saturday.
Vinsant defeated Nolan Paige (3), Fairfield, Conn., 6-0, 6-4, and Redlicki beat Mitchell Krueger (2), Aledo, Texas, 7-6(6), 6-4.
“That’s the least nervous I’ve been, probably,” Vinsant said. “I had good talks before with my coaches. I had a real good warmup, so it kinda came over in the match.”
In the second set, Paige “didn't do anything special, but he changed his game a little bit and it took me a little bit to adjust to that,” Vinsant said. He started pressuring me more, not hitting big shots, but taking time away and coming to the net.”
Redlicki has been one of the most confident players all tournament.
“The winner of the match is always more prepared and executes his game plan more, not because of the red number (seeding) next to his name’s lower than the other guy,” said Redlicki, who mentioned at the beginning of the tournament that he thought he would be seeded 1, 2 or 3 after winning Clay Courts.
“I feel that I played very good and I fought as hard as I possibly could and it paid off really good by earning me a spot in the finals.”
2010-08-13
The semifinal matchups for the top half of the draws have been set, with the bottom halves determined today.
In 18s, top-seeded Jordan Cox, Bradenton, Fla., will face Jack Sock (3), Lincoln, Neb., and in 16s, top-seeded Shane Vinsant, Keller, Texas, will play Nolan Paige (3), Fairfield, Conn. Cox defeated Nelson Vick (29), Stillwater, Minn., 6-1, 6-2, on Thursday, and Sock beat Daniel Kosakowski (15), Downey Calif., 7-6(3), 3-6, 7-6(5), in a match that lasted 3 hours, 8 minutes.
“He’s a darn good player,” Sock said. “This is the first time I’ve ever played him, but I’ve watched him play so I kinda knew what to expect, but not really. “... He can literally hit a winner from anywhere on the court. He can pull the trigger any time.” In the second tiebreak, “I was kinda thinking about (having won the first one) before the tiebreak started,” Sock said. “I was like, I’ve done this once today and let’s try to do it again.”
Cox was surprised at how quickly his match ended. “We played two years ago in the 16s in the Round of 16 and we had a really big battler, actually, that match,” Cox said of Vick. “I was expecting a bit more of a grind out there. I guess I played very well, very aggressive, and maybe he was a little bit off, making a few more mistakes than he normally does.”
In 16s, Vinsant defeated Anthony Delcore (6), Omaha, Neb., 6-4, 6-4 and Paige beat Tyler Gardiner (16), Novi, Mich., 6-3, 7-5. “The key was whoever was serving a high percentage of first serves and also controlling the rally,” Vinsant said. “Those are the two keys. I know those two things helped either one of us gain offense, whether it was making first serves or controlling the rally.”
Gardiner said he could feel the match slipping away at the start of the second set, but “I hung in there,” he said. “I was down 0-2 and that was a big hole. “Then I went up 5-4 and thought I had a chance to make (the match) go three (sets).” Paige said he knows Vinsant is good. “I just gotta play well, go out there,” he said. “He hits a solid ball, I think, so I’ve just gotta go out there and play well, play loose. It’ll be fun playing him.”
2010-08-13
Saturday’s second semifinal in boys 16s is set, with second seed Mitchell Krueger, Aledo, Texas, taking on fourth seed Michael Redlicki, Hawthorn Woods, Ill., at 11 a.m. Krueger defeated M. Mackenzie McDonald (7), Piedmont, Calif., 6-3, 6-3, today, and Redlicki beat Gordon Watson (5), Naples, Fla., 6-4, 6-3. “I was hitting pretty clean the whole time,” Krueger said. “I felt this was my best match so far this tournament. He hit really well, too. There were some pretty solid rallies back and forth. It was a pretty aggressive match."
“Whoever could stay longer in the rally and finish a little better ... It could have been a lot tougher than the score looks.”
Redlicki said he knew Watson would be tough. “I knew we were gonna have a big fight,” Redlicki said. “We both had to prepare as best as we can to go really long, really intense, for as long as this match would take, because last time we showed each other we’re made of steel and that we don’t give up. We fight to the last point.” The “last time” was at Clay Courts last month when he defeated Watson 3-6, 6-3, 6-2.
The other 16s semifinal — top seed Shane Vinsant, Keller, Texas, vs. Nolan Paige (3), Fairfield, Conn. — was decided on Thursday.