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ATA Athletes Compete Nationally and Internationally

The end of 2011 brought with it some of the most prestigious events in junior tennis. ATA athletes were scattered around the country, and even the world in one case, to compete in these year-end events.
 
Abigail Chiu competed in the 50th Annual Junior Orange Bowl Tennis Championships, an international junior event, in mid December. She then went on to Arizona for USTA Winter Nationals.
 
The Orange Bowl brings together the most promising young tennis players from around the world each year, and 2011 was no different bringing athletes from over 75 countries and 40 different U.S. states. The tournament boasts an impressive group of alumni including Roger Federer, Andre Agassi, Andy Roddick and Stefi Graff.
 
Chiu fought her way through two rounds at the Orange Bowl, taking down Luciana Di Laura in the round of 128 6-3, 6-4, followed by Francesca Dilorenzo 6-1, 6-1, to reach the round of 32.
 
“Abigail did a great job over the week at Orange Bowl,” Coach Brandon Davis said. “She fought well in every match and she ended up finishing top 32 in the world. Going in, she likely didn’t expect to do that well, but good things happen when you go and play the best tournaments in the world and you fight for every match.”
 
 
 
At Winter Nationals, Abigail won 5 singles matches, again eventually going down in the round of 32. In doubles, the duo of Chiu and Porter reached the quarterfinals with three tough wins.
 
Josh Hagar recently returned from a two-week tour of Mexico City and Costa Rica.  Josh played in the qualifying of the Level A (similar to junior grand slam levels) in Mexico City, winning a round and then losing in the 2nd round to both his opponent and the flu. 
 
After 3 days in bed in Mexico City, he travelled on to Costa Rica for a Level 1 tournament.  He won through the qualifying to the main, but lost in the first round of both singles and doubles. 
 

“Josh got some valuable exposure to the very top level of junior competition in the world.  Many of the players Josh competed against are ranked top 100 in the world.  Josh's current ITF world ranking is #300.  In Feburary Josh will be traveling to Peru, Chile and Boliva for three more L2 ITF on Clay.  He will be starting in the main draw of these events.”

 
Molly Fisher, Meghan O’Malley, Payton Holden and Jake Berber competed in the 14’s USTA Winter Nationals in Arizona along with Chiu. Hunter Goertz and Frankie Colunga also traveled to Arizona for the 18s Winter Nationals event.
 
Molly lost her first 3 matches and then won her next 4, thus winning her "Southeast" draw.  Fisher took down Sonal Shrivastava in the SE final round 6-2, 6-0.
 
 
 
“Molly played some of her best tennis at the end of the tournament after having a shaky start to the week,” Coach Kendall Brooks said. “I’m proud of her for sticking with it and getting to big wins.”
 
Meghan O’Malley competed in four singles matches at her first Super national event. She also teamed up with Fisher to win their opening round doubles match. 


 
“Meghan gained great experience in her first Super national," Coach Brooks said.  "It has been her goal for the year to make it in to Winters nats, so she accomplished that goal and definitely showed signs of great tennis while she was there.  Her and Molly also won their first round doubles match before falling to the #1 seeds- which was also a great experience.”
 

Payton Holden won two singles matches and one doubles match at Winter Nationals. In the round of 128, Holden took down Bryce Pereira 6-4, 6-4, before teaming up with Berber to beat Shealy/Wilson 6-2, 6-1. 



 
“Payton played some of the best tennis I have seen him play consistently,” Coach Brooks said. “Won- lost-lost-won-lost.  He showed great growth in his mental game and emotional control and is on the verge of a big breakthrough I think into the top of boys 14s.”
 
 
 
Jake Berber beat Alex Keyser in singles 7-6(7), 6-2 to reach the round of 64 in singles. 


 
“Jake had a great win in the first round of a super national, which he said he'd never done before,” Brooks said. “He then came across some tough competitors on the way out of the tournament.  He and Payton dominated in their first round doubles win, but then lost second round.”
 
 
 
Hunter Goertz opened the tournament by taking down a current DI college player from Marquette.
 
“Hunter competed incredibly well all weekend and played as well as I've ever seen him play," Coach Brian Notis said.  "He blended his amazing brand of hustle and defense with a willingness to dictate play from the baseline and finish points at the net.  Hunter beat a current DI college player from Marquette in the first round playing nearly flawless tennis.  In the second round he played even better for a set and a half before running out of gas.  In his first consolation match, Hunter saved 4 match points to advance.”
 

Goertz and Colunga then teamed up for some doubles action.

 


“Hunter and Frankie played doubles together and lost in the first round to a solid team," Coach Notis said. "Both gained valuable doubles experience and Frankie got his first taste of an 18's Level I national.”
 
Congratulations to all of the ATA young athletes who competed in these prestigious events throughout December. These players and many more are set to compete in this coming weekends Super Champ Major Zone’s, so check back next week for more results, and as always, track their progress on Twitter!

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