Austin Tennis Academy News

July 23, 2007

ATA Hosts Spenco Open June 15-17--Academy Students Compete in 17 Draws

The June Spenco Open enjoyed a mostly clear weekend, missing nearly all of the unseasonably relentless summer Texas rain to complete a great tournament. In 17 draws, Austin Tennis Academy students competed on their home courts as hosts to juniors from across Texas. Several ATA students won draws while many great matches were played. This tournament is one of 4 the ATA hosts to give our players the advantage of playing on their home courts and sleeping in their own beds while pursuing their tennis results.

In the boys 10s singles draw (1) seed Seung Min Kim advanced to finals, beating Adrian Castognola on his way. In the final, Kim battled Payton Holden, winner of three matches. Holden outlasted Kim, winning 9-8(3) in the final. Zach Knezevich gave a great effort playing in the 10s draw as an 8 year old.

In the qualified boys 12s draw, Josh Minor lost a very close 10-8 in the third match to Tristan Wise. Minor then won the 12s singles back-draw without dropping a set. In the same division, Conor O’Meara defeated Matthew Chappel in the first round. In the girls 12s qualified draw, Maggie O’Meara won two matches without dropping a set on her way to the Spenco 12s title. Maggie defeated Ashley Stallard 6-2, 6-4 in the final. Meg Cahill fought hard, nearly winning the back-draw 12s title, falling in the super-breaker. 

In non-qualified girls 12s action, Carli Knezevich fell to finalist Abigail Chiu in her first match. Knezevich went on to win the back-draw in convincing fashion, 6-0, 6-0 in the final. In one of her first USTA tournaments, Remi Immler nearly won a back-draw match, falling to Lauren Legg 10-8 in the super-breaker. Molly Fisher fell in the final to Abigail Chiu, while Savannah Brilliant fell to both main-draw champ Chiu and back-draw champion Knezevich. 

In the boys 14s qualified draw, Charlie Shin won five matches to win the draw. Shin played well to consecutively beat ATA teammates Josh Hagar in the semi-final 6-0, 6-4 and Matthew Sparks 6-0, 2-6, 6-1 to take the title. On his way to the final, Sparks won four matches, employing timely play to advance by super-breaker win 3 times. Colton Malesovas won a well fought match in the super-breaker over (5) seed Andres Hasfura before falling to Josh Hagar in straight sets. Fitzhugh Mullins won three matches, advancing to the semi-finals where he fell to Sparks in a battle: 6-7(2) 6-2, 7-5. Cliff Brookshire won two back-draw matches after dropping a close opening round match. Greyson Brilliant lost a close first round match 10-7 in the super-breaker. A strong athlete with a basketball background, Jaxon Immler played hard in his first USTA experience, competing in the 14s non-qualified division. Garrett Callen and Justin Rowley played a close semi-final match with Callen prevailing in the Super-breaker. Callen fell to draw winner Brian Chang in the final. Even keel Luke Brown outlasted a game Daniel Howell in the first round 3-6, 6-4, 11-9.  

Brittany Brewster lost a marathon first round 14s qualified match to Lynsey Maciolek, then rebounded to win two back-draw matches for the back-draw title. Brewster lost her first round match 10-6 in the super-breaker.

Cameron Relic won the 16s qualified draw, coming from behind to defeat Kyle Grandin 4-6, 6-1, 6-2. Esteban Kaufmann won two matches before falling to Nicholas Ellis in two close sets. Blake Daniels won a one-sided first round match. (6) seed Nathan Cooner then took Daniels down in three sets. Daniel Wang lost a second round match in 3 close sets.

In girls 16s qualified action, Grace Mullins fell in the first round to draw champion Andrene Dabaghi. Mullins then advanced to win the back-draw title with a solid performance over Kate Cahill. After dropping her first match, Kate Cahill rebounded to win three matches on her way to the back-draw final. Claire Cahill won two main-draw matches, including a three set win in the second round. Jessica Waite played hard in two close matches. Christine Schatz gave a great effort in her first round match, a 3 set loss to Stephanie Maldonando. Schatz rebounded to make Kate Cahill play her best tennis in the back-draw. Laura Servise won her first round match 4-6, 7-6(6), 10-8. Servise put forth a similar stellar effort in a narrow second round loss.

The boys 18s qualified draw featured higher level tennis. Jonathan Stockdale won two matches before falling to eventual champion Warren Thayer. Richard Corbyn won a close first round match over Patricio Carregha, 10-8 in the super-breaker.

Congratulations to all Austin Tennis Academy competitors and everyone who played in the Spenco Open! Also, thanks to Spenco for their continued commitment to Texas junior tennis. The Austin Tennis Academy looks forward to another great Spenco Open later this Fall.

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