February 21, 2008
National Open Results: Surges from Hagar, Curry, Preparation for Super-Nats
Several ATA players immersed themselves in national competition for the first time February 16-17, while others used the National Open event as a ‘tune-up’ for the scorching Super-National summer series. ATA Head Coach Jack Newman accompanied the boys’ and girls’ 16s in San Antonio, while the 14s National Open was held in El Paso.
Having hovered around top 100 boys 12s U.S., Josh Hagar is surging up the 14s charts. Josh won his first round convincingly before losing to draw champion (4) seed Christopher Haworth, ranked well inside the boys 14s top 100 U.S. before this event. Hagar then rumbled through three back-draw rounds, dismissing Alexander Jesse 6-1, 6-2 for his fourth win of the tournament. Hagar eventually fell to (11) seed Paul Oosterbaan 7-6(5), 4-6, 6-4. Academy Coach Brian Notis sees Hagar’s improvement: “Josh has stepped up his level of focus, patience and intensity in competition. He is using intelligent shot selection in pressure match situations effectively”. In doubles action, Josh teamed with fellow Austinite Carlos DiLaura. The two notable net-minders attacked their way to finalist honors, beating (2) seeds Marbach and Zhang 8-6 and (3) seeds Imam and Trebisky 8-5 in the semi-final round.
Fighting through a battery of El Paso gusts and willing opponents, Brittany Brewster won two main-draw matches, upending (15) seed Liza Fieldsend 7-6(5), 6-3. Also in 14s, Morgan Barnhill gained valuable experience at the national level, playing Hailey Rochin close in a 6-4, 6-3 loss. Brooke Hughes won a close opening round match 6-3, 7-5 over Rachana Bhat and a back-draw match 6-3, 6-4 over Lisa Waldron.
Traveling with ATA, Wichita Falls’ Chase Curry posted several wins, opening his event over Robbie Mudge, then losing to Jacob Straus in the second round. In the feed-in back-draw, Chase won three more rounds, including a dominating 6-0, 6-1 win over Texas’ Adam Putterman. Jeff Offerdahl won two rounds, first defeating Southern California’s Tyler Gotshall and then fellow Texan Matt Ford. Though Claire Cahill did not win a match at the National Open in San Antonio, “she looked like she belonged at that level”, according to Head Coach Newman. Kate Cahill also gained experience, falling in two sets to Niki Reber 6-3, 6-2. Hailey Posas lost a close match to Alyssa Caffey 6-4, 6-4 in the first round.
Congratulations to these ambitious young players. As spring turns to sweltering summer, the Austin Tennis Academy will continue to strive for excellence in sectional and national events.
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