Austin Tennis Academy News

January 27, 2009

ATA's Top Juniors Traveled to Waco for The USTA Texas Super Championship Excellence

The top Texan’s from 12s through 18s traveled to Waco this past weekend for the USTA Texas Section Super Championship Excellence. Only the top 25 eligible players from each age division were accepted, with the top 12 placed in the Main Draw while the remaining 16 competed through the Qualifying.

The first round of the boy’s 18s Qualifying draw faced Jeff Offerdahl against friend and teammate Chase Curry. After battling for two tough sets, nothing was decided as the two each claimed one. It took until the end of set three when Curry came up with a clutch game to claim the match and move on, 4-6, 7-6, 7-5. Next Curry faced Carlos Florez for a spot in the main draw. Chase fought Florez to a 7-5, 6-1 victory, qualifying him for a spot in the main draw. There he matched up against M. Ando Hirsh, with Curry again earning the win 6-4, 6-3. After falling to the four seed in his next match, Curry entered the Consolation North draw. Here, Chase claimed two more wins, beating Tyler Brown in the finals 6-1, 6-0, culminating an impressive 5-1 record for the tournament.

After dropping his first match, Blake Davis would not be denied in the consolation West draw. Blake blasted through his next two matches, dropping only one game collectively. Now in the finals, Davis faced A. Van Velzer who came out strong taking the first set 3-6. Blake quickly bounced back, however, earning the next two sets and the match 6-3, 7-5.

Brittany Brewster came into the girl’s 14s Qualifying draw as the number two seed. First round she faced Ryan Brown, taking the match 6-3, 3-6, 6-0. After receiving a retirement up 6-2, 4-1, Brewster made the Main draw where she continued to succeed. After a first round win, she faced L. Fieldsend, the number three seed. Brewster again battled for the win 6-2, 6-2 to earn a spot in the semi finals. Brooke Hughes made the Main draw as the number four seed, and lived up to the prediction. After beating J. Denton 7-5, 6-4, she too earned a spot in the semi finals. After Brittany and Brooke fell in the semi’s, they faced each other to decide third place. Brewster prevailed 6-4, 6-2.

Claire Cahill faced Felicity Delgado in her first match in the girl’s 16s Qualifying draw. Claire earned two tough sets 7-5, 7-6 to advance and meet M. Seal second round. In this qualifying match, Claire was again determined, claiming two close sets 7-6, 7-5.

In the boy’s 16s Main Draw, Taylor Shamshiri took down Matt Ford first round 6-2, 4-6, 6-0. After falling to the number one seed Andrew Korinek 6-4, 6-0, Shamishiri entered the Consolation North Draw. He first faced the four seed Tanner Brown, taking him down 7-5, 6-1. In the finals he met A. Narayana, seeded number two. Narayana prevailed 6-3, 6-3. Also in the Main Draw, Chris Dale fell to Tanner Brown first round 6-4, 6-3. He then went to the Consolation West draw where he faced N. Lammons. They split the first two sets 6-4, 5-7, and then Lammons lifted his game to take the third 6-3.

In the boy’s 16s Qualifying, Charlie Shin met Jorge Salazar, seeded number two, in his first match. After each claiming a set 6-3, 3-6, Shin secured the upset 6-1 in the third.

Dylan Ritter faced Hank Golman in the first round of the boy’s 12s Qualifying draw. At the end Dylan had only dropped two games, winning efficiently 6-1 6-1. Next he met A. Liu seeded number two, who came out on top 6-3, 6-4.

In the girl’s 12s Main draw, Maggie O’Meara fell to Maddie Moore 6-4, 6-2 first round. She bounced back to beat N. Miller 6-4, 6-3 to reach the consolation semi finals. Allie Burak faced the three seed Macey Rabson in her first match. They split the first two sets 6-3, 3-6, with Rabson taking the third 7-5.

The ATA juniors earned eleven spots in the Excellence draws. While this alone is an impressive mark, the results earned after this achievement is a testament to their uncommon urgency to succeed in all situations. Look for these junior athletes to continue progressing towards their goals in next months major zones in Corpus Christi and Laredo.

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