Austin Tennis Academy News

February 19, 2009

The ATA Team Travels to Three National Opens

Fourteen of ATA’s junior athletes accepted the opportunity to compete in a National Open this past weekend. Each site accepts the top 56 eligible players from the National Standings Lists to participate. The 12s traveled to Lake Charles, LA, the 16s drove south to San Antonio, while the 18s went to Waco.

Coach Newman accompanied the team to Lake Charles.

“All of ATA’s 12s performed with tremendous intensity, focus and sportsmanship,” Coach Newman said.

Maggie O’Meara earned four straight wins in her girls’ 12s draw, to reach the semi finals. In the round of 16 she faced K. Traxler who took the second set to send the match to a decisive tie breaker, where O’Meara fought for an 11-9 victory.

“Maggie O’Meara had a career win defeating Traxler whom she has never beaten,” Coach Newman said.

Allie Burak beat M. Manning from Louisiana, 6-1, 6-2, in her first round match. Next, she met M. Rabson and split the first two sets 3-6. 6-3. Burak brought out her best tennis at the biggest moment to earn a 13-11 victory in the third set tie breaker, earning a spot in the round of 16.

“Allie Burak also had her best national performance ever,” Coach Newman said. In the boys’ 12s draw, Payton Holden bounced back from a first round loss to earn three straight victories. He defeated Sam Stewart, 6-3, 6-3, for his third win. Matthew Milliken defeated Louisiana’s Greg Suhor, 6-3, 6-3 in his second match. Dylan Ritter defeated Alabama’s Hunter Lanier 6-2, 4-6, 10-4 in his first round match. His brother, Zane Ritter, also won his first round match, 6-3, 6-3. Conor O’Meara rebounded from a loss first round to defeat Robert Wilkins 6-0, 6-0. Ben Smith beat Mississippi’s Philip Rizik 6-4, 6-1 in his first round match.

Coach Moros and Coach Davis traveled with the team to San Antonio. Taylor Shamshiri earned a first round win over Florida’s Morgan Mays. After splitting the first two sets 3-6, 6-2, Shamshiri stepped up to claim the match 6-1 in the third. After dropping his next match, Shamshiri earned two more tough wins and a spot in the third round of consolation. Brooke Hughes won her first round match over Oklahoma’s Rachel Mitcham 6-3, 6-2. She then rebounded from a second round loss to defeat I. Mohotigge 6-3, 6-0. Chris Dale and Morgan Barnhill competed well, each playing two tough matches over the weekend.

In Waco, Chase Curry defeated Minnesota’s Michael Sinha 6-2, 6-3 for a first round win. Next, he defeated Otavio Perim, 7-6, 6-2, to reach the round of 16. After falling in his third match, Curry earned two more tough wins. He defeated California’s J. Ball 2-6, 6-3, 7-6 for his fourth win of the tournament. After falling first round, Claire Cahill earned a victory over Alabama’s K. Lewis, a top 100 nationally ranked girl, 3-6, 6-1, 6-1.

National Opens offer the opportunity to compete against peers from across the country. ATA’s junior athletes who enter these tournaments are earning valuable national level experience. Look for these athletes to succeed at next month’s major zones in Austin and Corpus Christi.

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