Austin Tennis Academy News

July 26, 2009

Austin Tennis Academy Athletes at National Clay Court Championships

The best amateur athletes from coast to coast congregated in various cities this past week to compete in the National Clay Court Championships, one of the most preeminent amateur events in the country. Entry to this past weeks tournaments was granted to the top 192 singles players, and 96 doubles teams in each division from the most recent National Standings List.

Austin Tennis Academy was proudly represented by its junior athletes in various divisions and cities. Delray Beach, FL hosted Blake Davis and Alex Durham in the 18s, and Chase Curry, Chris Dale, Jeff Offerdahl and Hunter Goertz in the 16s. Connor Curry competed in Ft. Lauderdale, FL in the boy's 14s while Sydney Young, Brittany Brewster and the girl's 14s played in Plantation, FL. Brooke Hughes and the girl's 16s traveled to Virginia Beach.

Blake Davis defeated California's J. Nicholas 6-1, 6-3 in his first round match. Blake then beat the number seven seeded Dennis Novikov out of Boca Raton, FL 6-3, 6-2, followed by the seventeen seeded Jamin Ball from California 6-4, 6-1. His third straight seeded casualty also became the third from California, the nine seeded Raymond Sarmiento 6-3, 6-2, securing a quarter final spot. After falling to the four seed Sekou Coker Bangoura, Blake bounced back to beat the ten seeded G. Austin 6-3, 6-3 followed by the seventeen seeded R. Noble 6-0, 6-2 to make the consolation final round.

"With win after win over top ranked players, Blake announced his return to the elite status of American junior tennis," Coach Notis said. "Every college coach here wants Blake Davis."

Chase Curry earned convincing victories in his first three matches over Florida's Michael Rinaldi, Georgia's Eugene Oh and California's Rickey Balon. Next, Curry beat Connecticut's Nolan Paige, 7-5, 6-4 to secure a spot in the final eight. Chase's win-streak stopped at four when he met the number one seeded Bjorn Fratangelo out of Pittsburgh, going down 6-3, 6-4. Curry also joined forces with teammate Jeff Offerdahl to compete in the doubles draw. The duo defeated Kenyon and Naumann 7-5, 6-1 for their third win and a reservation in the quarter finals.

"Blake and Chase both proved that they will be players to watch next month in Kalamazoo," Coach Notis said.

Chris Dale faced Devin Jones from Oak Park, IL in his first round match, earning a 5-7, 6-2, 6-2 victory. Next, Dale faced California's Karthik Dhore, whom he took down 6-1, 6-2. After falling in his next match, Chris rebounded to beat Kyle Berman 6-4, 6-3.

Fighting for a tough three-set victory in her first match, Brooke Hughes beat Florida's J. Gruber 6-4, 5-7, 6-2 to reach the round of 64. Brooke then bounced back from a loss in her next match to defeat Chloe Willetts 6-1, 6-2. With partner, Hsu, the duo won their first round doubles match 6-1, 3-6, 6-2 over Cook and Hamstra.

Hunter Goertz fought for a first round win over Florida's Matthew Saiontz 5-7, 6-3, 6-4. In his next match, Hunter finished on the losing side of another three-set battle to Oregon's Paxton Deuel 6-1, 1-6, 6-3.

Jeffrey Offerdahl defeated Illinois' Jared Hiltzik 6-2, 6-2 in his first round match. California's Christopher Kipouras awaited him in the second round, where Offerdahl earned his second win 5-7, 7-5, 6-1. After losing to the number ten seeded Hunter Harrington, Jeff bounced back to beat Ian Van Cott 6-2, 6-0.

Alex Durham beat Breon Badger out of Georgia in his first match in the boy's 18s draw. After going down to California's Alex Yermanos 2-6, 6-2, 6-4, Alex beat Peter Rothstein from Michigan 7-5, 6-3. Durham then defeated Oregon's Yevgeny Pereverzin 6-1, 6-2.

In her first match, Brittany Brewster beat Boca Raton's J. O'Loughlin 6-2, 6-7(4), 6-2 to advance to the round of 64. There, Brewster fell to the number four seeded S. Crawford from Florida.

Sydney Young bounced back from a first round loss to beat Pennsylvania's Hannah Drayton 6-1, 6-1.

Connor Curry first faced Virginia's S. Venkatasubramanian, going down in a tight 7-6(6), 6-1 loss. Connor then fell to Reading, PA's Ricardo Saad in his second match. Curry teamed up with partner, Wong, to win two doubles matches and reach the round of 32.

This prestigious event marked an opportunity for these junior athletes to showcase their skills on a national stage, and each earned results of which to be proud. Look for continued success through the summer months.

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