|
Sixth-seeded Cristina Rovira (pictured right) was the winner at The Polo Club in the Girls' 12s division. The Floridian took out No. 1 Sofia Kenin in the finals, 6-2,7-5. In the third place playoff, Star Makarome defeated Emma Higuchi for the bronze. Emma didn't walk away with just that trophy, though, as the came in third in doubles with partner Angela Kulikov and also received the tournament's USTA Sportsmanship Award. The doubles trophy had been contested Friday.
There were no tops seeds in the winners' circle at the Boys' 16s. The final singles match came down to No. 8 Michael Redlicki vs. No. 5 Gordon Watson, with Michael taking his first national title at 3-6,6-3,6-2. It was sixth-seeded Anthony Delcore who picked up the bronze when he eliminated fourth-seeded Richard Del Nunzio (pictured right) in the playoff. Richard also lost the top prize in the doubles when he and partner TJ Pura dropped a 7-6,6-4 decision to Anthony & Mihir Kumar.
Until next year,
Marcia Frost P.S. Check out Zoo Tennis for Colette Lewis's coverage of the Girls' 18s. Boys 18s Full Draws Boys 16s Full Draws Girls 12s Full Draws Boys 14s Full Draws Stories, Photos & Results from other days Click Here For Stories & Photos from the '09 National Boys 18 Claycourt Championships |
|
click on a photo to enlarge  Sophia Kenin  Benjamin Tso  Star Makarome  Aron Hiltzik  Emma Higuchi  Alexios Halebian  Shane Vinsant  |
Final Wrap-up-Girls' 12s, Boys' 14,16 & 18
At the Boys' 14s, the top seed prevailed, but not without a fight at the Jimmy Evert Tennis Center. Daniel Kerznerman (pictured left) faced ninth-seeded Benjamin Tso in the finals, to whom he gave up only his second set of the tournament before winning, 6-4,3-6,6-2. After the gold in singles, Daniel teamed with Christian Garay to take silver in doubles after the duo fell to No. 5 Taiyo Hamanaka & Aron Hiltzik, 7-6(6),6-4.
Consistency is the key for top-seeded Bjorn Fratangelo, who won the Boys' 18s Claycourts at the Delray Beach Tennis Center after taking the Boys' 16s at this venue last year. His opponent in the finals was the unseeded Alexios Halebian, who had wrecked havoc with the draw, eliminating three seeds. He didn't go easily in the final either, pushing Bjorn to 6-4,7-5. It wasn't a sweep for the Pittsburgh native. He fell ill during the doubles final and he and partner Nathan Pasha were forced
to retire, giing the trophy went to Emmett Egger & Shane Vinsant. Emmett also took home the USTA Sportsmanship Award and Shane was the third place singles winner.