ATA hosts the Spenco junior Open

The ATA junior tennis players of all ages competed on their home courts this past weekend, in the Spenco ATA Thanksgiving Junior Open. The tournament welcomed athletes of all levels to come out and contend while earning valuable match experience.

In the boys’ 18s qualified division, Blake Davis darted through the draw, dropping a total of eight games on his way to the championship. The finals faced him against teammate Taylor Shamshiri who defeated Hunter Goertz 6-0, 6-4 in the semifinals. Davis defeated Shamshiri 6-2, 6-0 to take the tournament. Also in the 18s qualified, Charlie Shin won his opening match 6-1, 6-1 to earn a spot in the second round against Chris Dale. The two battled back and fourth for three sets, with Dale ultimately prevailing by a score of 6-3, 0-6, 6-2. After dropping his opening round match, Jonathan Stockdale bounced back to beat B. Naovarat 6-0, 6-2 to claim the consolation crown.

In the girls’ 16s open draw, Brittany Brewster showed she deserved the number two seed by winning three rounds on her way to the finals. She faced Lauren Wilkerson in the semifinals, winning 6-2, 6-2. After a tough opening round loss, Lauren Schulte rebounded to win three matches and earn the consolation championship. Schulte faced Leanne Cantalupo in the consolation finals, winning 6-4, 6-2.

Many ATA representatives made runs to the later rounds in the boys’ 16s SC draw. Josh Hagar, the number five seed, fought to earn four wins and claim the championship. In the finals he faced teammate and number six seed Aaron Chaffee, with Hagar taking the title 6-1, 6-2. Chaffee won three matches to reach the finals, taking down two ATA teammates along the way. In the quarter-finals Chaffee met Ron Steinwedell who beat A. Dial 6-0, 6-4 in his first match. Chaffee won the match 7-5, 6-1. Next he faced Esteban Kaufmann who knocked off the number one seed Michael Garza 6-2, 6-4 in the quarter-finals. Chaffee again prevailed, winning the match 6-1, 6-3. Also in the boys’ 16s SC draw, Elliot Blatt beat Shane Trebisky 6-3, 6-1 before going down to the number three seed. After dropping a close opening round match, Conor O’Rourke racked up three wins on his way to taking the claiming the consolation championship. He beat M. Alda in the finals, winning 7-5, 6-3.

Jaxon Immler won the boys’ 16s NQ draw, earning three victories along the way. He faced Jon Yonge in the finals, taking down the number two seed 6-4, 6-4. James Seward, the number one seed, beat B. Whitten 6-4, 6-4, before falling to Immler in his next match.

In the boys’ 16s Champs draw, Raymond Traweek beat Brian Ong, the three seed, 6-3, 6-1 to reach the semifinals. Garrett Callen beat Will Bartlett 6-4, 6-3 before falling to the number one seed. After dropping his opening round match, Ryan Burak rebounded to win three matches and earn the consolation championship. In the finals he faced Will Burns, winning the match 6-2, 6-2.

Sydney Young won the girls’ 14s Q draw by winning four straight matches without dropping a set. She faces K. Lemond in the finals, winning 6-2, 6-4. Maggie O’Meara, the number one seed, beat Jill Lewis 6-0, 6-2 to reach the quarter-finals where she fell to the eventual finalist Lemond. Courtney Schulte won three matches to earn a spot in the semi-finals. In the quarter-finals Schulte faced teammate Allie Burak who had upset six seed J. Weaver in three sets earlier in the day. Burak and Schulte battled to a third set with Schulte winning the match 1-6, 6-3, 6-2. Allie Carlisle earned a spot in the semi finals where she feel to teammate and eventual champion, Young. Carli Knezevich beat S. Stapper 6-0, 6-3 before falling to the number four seed. Smrithi Hariharan faced Y. Astrapova in the consolation quarterfinals, felling to the eventual champion in a close match, 6-4, 7-5.

Mikaela Pope pulled out two tough third sets to earn a spot in the finals of the girls’ 14s NQ draw. She beat G. Yatauro 3-6, 7-5, 7-5 in the semi finals.

In the boys’ 14s Q draw, Greyson Brilliant beat Matthew Chappell 6-3, 6-1 to reach the second round. Neel Kumar took down Joshua Chacko 6-0, 6-2, also reaching the second round. After both went down in tough first round matches, Andrew Livitan and Breck Spencer found themselves matched up against each other in the consolation quarter finals. Two sets was not enough to decide it, as the match went to a decisive third set tie breaker. Spencer ultimately prevailed by a score of 6-4, 5-7, 10-7. Daniel Howell defeated W. Jezek to reach the consolation semi-finals.

Remi Immler ran through the girls’ 12 NQ draw without dropping a set. In the finals she beat F. Young 6-0, 6-3 to take the title. Allie Young beat Anna Carlson 6-0, 6-2 to reach the quarter finals.

Dylan Ritter won four matches on his way to claiming the championship in the boys’ 12s Q draw. He defeated teammate Jake Berber in the finals, 7-6(4), 6-4. Berber worked for three wins, taking d own two seeds on his way to the finals. Conor O’Meara beat J. Cobb to reach the quarter finals. Ben Smith defeated Austin Vo 6-3, 6-0 to earn a spot in the final eight. Zane Ritter beat Andrew Laylock 6-1, 6-1 to reach the third round. After dropping his first round match, Payton Holden bounced back to earn three wins and take the consolation championship. Sanjit Kumar dropped a hard fought three set match in the quarter finals of consolation to H. Buford 1-6, 7-5, 10-7.

In the boys’ 12s NQ draw, Rahul Gorti, the number two seed, beat J. Parker 4-6, 7-6(4), 6-4, to reach the quarter finals. Zach Knezevich won three matches on his may to the consolation finals. He beat P. Mannem 6-4, 2-6, 10-7 in the semi finals. Angelo McKinnon, Sanchit Gupta, and Ankith Kandikonda earned valuable match experience while competing in the tournament.

While the ATA coaches and players are typically scattered throughout the state or country at various tournaments, the Spenco ATA Thanksgiving Junior Open offers an opportunity to compete in a high level tournament without all the travel. The hard work and preparation of the ATA representatives was rewarded with successful results from all ages and levels.