Hey Tennis Friends!
It’s a brand new venue for the USTA & ITF National Spring Championships, now known as the ASICS Easter Bowl! Here is my second report, finals day for the ITF singles:
Here are the scores for the matches that I featured (seedings in parenthesis):
BOYS’ 18s SINGLES CHAMPIONSHIP
(1) Francis Tiafoe d. (unseeded) Nathan Ponwith 7-6 (3), 3-6, 6-2
After the match, Tiafoe was told by his traveling coach, Frank Salazar, that he would move up from No. 7 in the ITF world junior rankings, to No. 2, becoming the highest ranked U.S. junior in the world.
“That would be huge if I’m No. 2 in the world,” he said. “If I am I’d be very happy.”
Tiafoe wore a silver crown necklace that a parent in College Park gave him after he won the Orange Bowl International in December, and it’s become a good luck charm. “Some people think I’m getting a big head for it,” Tiafoe explained. “But he said ‘you’re the king now,’ and I wasn’t going to say no to it.”
Tiafoe can’t wait to get on the red clay in Paris once the French Open starts May 25. “That’s some place and I’m really looking forward to being there,” he said. “I’ve been watching that tournament on TV since I was 6 years old. I plan to get on the grounds early and hit with guys like Sam (Querrey), Stevie (Johnson) and Jack (Sock).
GIRLS’ 18s SINGLES CHAMPIONSHIP
(4) CiCi Bellis d. (11) Katie Swan 6-3, 6-1
Bellis is looking to head to Europe for the junior Slams, as well as the Italian Open. “I can’t wait to get on the red clay,” she said. “I love it.”
The win marked the second straight ASICS Easter Bowl title for Bellis as she won the 16s last year.
Said Swan: “I’m happy she won. I mean, if it was going to be anyone I’m glad it’s her. She’s a great player.”
Tennis Channel was also out there covering finals weekend of this event, and will air their program in May. Be sure to check their listings.
Additional information in this report was provided by the ASICS Easter Bowl PR Press Aide, Steve Pratt.
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I’ll see you next time, with more tennis, . . . outside the lines!
– Marcus Tennis
