US Girls Progressing – Samantha Crawford

Written by: Staff on 11th September 2012

US Girls Progressing - Samantha Crawford |

With each passing month, it looks like the legendary Williams sisters will have some back up in the singles ranks sometime soon. Serena won her 15ht Grand Slam title at the US Open on Sunday and on the same day, American Samantha Crawford of Atlanta captured the 2012 US Open Girls’ Championship with a 7-5, 6-3 victory over Anett Kontaveit of Estonia.

Crawford is the second consecutive American to win the US Open Junior Girls’ title, and the third in the past five years. She follows Grace Min, in 2011, and Coco Vandeweghe, in 2008, as Americans to win US Open Junior titles in the last five years. Crawford’s victory also completed an American sweep of the Girls’ titles after Taylor Townsend, who is the world’s top ranked junior, and Gaby Andrews won the doubles championship on Saturday.

The US also has a slew of other young player s who have already made progress on the WTA including Christina McHale and Sloane Stephens, both whom are already top 40 players.

Crawford, a 17-year-old wild card, defeated five of the top 12 seeds. She also qualified for the US Open singles main draw. Prior to the US Open, she played in two USTA Pro Circuit $50,000 events, reaching the final in Yakima, Wash., and the semifinal in Sacramento.

“I think that I started playing more at pro tournaments and getting more matches and getting more wins and kind of just getting more confidence,” said Crawford, who is an aggressive baseliner. “I feel like I started playing better and everything in my game started improving. I think it just kind of led throughout the summer and through here. I always kind of went for my shots whether or not they went in was the problem. I’ve kind of gotten better with staying in points and being able to set up points and then going for my shots from there.”

Crawford is training at USTA Player Development Head quarters in Boca Raton, Florida, and has been based there for three years. She thanked her coach, former pro Kathy Rinaldi, who also coaches Townsend.

“She’s helped me so much and she’s such a great person, Crawford said. “She’s so encouraging. She’s a great person. She’s helped me so much. I really want to thank her.”

©Daily Tennis News Wire

Topics: Anett Kontaveit, Christina Mchale, Coco Vandeweghe, Gaby Andrews, Samantha Crawford, Sloane Stephens, Sports, Taylor Townsend, Tennis, Tennis News, US Open 2012