CiCi Bellis
Desperately wanting to play in her third straight ASICS Easter Bowl final, CiCi Bellis of Atherton, Calif., rallied to win the last four games after being down 4-2 in the third set to beat top-seeded Sofia Kenin of Pembroke Pines, Fla., 6-3, 4-6, 6-4, in the Girls’ 18s singles semifinals on Saturday at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden.
“I had to stay really focused and try not to give away any free points,” said Bellis, the No. 4 seeded player who reached the Girls’ 14s final in 2012 and won the 16s last year. “I was really scared being down 4-2. And nervous.”
Bellis, who turned 15 on Tuesday, will face fellow newly turned 15-year-old and No. 11-seeded Katie Swan of Wichita, Kan., not before 12:30 p.m. on Sunday in the final. Swan, who moved to the United States a year ago from Bristol, England, downed Michaela Gordon, the No. 7 seed from Saratoga, Calif., 6-0, 6-4, in the other semifinal.
After winning the first set, Bellis said she knew Kenin was prepared to play in her fourth straight three-set match. “She’s a fighter and she never gives up,” Bellis said. “She’s a good player. When I won the first set I said to myself, ‘You have two more sets to go.’ ”
Bellis called the ASICS Easter Bowl, “literally my favorite tournament. I don’t know why it’s so special, but it just is. Maybe it’s because it’s during my birthday.”
Bellis won the important ITF Grade 1 Carson International Spring Championships last week and is looking to join Melanie Oudin and Krista Hardebeck as recent back-to-back Carson and ASICS Easter Bowl 18s winners.
Bellis knows Swan well from international events they’ve played at. One of Swan’s coaches is Colin Foster, the women’s head coach at Wichita State University.
“It’s amazing I’m in the final,” Swan said. “I’m just playing really consistent and have been playing better every match.”
Swan’s family moved to the United States a little over a year ago. Her family applied for a Green Card and was waiting for the receipt to show that they had applied. And it came one week ago and because of it was able to play both Carson and the ASICS Easter Bowl.
Swan said she hit with Wimbledon champion Andy Murray as a young child and has also worked with his mother Judy, who has served in the role as an Under 10 coach for Great Britain.
Top-seeded Francis Tiafoe of College Park, Md., advanced to his first ASICS Easter Bowl final with a 6-2, 6-2 semifinal win over Robert Levine, the No. 13-seeded player from Bedford, N.Y.
At 10:30 a.m. on Sunday, Tiafoe will play unseeded Nathan Ponwith of Scottsdale, Ariz., in the Boys’ 18s final. Ponwith beat Aron Hiltzik Wilmette, Ill., 7-6 (5), 6-4 in the other semifinal. Hiltzik was forced to call for a trainer near the end of the match to work on an injured shoulder.
Ponwith’s parents Jesse and Pam own the All About Tennis shop in Scottsdale and the Ponwith’s were named USTA Southwest Family of the Year in 2010.
Ponwith last played Tiafoe in the semifinals of Les Petits As, a top 14-and-under event in Tarbes, France, two years ago where he lost in three sets.
“I’m excited,” he said. “I’ve wanted to play Francis for a while now. It’s been tough because the expectations are high for the guys born during my year.”
Ponwith was referring to the current top three players from the U.S. born the same year (1998) as him and who are each currently ranked in the Top 10 of the world ITF rankings: Stefan Kozlov (No. 4), Tiafoe (No. 7) and Michael Mmoh (No. 9).
In the Boys’ 16s final, No. 9 John McNally of Cincinnati will play No. 2 Zeke Clark of Tulsa, Okla.
In the Girls’ 16s, top-seeded Katerina Stewart of Coral Gables, Fla., will take on unseeded Claire Liu of Thousand Oaks, Calif. Stewart has won eight of her 10 sets during the ASICS Easter Bowl by 6-0 scores. She recorded another double-bagle on Saturday in the semifinals, blanking unseeded Maria Mateas of Braintree, Mass., 6-0, 6-0.
In the Boys’ 14s, top-seeded Steven Sun of Glen Cove, N.Y., will play No. 2 Keenan Mayo of Roseville, Calif., in the final following the 8:30 a.m. boys’ 12s final.
In the Girls’ 14s, unseeded Ashley Yeah of Los Gatos, Calif., will play No. 3 Rachel Lim Rachel of Briarcliff Manor, N.Y., in the final following the 8:30 a.m. girls’ 12s final.
In the Boys’ 12s, Daniel Sharygin of Newburgh, Ind., will play No. 16 Ronan Jachuck of Slingerlands, N.Y., in the finals at 8:30 a.m.
In the Girls’ 12s, No. 6 Katie Volynets of Walnut Creek, Calif., will face No. 9 Kacie Harvey of Braintree, Mass., in the finals at 8:30 a.m.
The Indian Wells Tennis Garden is located at 78-200 Miles Avenue. Exit off of Miles at Gate 7. Admission is free and open to the public.
Sponsors include: ASICS, Laurel Springs School, Indian Wells Tennis Garden, the Dent Tennis Academy, Tennis Warehouse, TennisPlayer.net Digital Magazine, the tennis website 10sBalls.com, USTA, The Old Spaghetti Factory, SCTA and Mind Matters.
To keep up with all the ASICS Easter Bowl news, visit the website at www.easterbowl.com and check out the tournament on Facebook (www.facebook.com/EasterBowl) and Twitter (@easterbowl). For more information on ASICS, check out: www.ASICSAmerica.com and follow on Twitter @ASICSAmerica.
Saturday’s Scores
Boys’ 18 Singles (Semifinal Round)
Tiafoe, Francis (1) (College Park, MD) def. Levine, Robert (13) (Bedford, NY) 6-2, 6-2
Ponwith, Nathan (Scottsdale, AZ) def. Hiltzik, Aron (Wilmette, IL) 7-6(5), 6-4
Boys’ 18 Doubles (Final Round)
Paul, Tommy (Coconut Creek, FL) / Wiersholm, Henrik (2) (Kirkland, WA) def. Arconada, Jordi (Rio Piedras, PR) / Kerznerman, Daniel (1) (Brooklyn, NY) 6-2, 1-6, 10-7
Girls’ 18 Singles (Semifinal Round)
Bellis, CiCi (4) (Atherton, CA) def. Kenin, Sofia (1) (Pembroke Pines, FL) 6-3, 4-6, 6-4
Swan, Katie (11) (Wichita, KS) def. Gordon, Michaela (7) (Saratoga, CA) 6-0, 6-4
Girls’ 18 Doubles (Final Round)
Haffey, Mary (Naples, FL) / McCarthy, Kaitlyn (7) (Cary, NC) def. Ruder-Hook, Mira (Denver, CO) / Smith, Gabrielle (Henderson, NV) 7-6(5), 5-7, 10-3
Boys’ 16 Singles (Semifinal Round)
McNally, John (9) (Cincinnati, OH) def. Keyser, Alexander (11) (Danville, CA) 6-3, 7-6(1)
Clark, Zeke (2) (Tulsa, OK) def. Gamble, Matthew (3) (Webster, NY) 6-4, 6-4
Girls’ 16 Singles (Semifinal Round)
Liu, Claire (Thousand Oaks, CA) def. Jones, Makenna (7) (Greenville, SC) 6-0, 6-2
Stewart, Katerina (1) (Coral Gables, FL) def. Mateas, Maria (Braintree, MA) 6-0, 6-0
Boys’ 14 Singles (Semifinal Round)
Mayo, Keenan (2) (Roseville, CA) def. Perera, Kento (Santa Barbara, CA) 3-6, 6-2, 6-4
Sun, Steven (1) (Glen Cove, NY) def. Fenty, Andrew (Washington, DC) 1-6, 7-6(2), 6-3
Girls’ 14 Singles (Semifinal Round)
Yeah, Ashley (Los Gatos, CA) def. Johnson, Taylor (5) (Redondo Beach, CA) 6-3, 6-3
Lim, Rachel (3) (Briarcliff Manor, NY) def. Zhao, Hannah (San Diego, CA) 6-1, 1-6, 6-2
Boys’ 12 Singles (Semifinal Round)
Sharygin, Daniel (Newburgh, IN) def. Casabon, Jeremie (6) (Flourtown, PA) 6-1, 6-4
Jachuck, Ronan (16) (Slingerlands, NY) def. Bicknell, Blaise (2) (Miami, FL) 5-7, 6-0, 10-8
Girls’ 12 Singles (Semifinal Round)
Harvey, Kacie (9) (Braintree, MA) def. Chan, Amanda (12) (Pasadena, CA) 6-2, 6-1
Volynets, Katie (6) (Walnut Creek, CA) def. Huang, Amy (11) (San Diego, CA) 6-1, 6-2
Boys’ 16 Doubles (Quarterfinal Round)
Chakravarthi, Caleb (Newtown, PA) / Zhu, Evan (Greenbelt, MD) def. Clark, Zeke (Tulsa, OK) / Genesen, William (5) (Tulsa, OK) 8-6
Gentry, Ty (Olympia, WA) / Kirkov, Vasil (Tampa, FL) def. Loeb, Robert (Hilton Head, SC) / Phillips, Alex (6) (Peachtree City, GA) 8-6
McNally, John (Cincinnati, OH) / Ross, Gianni (3) (Burr Ridge, IL) def. Holt, Brandon (Rolling Hills, CA) / Thamma, Ivan (8) (San Diego, CA) 8-6
Vasat, Mark (Camas, WA) / Volk, Brenden (Dix Hills, NY) def. Benjamin, Jordan (Fairport, NY) / Gamble, Matthew (1) (Webster, NY) 9-8, 7-3
Boys’ 16 Doubles (Semifinal Round)
Vasat, Mark (Camas, WA) / Volk, Brenden (Dix Hills, NY) def. McNally, John (Cincinnati, OH) / Ross, Gianni (3) (Burr Ridge, IL) 8-5
Chakravarthi, Caleb (Newtown, PA) / Zhu, Evan (Greenbelt, MD) def. Gentry, Ty (Olympia, WA) / Kirkov, Vasil (Tampa, FL) 8-6
Girls’ 16 Doubles (Quarterfinal Round)
Reami, Adriana (Miami, FL) / Stewart, Katerina (2) (Coral Gables, FL) def. Evans, Lindsey (Fairfield, CT) / Sisti, Christina (Mount Vernon, NY) 8-1
Ferrari, Paulina (San Diego, CA) / Soli, Kalani (Carson, CA) def. Gizdova, Nadia (Columbia, MD) / Sanford, Alexandra (6) (Westerville, OH) 9-8(7-4)
Chang, Katie (Rsm, CA) / Liu, Claire (3) (Thousand Oaks, CA) def. Jones, Makenna (Greenville, SC) / Milunovich, Lexi (New Canaan, CT) 8-2
Chiu, Abigail (Austin, TX) / Porter, Elizabeth (4) (Dallas, TX) def. Carter, Chandler (Dallas, TX) / Tedford, Elizabeth (Dallas, TX) 8-5
Girls’ 16 Doubles (Semifinal Round)
Chiu, Abigail (Austin, TX) / Porter, Elizabeth (4) (Dallas, TX) def. Ferrari, Paulina (San Diego, CA) / Soli, Kalani (Carson, CA) 8-4
Chang, Katie (Rsm, CA) / Liu, Claire (3) (Thousand Oaks, CA) def. Reami, Adriana (Miami, FL) / Stewart, Katerina (2) (Coral Gables, FL) 8-4
Boys’ 14 Doubles (Quarterfinal Round)
Alshon, Christian (Boca Raton, FL) / Benkaim, Russell (2) (Osprey, FL) def. Croyder, Blake (Marietta, GA) / Frye, Bradley (8) (Overland Park, KS) 9-8, 7-6(8-6))
Lin, Cody (Thousand Oaks, CA) / Perera, Kento (Santa Barbara, CA) def. Tengbumroong, Neil (West Covina, CA) / Tsolakyan, Matthew (Glendale, CA) 8-4
Thomas, Danny (Pickerington, OH) / Ton, Andrew (7) (Milpitas, CA) def. Fresen, RJ (Short Hills, NJ) / Hilderbrand, Trey (1) (San Antonio, TX) 8-1
Barretto, Paul (Tiburon, CA) / Sah, Timothy (5) (San Diego, CA) def. Maciag, Robert (Sterling, VA) / Woodall, William (3) (Washington, DC) 8-1
Boys’ 14 Doubles (Semifinal Round)
Barretto, Paul (Tiburon, CA) / Sah, Timothy (5) (San Diego, CA) def. Thomas, Danny (Pickerington, OH) / Ton, Andrew (7) (Milpitas, CA) 8-2
Lin, Cody (Thousand Oaks, CA) / Perera, Kento (Santa Barbara, CA) def. Alshon, Christian (Boca Raton, FL) / Benkaim, Russell (2) (Osprey, FL) 8-4
Girls’ 14 Doubles (Quarterfinal Round)
Jones, Sydney (Carrollton, TX) / Reddy, Sophia (7) (Eden Prairie, MN) def. Forbes, Abigail (Raleigh, NC) / Stephens, Nicole (Marietta, GA) 8-3
Allen, Kolie (Lombard, IL) / Kowalski, Meg (6) (La Grange, IL) def. Branstine, Carson (Orange, CA) / Johnson, Taylor (4) (Redondo Beach, CA) 8-5
Hwang, Madison (Frisco, TX) / Kessler, McCartney (8) (Calhoun, GA) def. Bolton, Elysia (Lake Forest, IL) / Joyce, Grace (1) (Newton, MA) 9-8(7-3)
Menguene, Malkia (College Park, MD) / Subhash, Natasha (Fairfax, VA) def. Decoste, Emma (Stuart, FL) / Jones, Alyvia (Midland, MI) 8-4
Girls’ 14 Doubles (Semifinal Round)
Menguene, Malkia (College Park, MD) / Subhash, Natasha (Fairfax, VA) def. Hwang, Madison (Frisco, TX) / Kessler, McCartney (8) (Calhoun, GA) 8-6
Allen, Kolie (Lombard, IL) / Kowalski, Meg (6) (La Grange, IL) def. Jones, Sydney (Carrollton, TX) / Reddy, Sophia (7) (Eden Prairie, MN) 8-4
Boys’ 12 Doubles (Quarterfinal Round)
Arimilli, Nathan (Austin, TX) / Fu, Connor (2) (Andover, MA) def. Jordan, Zacharia (Duluth, GA) / Posey, Masaki (Union City, GA) 8-2
Dostanic, Stefan (Irvine, CA) / Jachuck, Ronan (6) (Slingerlands, NY) def. Yang, Harry (Rancho Cucamonga, CA) / Yu, James (3) (Bellevue, WA) 8-4
Spizzirri, Eliot (Greenwich, CT) / Suarez, Billy (4) (Huntington, NY) def. Bicknell, Blaise (Miami, FL) / Smith, Ivan (Chula Vista, CA) 8-4
Brachman, Spencer (Commack, NY) / Vallabhaneni, Niroop (7) (Paradise Valley, AZ) def. Casabon, Jeremie (Flourtown, PA) / Fradkin, Jeffrey (1) (New York, NY) 8-6
Boys’ 12 Doubles (Semifinal Round)
Spizzirri, Eliot (Greenwich, CT) / Suarez, Billy (4) (Huntington, NY) def. Brachman, Spencer (Commack, NY) / Vallabhaneni, Niroop (7) (Paradise Valley, AZ) 8-2
Arimilli, Nathan (Austin, TX) / Fu, Connor (2) (Andover, MA) def. Dostanic, Stefan (Irvine, CA) / Jachuck, Ronan (6) (Slingerlands, NY) 8-5
Girls’ 12 Doubles (Quarterfinal Round)
Chan, Amanda (Pasadena, CA) / Volynets, Katie (2) (Walnut Creek, CA) def. Osuigwe, Whitney (Bradenton, FL) / Price, Gabriella (6) (Montebello, NY) 8-4
Goldsmith, Elizabeth (Chula Vista, CA) / Hayer, Giulia (4) (San Diego, CA) def. hu, victoria (Northborough, MA) / Huang, Amy (7) (San Diego, CA) 8-4
Harvison, Isabella (Cardiff, CA) / Taggart, Jillian (Fair Oaks, CA) def. Gauff, Cori (Atlanta, GA) / White, Margaret (Birmingham, AL) 8-3
Corley, Carmen (Sandia Park, NM) / Hochstatter, Amber (Anthem, AZ) def. Baptiste, Hailey (Takoma Park, MD) / Okpara, Chidimma (3) (McLean, VA) 8-5
Girls’ 12 Doubles (Semifinal Round)
Corley, Carmen (Sandia Park, NM) / Hochstatter, Amber (Anthem, AZ) def. Chan, Amanda (Pasadena, CA) / Volynets, Katie (2) (Walnut Creek, CA) 8-4
Harvison, Isabella (Cardiff, CA) / Taggart, Jillian (Fair Oaks, CA) def. Goldsmith, Elizabeth (Chula Vista, CA) / Hayer, Giulia (4) (San Diego, CA) 8-5
About ASICS America: Anima Sana In Corpore Sano, meaning “A Sound Mind in a Sound Body,” is an old Latin phrase from which ASICS is derived and the fundamental platform on which the brand still stands. The company was founded more than 60 years ago by Kihachiro Onitsuka and is now a leading designer and manufacturer of running shoes, as well as, other athletic footwear, apparel and accessories. For more information, visit www.asics.com.
Topics: ASICS Easter Bowl, CiCi Bellis, Coachella, Indian Wells Tennis Garden, Tennis Results
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