USTA GIRLS’ 16s & 18s NATIONAL TENNIS CHAMPIONSHIPS — SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA / COME SEE GREAT TENNIS. IT’S FREE.

Written by: Staff on 4th August 2014

USTA GIRLS' 16s & 18s NATIONAL TENNIS CHAMPIONSHIPS -- SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA / COME SEE GREAT TENNIS. IT'S FREE. |

Photos by J. Fred Sidhu

THIRD-SEEDED KATERINA STEWART ADVANCES AT USTA 16S & 18S NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS

Tuesday’s Schedule Set to Begin at 9 a.m. (PDT) at Barnes Tennis Center in San Diego

A year ago, Katerina Stewart of Coral Gables, Fla., won the singles title at the USTA Girls’ 16s Nationals at the Barnes Tennis Center. This year, the 17-year-old Stewart returned as the No. 3 seed in the Girls’ 18s and is looking to make a strong run for the prestigious title.

On a bright and sunny Monday afternoon, Stewart used a powerful all-court game to cruise past unseeded Ellie Zogg of Dallas, 6-0, 6-1, to advance to the third-round of the Girls’ 18s, where she will meet unseeded Amy Yang of Alpharetta, Ga. on Tuesday.

Stewart has enjoyed much success this year playing professional tournaments and top-level junior events. She has won three USTA Pro Circuit $10,000 singles titles this year and last month she captured the USTA Girls’ 18s National Clay Court singles title.

With today’s victory, Stewart extended her overall winning streak in junior and pro tournaments to 36 matches. She is currently ranked 526 in the Women’s Tennis Association world rankings.

Katerina Stewart

“This tournament has always been fun. The atmosphere is great. I played yesterday on Stadium and it brought back a lot of great memories. I love playing this tournament,” Stewart said.

When asked about the US Open main draw wild card which is awarded to the Girls’ 18s champion, Stewart said, “I always want to win everything. I’m not adding extra pressure that I don’t need to add. It would be pretty amazing (to win). I would be left speechless. It would be a dream come true, but I’m still going to take it one match at a time.”

In other Girls’ 18s action, top-seeded Louisa Chirico of Harrison, N.Y., second-seeded Catherine “CiCi Bellis of Atherton, Calif., fourth-seeded Brooke Austin of Indianapolis and fifth-seeded Tornado Black of Boca Raton, Fla., all advanced to the third-round with straight-set victories.

However, sixth seeded Peggy Porter of Dallas was eliminated in her Girls’ 18s second-round match as she fell to Chloe Ouellet-Pizer of Chapel Hill, N.C., 5-7, 7-6 (5), 6-2.

Tuesday’s matches are scheduled to begin at 9 a.m. (PDT). The USTA Girls’ 16s & 18s National Championships Presented by adidas continue through Saturday, Aug. 9.

For main draws, match scores and results, please go to: http://tennislink.usta.com/Tournaments/TournamentHome/Tournament.aspx?T=139068#&&s=7

Nearly 400 girls aged 16 and 18 and under are competing for the title of National Champion, as well as a wild card entry into the singles main draw of the US Open Women’s Championships (for the 18s Champion) and a wild card into the US Open Junior Championships (for the 16s Champion). The 18s Doubles Champions will also receive a wild card into the US Open Women’s Doubles main draw.

Early-round main draw matches will also be played at the tournament’s secondary site at the San Diego State University Tennis Complex, 5375 Remington Rd., San Diego, Calif., 92115, through Tuesday, Aug. 5.

Admission and on-site parking are free at the Barnes Tennis Center. Admission to matches at SDSU is free. There is a nominal fee for parking at SDSU. Please note, on-campus parking regulations are strictly enforced.

The starting times for the remaining days of the tournament are as follows (all times are PDT):

Tuesday, Aug. 5 9 a.m. Barnes Tennis Center & SDSU

Wednesday, Aug. 6 8:30 a.m. Barnes Tennis Center

Thursday, Aug. 7 9 a.m. Barnes Tennis Center

Friday, Aug. 8 and Saturday, Aug. 9 9 a.m. Barnes Tennis Center

Monday’s Results: Click here

Starting times are subject to change. For latest updates, go to: http://www.ustagirlsnationals.com/

About USTA Girls’ 16s & 18s Nationals Presented by adidas:

The USTA Girls’ 16 & 18s National Championships Presented by adidas are the premiere hard court tennis tournaments for amateur and professional American girls aged 18 and 16 and under in the United States. In 2010, both age groups began playing their events concurrently at San Diego’s Barnes Tennis Center. Tournament participants, who represent nearly every state in the United States, have been endorsed by their respective USTA Section or have received USTA special exemptions based on their results in qualifying tournaments, junior rankings, or results on the WTA Tour or International Tennis Federation Junior Circuit. Past tournament champions include Chris Evert, Tracy Austin, Andrea Jaeger, Zina Garrison, Mary Joe Fernandez, Jennifer Capriati and Lindsay Davenport.

About George E. Barnes Family Junior Tennis Center:

The Center is owned and operated by Youth Tennis San Diego. It was built in 1995 and completed in 1997. The $4.5 million dollar junior tennis facility was made possible with generous public and private donations and is named after the lead donor family – the “George E. Barnes Family Junior Tennis Center.” The Center, which is dedicated to the youth of San Diego, offers children 18 and under court priority over adults with advanced reservations.

Topics: Barnes Tennis Center, Katerina Stewart, Tennis, Tennis News, Usta, USTA Girls' 16s & 18s National Tennis Championships

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August 4, 2014 at 9:35 pm

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