The one from last week ITF J60 in Costa Ricathe first of three events in that country culminating in the J300 Coffee Bowl produced three titles for Americans, including a sweep for Orange Bowl 16s finalist Daniel Malacek.
The tournament used the ITF’s new format, with the results in round eight round robin groups determining the quarter-finalists. American boys won six of those pools, and Malacek, the 16-year-old southpaw from Washington state, went on to beat Orange Bowl 16 semifinalist Gadin Arun 7-6(6), 6-0 in the final. There are no seeds in the draws, so you must determine them according to their positions in the draws (indicated on page 32 in the ITF Junior Rules and Regulations), with Malacek and Arun the No. 1 and No. 2 seeds, respectively.
The standard draw format is used for the knockout doubles only, with the conventional seeding system. Malacek and partner Ryan Bedwick, the No. 3 seeds, defeated top seeds Arun and Robert McAdoo 4-6, 6-2, 10-5 in the final.
In girls’ singles, Emery Combs was one of six American girls to reach the quarterfinals, but the top seed lost in the semifinals to No. 3 seed Teaghan Jou An Keys 6-4, 6-4. Keys then lost to 16-year-old Canadian Charlize Celebrini, the younger sister of NHL San Jose Sharks star Macklin Celebrini, 6-2, 7-6(2).
Combs got his revenge in doubles, with the 14-year-old teaming with Sasha Miroshnichenko for the title. The No. 3 seeds defeated No. 2 seeds Keys and Aleksandra Jerkunica 6-2, 6-4. Combs, the Orange Bowl 16s doubles champion, is 20-0 in doubles competition since a loss at the ITF J300 in Texas in October.
One second J60 in Costa Ricaalso with a round robin component, is underway this week, featuring Malacek and Celebrini, among others.
The American men had a perfect first day of qualifying on Monday at the Australian Opentaking all six wins. The remaining five men will be in action on Tuesday (tonight in the USA), after Michael Mmoh withdrew last week due to an injury sustained in Hong Kong.
The U.S. women went 3-3 on the first day, with former Texas A&M star Mary Stoiana earning the most dramatic of the three victories. The 22-year-old from Connecticut saved five match points and won the last five games of the match to beat Italy’s Nuria Brancaccio 7-5, 4-6, 7-5. Stoiana’s only other slam win was as a wild card in the first qualifying round of the 2024 US Open.
Monday’s Australian Open qualifying results in the Americans’ first round:
Brandon Holt[5] D. Lukas Neumayer (AUT) 4-6, 6-2, 6-3
Colton Smith[32] D. Luka Pavlović (FRA) 7-6(4), 6-1
Nishesh Basavareddy D Alexis Galarneau (CAN) 6-4, 6-2
Tristan Boyer D. Alex Barrena.
Murphy Cassone D. Yu Hsiou Hsu (TPE) 3-6, 6-3, 6-4
Martin Dam D. Gauthier Onclin (BEL) 6-3, 3-6, 6-4
Sloane Stephens D. Barbora Palicova (CZE) 6-1, 7-5
Despina Papamichail (GRE) d. Sachia Vickery 6-3, 7-5
Victoriya Tomova[18](BUL) d. Bernard Pera 1-6, 6-4, 6-0
Maja Chwalinska (POL) d. Madison Brengle 7-6(3), 6-3
Taylor Townsend[11] D. Nao Hibino (JPN) 6-7(3), 6-0, 7-5
Tuesday Australian Open First round qualifying matches with Americans:
Michael Zheng vs. Cruz Hewitt[WC](OUT)
Mackenzie McDonald[6] against Dmitry Popko (KAZ)
Nicolas Moreno de Alboran against Vilius Gaubas[17](LTU)
Mitchell Krueger v Yibing Wu(CHN)
Elvina Kalieva against Sijia Wei (CHN)
Varvara Lepchenko[32] v Ye-Xin Ma(CHN)
Louisa Chirico against Yue Yuan[25](CHN)
Claire Liu Exam time (CROs)
Carol Lee v Hanne Vandewinkel[15](BEL)
Whitney Osuigwe against Anastasia Sevastova (LAT)
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