No. 7 seed Sam Riffice, who grew up in the Sacramento suburb of Roseville, dominated Jack Lin of Canada 6-2, 6-1 in the boys 18s today to reach the round of 16 in the Eddie Herr International Championships in Bradenton, Fla.
Riffice, the boys 16 champion two years ago, trains at the USTA center in Boca Raton, Fla. He will face 12th-seeded Ergi Kirkin, a Turk who beat Stanford-bound Timothy Sah of San Diego 7-6 (4), 6-3.
Kirkin defeated Riffice 6-4, 7-6 (2) in the first round of the Eddie Herr 18s last year.
Meanwhile, Stefan Leustian of Mather in the Sacramento area reached the boys 14 quarterfinals with a 2-6, 6-4, 6-2 victory over Saud Alhogbani of Alexandria, Va. Leustian will meet top-seeded Bu Yunchaokete of China.
Fourth-seeded Spencer Brachman of Commack, N.Y., and Aidan Mayo, a former neighbor of Riffice's in Roseville, advanced to the boys 14 doubles quarterfinals.
In an all-San Francisco Bay Area girls 16 match, No. 7 seed Katie Volynets of Walnut Creek outplayed wild card Anna Campana of Hillsborough 6-4, 6-1 to reach the round of 16. Volynets will face unseeded Alexandra Mikhailuk of Canada.
Wild cards Campana and Petra Miszczak of Blaine, Wash., won in the first round of doubles. Third-seeded Volynets and Lauren Stein of Paradise Valley, Ariz., received a first-round bye.
USTA National 40 Hard Court Championships in La Jolla, Calif. -- No. 3 seed Fanny Gamble of San Rafael routed Cindi Juncal of San Clemente 6-0, 6-2 in the quarterfinals.
Gamble will play No. 1 seed Dina McBride, a two-time former tournament champion from Stevenson Ranch.
Four of the men's quarterfinalists are from Northern California: No. 4 seed and two-time former champion Oren Motevassel of San Jose, No. 6 and ex-champion Jeff Greenwald of San Anselmo, No. 8 Leon Bax of Mountain View and No. 13 Joshua Prager of Yuba City.
Bax topped No. 10 Daniel Hiddleson of Kentfield 0-6, 6-3, 6-1. Nicolas Chasseray of San Francisco lost to No. 5 Jesse Walter of Mercer Island, Wash., 6-2, 6-1.
Veteran journalist Paul Bauman, based in Sacramento, covers Northern California professional, collegiate and junior tennis. Contact him at norcaltennisczar@gmail.com and follow him on Twitter @norcaltenczar.
Wednesday, November 30, 2016
Tuesday, November 29, 2016
Sah, headed to Stanford, advances in Eddie Herr
Stanford-bound Timothy Sah of San Diego defeated Maxense Broville of France 6-3, 6-4 today in the first round of the boys 18s in the prestigious Eddie Herr International Championships in Bradenton, Fla.
Sah, a quarterfinalist in the USTA Boys 18 Nationals in Kalamazoo, Mich., in August, will face 12th-seeded Ergi Kirkin of Turkey. Kirkin beat wild card Drew Baird of Holly Springs, N.C., 7-5, 6-2 on Monday.
Meanwhile, one Sacramento-area product won in the second round of the boys 14s, but another was upset. Stefan Leustian of Mather reached the round of 16 with a 6-3, 4-6, 6-4 victory over Niroop Vallabhaneni of Paradise Valley, Ariz. No. 15 seed Aidan Mayo, 13, from Roseville lost to wild card Toby Kodat of Bradenton 7-5, 6-2.
Mayo and Spencer Brachman of Commack, N.Y., seeded fourth in doubles, dispatched Gabrielius Guzauskas of Downers Grove, Ill., and Nikolas Tvedt of Norway 6-3, 6-1 in the first round.
In the first round of girls 16 singles, No. 7 seed Katie Volynets of Walnut Creek in the San Francisco Bay Area crushed lucky loser Raphaelle Leblanc of Canada 6-1, 6-0 to set up an all-Bay Area match.
Volynets, who will turn 15 on Dec. 31, will play wild card Anna Campana of Hillsborough. Campana topped lucky loser Isabella Montana of Miami 6-1, 7-6 (2).
USTA National 40 Hard Court Championships in La Jolla, Calif. -- Six Northern California men advanced to fourth round: No. 4 seed Oren Motevassel of San Jose, No. 6 Jeff Greenwald of San Anselmo, No. 8 Leon Bax of Mountain View, No. 10 Daniel Hiddleson of Kentfield, No. 13 Joshua Prager of Yuba City and Nicolas Chasseray of San Francisco.
Greenwald (2009) and Motevassel (2011 and 2012) are former champions.
On the women's side, Vanessa Bogenholm of Los Gatos lost to Cindi Juncal of San Clemente 6-4, 6-0 in the second round.
Sah, a quarterfinalist in the USTA Boys 18 Nationals in Kalamazoo, Mich., in August, will face 12th-seeded Ergi Kirkin of Turkey. Kirkin beat wild card Drew Baird of Holly Springs, N.C., 7-5, 6-2 on Monday.
Meanwhile, one Sacramento-area product won in the second round of the boys 14s, but another was upset. Stefan Leustian of Mather reached the round of 16 with a 6-3, 4-6, 6-4 victory over Niroop Vallabhaneni of Paradise Valley, Ariz. No. 15 seed Aidan Mayo, 13, from Roseville lost to wild card Toby Kodat of Bradenton 7-5, 6-2.
Mayo and Spencer Brachman of Commack, N.Y., seeded fourth in doubles, dispatched Gabrielius Guzauskas of Downers Grove, Ill., and Nikolas Tvedt of Norway 6-3, 6-1 in the first round.
In the first round of girls 16 singles, No. 7 seed Katie Volynets of Walnut Creek in the San Francisco Bay Area crushed lucky loser Raphaelle Leblanc of Canada 6-1, 6-0 to set up an all-Bay Area match.
Volynets, who will turn 15 on Dec. 31, will play wild card Anna Campana of Hillsborough. Campana topped lucky loser Isabella Montana of Miami 6-1, 7-6 (2).
USTA National 40 Hard Court Championships in La Jolla, Calif. -- Six Northern California men advanced to fourth round: No. 4 seed Oren Motevassel of San Jose, No. 6 Jeff Greenwald of San Anselmo, No. 8 Leon Bax of Mountain View, No. 10 Daniel Hiddleson of Kentfield, No. 13 Joshua Prager of Yuba City and Nicolas Chasseray of San Francisco.
Greenwald (2009) and Motevassel (2011 and 2012) are former champions.
On the women's side, Vanessa Bogenholm of Los Gatos lost to Cindi Juncal of San Clemente 6-4, 6-0 in the second round.
NorCal product Riffice survives test in Eddie Herr
Sam Riffice survived in the first round of the boys 18s in the Eddie Herr International Championships on Monday.
But his friend and former neighbor in the Sacramento suburb of Roseville, Keenan Mayo, lost in three sets in the hardcourt tournament in Bradenton, Fla.
Riffice, seeded seventh, eked out a 6-7 (4), 7-5, 6-4 victory over Kristjan Tamm of Estonia. Mayo fell to U.S. wild card Filip Jianu 6-7 (5), 7-5, 6-2.
Riffice, who won the boys 16 title two years ago, and Mayo train at the USTA centers in Boca Raton, Fla., and Carson, Calif., respectively.
Mayo's brother, Aidan, and Stefan Leustian of Mather in the Sacramento area advanced in the 14s. Mayo, seeded 15th, beat Dmitry Bezborodov of Kazakhstan 6-4, 6-7 (5), 6-0. Leustian thrashed Anton Semenov of Russia 6-0, 6-0.
In the girls 18s, wild card Carolyn Campana of Hillsborough in the San Francisco Bay Area lost to sixth-seeded Varvara Gracheva of Russia 6-2, 7-5.
Campana and Abigail Forbes of Raleigh, N.C., reached the girls 16 doubles final last year.
In girls 16 singles this week, seventh-seeded Katie Volynets of Walnut Creek in the Bay Area and wild card Anna Campana, Carolyn's sister, are scheduled to play their first-round matches today.
The Eddie Herr is one of the most prestigious junior tournaments in the world. Past competitors include Roger Federer, Andy Roddick, David Nalbandian, Maria Sharapova, Jelena Jankovic and Ana Ivanovic.
Herr, the father of international junior tennis, died in 2000 at 93.
USTA National 40 Hard Court Championships in La Jolla, Calif. -- Nicolas Chasseray of San Francisco surprised No. 16 seed Franklin Da Silva of Newport Beach 6-0, 6-4 in the second round.
No. 4 Oren Motevassel of San Jose, No. 6 Jeff Greenwald of San Anselmo, No. 8 Leon Bax of Mountain View, No. 10 Daniel Hiddleson of Kentfield and No. 13 Joshua Prager of Yuba City coasted into the third round after receiving first-round byes.
Greenwald won the title in 2009, and Motevassel took the crown in 2011 and 2012.
But his friend and former neighbor in the Sacramento suburb of Roseville, Keenan Mayo, lost in three sets in the hardcourt tournament in Bradenton, Fla.
Riffice, seeded seventh, eked out a 6-7 (4), 7-5, 6-4 victory over Kristjan Tamm of Estonia. Mayo fell to U.S. wild card Filip Jianu 6-7 (5), 7-5, 6-2.
Riffice, who won the boys 16 title two years ago, and Mayo train at the USTA centers in Boca Raton, Fla., and Carson, Calif., respectively.
Mayo's brother, Aidan, and Stefan Leustian of Mather in the Sacramento area advanced in the 14s. Mayo, seeded 15th, beat Dmitry Bezborodov of Kazakhstan 6-4, 6-7 (5), 6-0. Leustian thrashed Anton Semenov of Russia 6-0, 6-0.
In the girls 18s, wild card Carolyn Campana of Hillsborough in the San Francisco Bay Area lost to sixth-seeded Varvara Gracheva of Russia 6-2, 7-5.
Campana and Abigail Forbes of Raleigh, N.C., reached the girls 16 doubles final last year.
In girls 16 singles this week, seventh-seeded Katie Volynets of Walnut Creek in the Bay Area and wild card Anna Campana, Carolyn's sister, are scheduled to play their first-round matches today.
The Eddie Herr is one of the most prestigious junior tournaments in the world. Past competitors include Roger Federer, Andy Roddick, David Nalbandian, Maria Sharapova, Jelena Jankovic and Ana Ivanovic.
Herr, the father of international junior tennis, died in 2000 at 93.
USTA National 40 Hard Court Championships in La Jolla, Calif. -- Nicolas Chasseray of San Francisco surprised No. 16 seed Franklin Da Silva of Newport Beach 6-0, 6-4 in the second round.
No. 4 Oren Motevassel of San Jose, No. 6 Jeff Greenwald of San Anselmo, No. 8 Leon Bax of Mountain View, No. 10 Daniel Hiddleson of Kentfield and No. 13 Joshua Prager of Yuba City coasted into the third round after receiving first-round byes.
Greenwald won the title in 2009, and Motevassel took the crown in 2011 and 2012.
Monday, November 28, 2016
Bellis, 17, rides wave for 125K Honolulu title
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| CiCi Bellis, shown in July, beat 23rd-ranked Zhang Shuai to win the inaugural Hawaii Open. Photo by Paul Bauman |
The 17-year-old product of Atherton in the San Francisco Bay Area won her third consecutive title and first on the WTA tour on Sunday.
Bellis, seeded fourth, outclassed top-seeded Zhang Shuai of China 6-4, 6-2 in the inaugural $125,000 Hawaii Open in Honolulu.
After the 27-year-old Zhang, who received a late wild card, netted a backhand on Bellis' second championship point, Bellis fell flat on her back and held her head in her hands.
"This is the best day of my life," Bellis, whose voice cracked as she thanked her team, crowed during the awards ceremony. "I don't even believe it right now. It's so amazing."
Zhang, who stunned second-seeded Simona Halep and 15th-seeded Madison Keys en route to the quarterfinals of the Australian Open in January, remained No. 23 in the world.
Bellis jumped 17 places to a career-high No. 75. She turned pro in September after reaching the third round of the U.S. Open as a qualifier.
Bellis recorded her fifth victory over a top-50 player and third over a Grand Slam quarterfinalist or better.
As a 15-year-old wild card in the 2014 U.S. Open, Bellis knocked off No. 13 Dominika Cibulkova in the first round. Cibulkova had reached the Australian Open final that year, falling to since-retired Li Na of China.
Bellis also ousted No. 49 Shelby Rogers, a French Open quarterfinalist in June, in the second round of the year's U.S. Open in late August.
In the opening set Sunday, Bellis lost the first two games but won the next four and held on for the set. After Zhang won the first game of the second set, Bellis reeled off five straight games. She was soon holding the trophy again.
Bellis saved four of five break points against her in the match and converted four of eight break-point opportunities. Zhang repeatedly missed returns of second serves in her first meeting with Bellis, who's listed at only 5-foot-7 (1.68 meters) and 110 pounds (50 kilograms).
Bellis, who did not lose a set in the tournament, collected $20,000 for the title. Zhang pocketed $11,000.
Saturday, November 26, 2016
Bellis, 17, reaches third consecutive final
CiCi Bellis will play for her third consecutive singles title and by far the biggest of her life on Sunday.
But the 17-year-old product of Atherton in the San Francisco Bay Area faces a stiff challenge.
Bellis, seeded fourth, dispatched unseeded American Jacqueline Cako 6-0, 6-4 today in the semifinals of the $125,000 Hawaii Open in Honolulu. It was Bellis' 14th straight win.
Bellis, by far the youngest player in the top 100 at No. 92, will meet top-seeded Zhang Shuai of China for the first time on Sunday at 3 p.m. PST. The match will be streamed live.
The 23rd-ranked Zhang, who reached the Australian Open quarterfinals as a qualifier in January, outclassed sixth-seeded Evgeniya Rodina of Russia 6-2, 6-3.
Bellis already has beaten one Grand Slam quarterfinalist this year. As a qualifier, she upset Shelby Rogers of Charleston, S.C., in the second round of the U.S. Open before falling to second seed and eventual champion Angelique Kerber 6-1, 6-1. Rogers advanced to the final eight in the French Open in June.
Then there was Bellis' breakthrough victory over 12th-seeded Dominika Cibulkova at 15 in the 2014 U.S. Open. Cibulkova had reached the Australian Open final that year, losing to since-retired Li Na of China.
Neither Zhang, a 27-year-old wild card, nor Bellis has dropped a set in the Honolulu tournament. Bellis, in fact, has not lost more than five games in a match.
Bellis, who turned pro on Sept. 13, is coming off titles in two $50,000 indoor tournaments in Canada. She also has won four crowns in $25,000 tourneys.
Zhang, meanwhile, seeks her second straight title. She won a $100,000 tourmament in Tokyo this month.
Bellis will rise to approximately No. 75 with a victory in the Honolulu final or about No. 83 with a loss.
But the 17-year-old product of Atherton in the San Francisco Bay Area faces a stiff challenge.
Bellis, seeded fourth, dispatched unseeded American Jacqueline Cako 6-0, 6-4 today in the semifinals of the $125,000 Hawaii Open in Honolulu. It was Bellis' 14th straight win.
Bellis, by far the youngest player in the top 100 at No. 92, will meet top-seeded Zhang Shuai of China for the first time on Sunday at 3 p.m. PST. The match will be streamed live.
The 23rd-ranked Zhang, who reached the Australian Open quarterfinals as a qualifier in January, outclassed sixth-seeded Evgeniya Rodina of Russia 6-2, 6-3.
Bellis already has beaten one Grand Slam quarterfinalist this year. As a qualifier, she upset Shelby Rogers of Charleston, S.C., in the second round of the U.S. Open before falling to second seed and eventual champion Angelique Kerber 6-1, 6-1. Rogers advanced to the final eight in the French Open in June.
Then there was Bellis' breakthrough victory over 12th-seeded Dominika Cibulkova at 15 in the 2014 U.S. Open. Cibulkova had reached the Australian Open final that year, losing to since-retired Li Na of China.
Neither Zhang, a 27-year-old wild card, nor Bellis has dropped a set in the Honolulu tournament. Bellis, in fact, has not lost more than five games in a match.
Bellis, who turned pro on Sept. 13, is coming off titles in two $50,000 indoor tournaments in Canada. She also has won four crowns in $25,000 tourneys.
Zhang, meanwhile, seeks her second straight title. She won a $100,000 tourmament in Tokyo this month.
Bellis will rise to approximately No. 75 with a victory in the Honolulu final or about No. 83 with a loss.
Bellis extends win streak, reaches Hawaii semis
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| No. 4 seed CiCi Bellis, shown in July, whipped No. 7 Sara Sorribes Tormo of Spain 6-1, 6-1 on Friday for her 13th consecutive singles victory. Photo by Paul Bauman |
The fourth-seeded Bellis demolished seventh-seeded Sara Sorribes Tormo of Spain 6-1, 6-1 in 64 minutes to reach the semifinals of the $125,000 Hawaii Open in Honolulu.
Sorribes Tormo, ranked No. 109, committed 13 doubles faults and won only 2 of 17 points (12 percent) of the points on her second serve.
Bellis, the youngest player in the top 100 at No. 92, will face unseeded American Jacqueline Cako. The 329th-ranked Cako, 25, upset Germany's Sabine Lisicki, the fifth seed and 2013 Wimbledon runner-up, 3-6, 7-5, 2-0, retired (shoulder).
Bellis, who's coming off titles in two $50,000 indoor tournaments in Canada, has not lost more than three games in a set in her three matches in Honolulu.
Cako, a former Arizona State All-American, eliminated second seed and ex-Stanford star Nicole Gibbs in the first round and outlasted Jamie Loeb of Ossining, N.Y., in the second round. Both Gibbs (2012 and 2013) and Loeb (2015) won NCAA singles titles.
Bellis, who turned pro after reaching the third round of the U.S. Open as a qualifier, is 2-0 against Cako.
In the doubles final, top-seeded Eri Hozumi and Miyu Kato of Japan edged third-seeded Gibbs of Marina del Rey in the Los Angeles area and Asia Muhammad of Las Vegas 6-7 (3), 6-3 [10-8].
Gibbs also won the 2012 NCAA doubles title with Mallory Burdette.
Tuesday, November 22, 2016
Rankings, TV schedule, calendar
WORLD RANKINGS
Players with Northern California ties ranked in the top 1,000 in the world (change from last week in parentheses):
Men's singles
No. 31 (no change) -- Sam Querrey, 29-year-old San Francisco native.
No. 170 (no change) -- Dennis Novikov, 23-year-old resident of Milpitas in San Francisco Bay Area.
No. 75 (+1) -- Nicole Gibbs, 23-year-old former NCAA singles and doubles champion from Stanford.
No. 803 (-2) -- Michaela Gordon, 17-year-old resident of Saratoga in San Francisco Bay Area.
No. 170 (no change) -- Dennis Novikov, 23-year-old resident of Milpitas in San Francisco Bay Area.
No. 323 (-43) -- Mackenzie McDonald, 21-year-old resident of Piedmont in San Francisco Bay Area.
No. 401 (-3) -- Dmitry Tursunov, 33-year-old resident of Folsom in Sacramento area,
No. 714 (-9) -- Ryan Haviland, 35-year-old former Stanford All-American.No. 401 (-3) -- Dmitry Tursunov, 33-year-old resident of Folsom in Sacramento area,
No. 823 (-2) -- John Lamble, 24-year-old Saratoga resident and former Santa Clara star.
Men's doubles
No. 5 (no change) -- Bob Bryan, 38-year-old former NCAA singles and doubles champion from Stanford..
No. 5 (no change) -- Mike Bryan, 38-year-old former NCAA doubles champion from Stanford.
No. 5 (no change) -- Mike Bryan, 38-year-old former NCAA doubles champion from Stanford.
No. 48 (no change) -- Scott Lipsky, 35-year-old former Stanford All-American.
No. 97 (-2) -- Sam Querrey, 29-year-old San Francisco native.
No. 149 (-1) -- Dennis Novikov, 23-year-old resident of Milpitas in San Francisco Bay Area.
No. 97 (-2) -- Sam Querrey, 29-year-old San Francisco native.
No. 149 (-1) -- Dennis Novikov, 23-year-old resident of Milpitas in San Francisco Bay Area.
No. 304 (career high, no change) -- Mackenzie McDonald, 21-year-old resident of Piedmont in San Francisco Bay Area.
No. 462 (-36) -- John Paul Fruttero, 35-year-old former Cal All-American.
No. 659 (-6) -- John Lamble, 24-year-old Saratoga resident and former Santa Clara star.
Women's singles
No. 35 (no change) -- Sloane Stephens, 23-year-old Fresno product.
No. 92 (-2) -- CiCi Bellis, 17-year-old product of Atherton in San Francisco Bay Area..
No. 222 (-1) -- Kristie Ahn, 24-year-old former Stanford All-American.
No. 346 (-2) -- Maria Sanchez, 26-year-old Modesto product.
No. 496 (-5) -- Carol Zhao, 21-year-old former Stanford star.
Women's doubles
No. 21 (no change) -- Raquel Atawo (formerly Kops-Jones), 33-year-old San Jose resident and 2003 NCAA doubles champion from Cal.No. 58 (no change) -- Maria Sanchez, 26-year-old Modesto product.
No. 142 (-1) -- Nicole Gibbs, 23-year-old former NCAA singles and doubles champion from Stanford.
No. 251 (no change) -- CiCi Bellis, 17-year-old product of Atherton in San Francisco Bay Area.
No. 311 (+2) -- Carol Zhao, 21-year-old former Stanford star.
No. 391 (-2) -- Kristie Ahn, 24-year-old former Stanford All-American.
No. 615 (-4) -- Maegan Manasse, 21-year-old Cal senior.
No. 745 (+2) -- Alexandra Facey, 23-year-old product of Cameron Park in Sacramento area.
No. 745 (+2) -- Kat Facey, 23-year-old product of Cameron Park in Sacramento area.
No. 887 (-4) -- Sloane Stephens, 23-year-old Fresno product.
No. 311 (+2) -- Carol Zhao, 21-year-old former Stanford star.
No. 391 (-2) -- Kristie Ahn, 24-year-old former Stanford All-American.
No. 615 (-4) -- Maegan Manasse, 21-year-old Cal senior.
No. 713 (-7) -- Michaela Gordon, 17-year-old resident of Saratoga in San Francisco Bay Area.
No. 745 (+2) -- Kat Facey, 23-year-old product of Cameron Park in Sacramento area.
No. 887 (-4) -- Sloane Stephens, 23-year-old Fresno product.
No. 965 (+2) -- Karina Vyrlan, 18-year-old Sacramentan.
TV SCHEDULE
(All times in California)
(All times in California)
Friday
Davis Cup final, Argentina at Croatia, 2-9 a.m. (live), Tennis Channel.
Saturday
Davis Cup final, Argentina at Croatia, 3-8 a.m. (live), Tennis Channel.
Sunday
Davis Cup final, Argentina at Croatia, 2-9 a.m. (live), Tennis Channel.
CALENDAR
Friday-Sunday -- Davis Cup final, Argentina at Croatia.
Dec. 5-11 -- Orange Bowl, boys and girls 18 and 16 singles and doubles, Plantation, Fla.
Dec. 11-20 -- Junior Orange Bowl, boys and girls 14 and 12 singles, Coral Gables, Fla.
Dec. 11-20 -- Junior Orange Bowl, boys and girls 14 and 12 singles, Coral Gables, Fla.
Dec. 27-Jan. 2, 2017-- USTA National Winter Championships, boys and girls 18 and 16 singles and doubles, Scottsdale, Ariz
Dec. 27-Jan. 2, 2017 -- USTA National Winter Championships, boys and girls 14 and 12 singles and doubles, Tucson, Ariz.
Jan. 16 (Jan. 15 in United States)-Jan. 29, 2017 -- AUSTRALIAN OPEN. 2016 champions: Novak Djokovic, Angelique Kerber, Jamie Murray-Bruno Soares, Martina Hingis/Sania Mirza, Elena Vesnina/Bruno Soares.
Dec. 27-Jan. 2, 2017 -- USTA National Winter Championships, boys and girls 14 and 12 singles and doubles, Tucson, Ariz.
Jan. 16 (Jan. 15 in United States)-Jan. 29, 2017 -- AUSTRALIAN OPEN. 2016 champions: Novak Djokovic, Angelique Kerber, Jamie Murray-Bruno Soares, Martina Hingis/Sania Mirza, Elena Vesnina/Bruno Soares.
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