Report From USTA Spring Nationals in Mobile

Report From Mobile--
© Colette Lewis 2005

I'm at the USTA 18s Boys and Girls Spring Championships here in Mobile Alabama. With the upcoming Easter Bowl now an ITF Closed Event, the USTA has added this tournament to the schedule. Needing a spring break from the very wintry weather still plaguing Kalamazoo, my husband and I endured an unexpectedly long day of travel, with two plane changes and three mechanically-related delays. Ours was far from the worse travel story I heard today at the Mobile Tennis Center, though, so I'll move on with a list of things that got my attention today:

1. The weather. As gray and gloomy as Michigan and almost as cold. With temperatures in the low 50s, it was a brave tennis fan who sat through an entire match without running to the pro shop for a dose of heat.

2. The facility. Fifty, yes fifty, tennis courts on one site. Practice courts, even public use of the courts, was possible with two 128 singles and 64 doubles draws. Amazing. Free coffee and fruit for everyone and a dedicated staff--it's no wonder Mobile hosts one tennis event after another.

3. On the boys' side, Holden Ching, Kelvin Kim and Cory Parr--all of whom, unseeded, dispatched their seeded opponents, dropping three games or less. Parr, of Jericho NY, dropped a double bagel on 21st seed Alexander Forger of Okemos, MI.

4. Andrew Crone of Hickory NC, who lost a 38-point first set tiebreaker, and unfazed, survived a second tiebreaker of a mere 11 points, then won going away, 6-1 in the third.

5. Justin Kronauge and Kristen McVitty, the number two seeds, neither of whom surrendered a game in the opening round.

6. Ashley Weinhold, and no, it wasn't just that knit hat that caught my eye. The fifteen year old from Austin Texas had no trouble with the 21st seed, beating Elyse Steiner 6-2, 6-1.

Check back tomorrow for news on second round action.....