AP Wire | 04/12/2005 | Eighth-grader follows the bouncing ball around the globe

--AP Wire | 04/12/2005 | Eighth-grader follows the bouncing ball around the globe--

I was able to see the Round of 16 match right after this story was picked up by the AP wire, between Chase Buchanan, who will be 14 in June, and Jay Wong, who will be 17 in July. Wong used his superior size and strength to advantage and beat Buchanan 7-5, 6-4, but I saw the younger boy hit some incredibly mature and breathtaking shots. Usually I would chastise a coach making Agassi and Sampras comparisons, but Matthews' caveat is a profound one. It can't be done on talent alone, which Buchanan has an abundance of. The mental side of the game is nearly as important and much harder to observe. But if he sticks with Matthews, and listens to him, Buchanan's road to tennis maturity might be bumpy now and then, but it will eventually take him where he wants to go.