True Confessions of a Grass Court Absentee

True Confessions of a Grass Court Absentee--
©Colette Lewis 2005--
Philadelphia PA--

Due to another commitment today, I couldn't watch the quarterfinals, and I am loathe to indulge in the write-a-story-by-looking-at-the-drawsheet form of tennis journalism. Instead, I'll just comment.

Bowles beating Salmon, whose game is classic grasscourt, 1 and 0? Look out--the last time Bowles got on a roll like this he won a National title (see Mobile, March 2005). And fifth seed Rupesh Roy, with his 2 and 1 win over the number one seed Johnny Hamui, and Cory Parr, same score, over seventh seed Shan Sondhu also made statements with their performances today. Wil Spencer, seeded sixth, scored a mild upset over fourth seed Albe Richelieu to round out the semifinals on the boys side. The boys doubles looked to be much more exciting than the singles today, as unseeded Bowles and Mike Sroczynski edged Salmon and Spencer in a third set tiebreaker, while Bradley Cox and Roy, seeded third, eliminated the second seeded team of Richelieu and Matthew Sands.

As with the boys, the girls semifinals will feature two unseeded players: Julia Boserup, the thirteen-year-old Californian, who earned her spot with a three set victory over Caitlin Whoriskey as did qualifier Michaela Kissell, a straight set winner over sixth seed Stefanie Nunic. Boserup will face top seed Lindsay Burdette and Kissell draws Madison Brengle, the third seed. Burdette dismissed unseeded Denise Dy 6-4, 6-3 and Brengle had little trouble with the fifth seed Jelena Durisic, if the 6-1, 6-2 score paints an accurate picture.

The girls doubles seeds worked out as planned, at least, with Sanaz Marand and Ashley Weinhold, the top seeds, scheduled to face the second seeded team of Durisic and Nunic. Marand and Weinhold eliminated the Burdette sisters in straight sets and Durisic and Nunic salvaged something from the day, beating Brengle and Carolyn McVeigh in two tiebreak sets.

For full draws and scores click here