Tops Seeds Mostly Unscathed at Spring Nationals Monday

©Colette Lewis 2008--
Mobile, AL--

One of the matches I had circled for Monday's second round of the USTA Spring 18s Nationals was No. 1 Christina McHale versus Joanna Mather.

Although Mather was unseeded, I had seen her often enough at ITF events to know the future Florida Gator was a dangerous opponent for the top seed. The match, which was held on one of the show courts, drew a large crowd on the cool and overcast morning, but it wasn't as entertaining as expected. McHale played much steadier, and Mather was unable to get her hard-hitting game on track, losing 6-2, 6-2 to the 15-year-old from New Jersey.

If there was a lengthy rally, McHale won it, and although Mather cracked an occasional winner, she wasn't able to dictate due to so many unforced errors. When Mather withdrew from the backdraw, it was revealed that she was ill with a fever prior to the match, which might have contributed to her lackluster play. But McHale's dominant performance was impressive, regardless of the circumstances.

Boys' top seed Bradley Klahn also cruised into the third round with a 6-2, 6-0 victory over Texan Will Oliver. And although three more No. 17 seeds lost on the boys' side, that was the extent of the Monday upsets. One of the most spirited battles of the day was between doubles partners and future Virginia Cavaliers Drew Courtney and Reese Milner. Courtney, the No. 7 seed, dropped the first set 6-1, but came back to take the second 6-3, and escape with the win 7-5 in the third. Milner, from Los Angeles, California, couldn't seem to forgive himself for two double faults late in the third set, loudly berating himself when he lost the game, although cries of anguish were commonplace throughout the match from the demonstrative Milner.

Although No. 4 seed Catherine Isip was once again extended to three sets and No. 6 seed Kristie Ahn was given a stern test in her 7-6(8), 6-4 victory over Alina Jerjomina, the only top 16 girls seed to fall was No. 8 seed Elizabeth Epstein. Courtney Griffith of Georgia eliminated the Chicagoan 7-6(4), 6-3. Five alphabetical (17-32) seeds dropped into the backdraw Monday.

The second round of doubles did see two highly seeded pairs exit, one in each division. The No. 3 seeded team of Joey Burkhardt and Isamu Tachibana were defeated by Ian Chadwell and Patrick Whitner 7-6(1), 6-4; No. 4 seeds Stephany Chang and Zoe De Bruycker lost 7-6(5), 0-6, 6-3 to Gabrielle Steele and Monica Yajima in girls' second round action.

For complete draws, see the TennisLink site.

For additional coverage, see Marcia Frost's collegeandjuniortennis.com website.