My Ten Questions for NCAA Champion Alexa Noel; Mosejczuk and Schuman Claim ITF J200 Titles in Mexico, Six Other US Juniors Win ITF Singles Titles; Five American Men Advance in Wimbledon Qualifying

After giving her several weeks to process her NCAA Division I singles title in Stillwater, I spoke to University of Miami graduate Alexa Noel about the course of her collegiate career, with her transfer from Iowa to Miami igniting academic motivation she didn't know she had. After her outstanding junior career, Noel saw tennis as the center of her life, but she explained to me how college changed her perspective and why her plan for a year or two turned into four years and a degree. Still undecided about returning to Miami for her final year of eligibility, Noel discussed her preparations for the US Open, which pro's game she admires, the story behind her tattoo and volunteering as a commencement speaker in this article for Tennis Recruiting Network.

Americans swept the singles titles at three ITF Junior Circuit tournaments last week in North and Central America, with Dominick Mosejczuk and Aspen Schuman taking the highest level titles at the J200 in Veracruz Mexico.

Mosejczuk, the 2023 Orange Bowl 16s champion, was unseeded in his first tournament on this side of the Atlantic since March, and he needed to come back from a set down in his first two victories to advance. But the 17-year-old New Yorker, who trains in Spain, won his final three matches in straight sets, defeating unseeded Valentin Garay of Argentina 6-4, 6-2 in the final. The 200 points boosted Mosejczuk's ITF ranking into the Top 100 for the first time.

Schuman competed in the first two SoCal Pro Series tournaments in San Diego, reaching the quarterfinals and semifinals, but returned to the junior circuit this week in Veracruz as the top seed. The 16-year-old from Northern California dropped just one set during the week, beating No. 4 seed Claire An 6-1, 7-5 in the all-US final. Schuman, who did not enter the Roland Garros or Wimbledon junior championships this summer, is now up to a career-high ITF junior ranking of 38.

Top seeds Noah Johnston and Benjamin Willwerth took the boys doubles title, beating unseeded Ty Host of Australia and Harry Pugh of New Zealand 5-7, 6-1, 10-2. It's their second title as a team this year.

At the J30 in Canada, 15-year-olds Jerrid Gaines Jr and Thara Gowda swept the titles. Gaines, the top seed, defeated qualifier Bryan Assi 6-4, 6-1 in the final for his second title on the ITF Junior Circuit. Gaines and partner Anthony Dry, who were unseeded, won the doubles title with a 7-5, 4-6, 10-4 win over top seeds Cadence Benchetrit and Zackary Kimelman of Canada.

Thara Gowda, the No. 2 seed, won her first ITF Junior Circuit singles title via a walkover over No. 1 seed Anna Tabunshchyk of Canada. Gowda had claimed her first ITF Junior Circuit title earlier in the day, with partner Anna Bennett. The No. 3 seeds defeated the unseeded team of Sofia Kedrin and Switzerland's Goldie Kregar 6-1, 6-0 in the final.

At the J30 in Honduras, 17-year-old Arin Menon, seeded No. 8, won his first ITF Junior Circuit singles title, beating No. 3 seed Rushikesh Sonawane 4-6, 6-4, 7-6(5) in the final. Sixteen-year-old Sarah Stoyanov also won her first ITF Junior Circuit singles title, with the top seed defeating No. 4 seed Victoria Correa Guedea of Mexico 6-4, 6-2 in the final.

Ligaya Murray claimed her second title of the month last week at the J60 in Ecuador, where she was the defending champion. The top seed, the 16-year-old from New York defeated No. 2 seed Valentina Vargas of Ecuador 6-4, 6-2 in the final. 

The eighth singles title of last week went to 16-year-old Michael Savano, who has the rare distinction of winning his first ITF Junior Circuit title on grass. Savano, the No. 3 seed, defeated No. 5 seed Jan Wygona of Poland 6-4, 2-6, 7-5 to take the boys singles title at the J30 in Poland.

Five American men advanced to the second round of Wimbledon qualifying, with their results below. The men now have Tuesday off, with the women's qualifying beginning, while 15 US women begin competing tomorrow for a place in the main draw: Katy Volynets[1], Clervie Ngounoue[WC], Sachia Vickery[29], McCartney Kessler(Florida)[20], Hailey Baptiste[4], Amanda Anisimova, Eli Mandlik, Elvina Kalieva, Louisa Chirico, Hanna Chang, Robin Montgomery, Varvara Lepchenko, Alycia Parks, Ann Li and Kayla Day[26].

Monday's first round results for American men in Wimbledon qualifying:

Emilio Nava[30] d Felix Gill[WC](GBR) 6-4, 6-1

Patrick Kypson d. Stuart Parker[WC](GBR) 6-3, 7-6(3)

Nicolas Moreno de Alboran d. Benoit Paire(FRA) 6-4, 6-1

Zachary Svajda[24] d. Coleman Wong(HKG) 6-4, 6-4

Maxime Cressy d. Marc-Andrea Huesler(SUI) 6-7(3), 6-3, 7-5

Jesper De Jong(NED) d. Denis Kudla 7-6(3), 6-2

Lukas Klein[26](SVK) d. Tristan Boyer 6-4, 7-6(5)