June Aces; Wimbledon Junior Qualifying Features Seven Americans; Jovic Reaches ITF J300 Roehampton Semis; Gauff and Navarro Make Wimbledon Third Round; Tien Comes Back for 17th Straight Win

My monthly Aces column for the Tennis Recruiting Network features 19 juniors, collegians and former collegians who had exceptional results in tournaments on the three major surfaces, with the levels ranging from the $15,000 SoCal Pro Series to WTA 500s. Tracking all these results isn't easy, and I never have enough time and space for every title of the month, but many of these players are those you'll hear about in the future, so get some background now.

Qualifying begins in Roehampton Thursday for the Wimbledon Junior Championships, with seven Americans competing for a place in the main draw.  Shannon Lam and Matthew Forbes are not in the qualifying draws and were very close to main draw at the freeze deadline, so I assume they both moved into the main draw at the last minute.

Noah Johnston, who swept the J200 titles in Mexico last Saturday night, is in the Wimbledon qualifying draw, where he is the No. 2 seed. Kase Schinnerer and Stiles Brockett are the other two US boys in qualifying. The four US girls in qualifying are Christasha McNeil, Mia Slama, Annika Penickova and Maya Dutta.

The semifinals are set for the ITF J300 at Roehampton, with Iva Jovic in the singles and doubles semifinals, and Kaylan Bigun and Jagger Leach in the doubles semifinals.

No. 5 seed Jovic defeated No. 16 seed Rositsa Dencheva of Bulgaria 6-2, 6-4 and will face top seed Laura Samson of the Czech Republic. Jovic and Samson played in the Roland Garros quarterfinals with Samson getting a 6-7(4), 6-4, 7-5 victory. In the other semifinal, No. 14 seed Teodora Kostovic of Serbia will play No. 2 seed Emerson Jones of Australia.

Wild card Mark Ceban of Great Britain is into the boys semifinal, where he will play unseeded Rafael Jodar of Spain, a rising freshman at Virginia. In the bottom half, unseeded Charlie Robertson will play No. 7 seed Maxim Mrva of the Czech Republic.

Jovic and Tyra Grant, the No. 2 seeds in doubles, will play the unseeded team of Malak El Allami of Morocco and Vendula Valdmannova of the Czech Republic in the semifinals.

Bigun and Leach, also the No. 2 seeds, will face unseeded Henry Bernet and Flynn Thomas of Switzerland in the semifinals.

There were more weather delays Wednesday at Wimbledon, but they are not technically behind schedule if they manage to finish the second round on Thursday.  

2021 NCAA champion Emma Navarro(Virginia) scored an impressive 6-4, 6-1 victory over Naomi Osaka of Japan to reach the third round, where she'll play, for the second week in a row, former NC State All-American Diana Shnaider of Russia. Shnaider, who is featured in my Aces column for her win at the Bad Homburg WTA 500 last week, defeated Navarro 7-5, 2-6, 6-3 in the semifinals there.

Wednesday's results of Americans:
First round:
Katie Volynets[Q] d. Maria Carle(ARG) 6-2, 7-5
Camila Osorio(COL) d. Lauren Davis 6-3, 6-1
Danielle Collins[11] d. Clara Tauson(DEN) 6-3, 7-6(4)

Quentin Halys[Q](FRA) d. Chris Eubanks 6-4, 6-4, 6-2
Emil Ruusuvuori(FIN) d. Mackenzie McDonald 7-6(4), 4-6, 5-7, 7-6(6), 6-3

Second round:
Brandon Nakashima d. Jordan Thompson(AUS) 6-3, 6-2, 6-2
Frances Tiafoe[29] d. Borna Coric(CRO) 7-6(5), 6-1, 6-3
Tommy Paul[12] d. Otto Virtanen[Q](FIN)4-6, 6-3, 5-7, 7-5, 6-4

Emma Navarro[19] d. Naomi Osaka(JPN) 6-4, 6-1
Coco Gauff[2] d. Anca Todoni[Q](ROU) 6-2, 6-1
Diana Shnaider(RUS) d. Sloane Stephens 6-1, 6-1

Thursday's second round matches featuring Americans:

Marcos Giron v Alexander Zverev[4](GER)

Taylor Fritz[13] v Arthur Rinderknech(FRA)

Ben Shelton[14] v Lloyd Harris(RSA)

Robin Montgomery[Q] v Ons Jabeur[10](TUN)

Jessica Pegula[5] v Xinyu Wang(CHN)

Danielle Collins[11] v Dalma Galfi[Q](HUN)

Madison Keys[12] v Yafan Wang(CHN)

Katie Volynets[Q] v Barbora Krejcikova[31](CZE)

Bernarda Pera v Caroline Garcia[23](FRA)

At the ATP Challenger 75 in Bloomfield Hills, 18-year-old Learner Tien(USC) extended his 17-match winning streak the hard way, coming from 6-0, 4-2 down to beat No. 8 seed Bu Yunchaokete of China 0-6, 7-5, 6-0.  A rematch of the 2022 Kalamazoo 18s final with Ethan Quinn(Georgia) was looming in the quarterfinals, but Quinn lost to Philip Sekulic of Australia 3-6, 7-5, 7-6(4). Qualifier Stefan Kozlov is through to the quarterfinals and will play the winner of the late match between top seed JJ Wolf and Yuta Shimizu of Japan.

Jovic Sole American Through to ITF J300 Roehampton Quarterfinals; Qualifier Montgomery Advances on Damp Tuesday at Wimbledon; New Nebraska Challenger Added to August Schedule

I'm heading to Europe shortly, with a couple of vacation days in Germany before the start of the Wimbledon Junior Championships on Saturday July 6th, so this post and the posts the next couple of days will be brief.

Despite the off-again on-again rain today at Wimbledon that led to cancelled first round matches, the round of 16 was completed at the ITF J300 Wimbledon warmup in Roehampton, and the results were not good for the American contingent. Of the five US juniors playing today, just one, No. 5 seed Iva Jovic, advanced to Wednesday's quarterfinals.  Top seed Kaylan Bigun lost to No. 15 seed Max Schoenhaus of Germany 7-6(6), 4-6, 6-4; Schoenhaus will face wild card Mark Ceban of Great Britain, who won last year's 14U Wimbledon event and today beat compatriot Viktor Frydrych 7-6(5), 3-6, 6-3.

Alex Razeghi, the other US boy to advance to the third round, lost to No. 3 seed Luca Preda of Romania 6-4, 6-4. Preda's quarterfinal opponent will be unseeded Rafael Jodar of Spain, who is a rising freshman at Virginia.

Charlie Robertson of Great Britain will face No. 4 seed Hayden Jones of Australia and No. 7 seed Max Mrva of the Czech Republic will play No. 2 seed Nikolai Budkov Kjaer of Norway.

Jovic's opponent in Wednesday's quarterfinals will be No. 16 seed Rositsa Dencheva of Bulgaria, with the other top half quarterfinal featuring top seed Laura Samson of the Czech Republic and unseeded Malak El Allami of Morocco, a rising freshman at Columbia.

In the bottom half, No. 2 seed Emerson Jones of Australia, the younger sister of Hayden, will play No. 7 seed Mingge Xu of Great Britain and No. 14 seed Teodora Kostovic of Serbia will face unseeded Elizara Yanev of Bulgaria.

2021 US Open girls singles and doubles champion Robin Montgomery was one of the Americans to advanced to the second round between raindrops today at Wimbledon. The 19-year-old defeated fellow qualifier Olivia Gadecki of Australia 6-4, 6-4 for her first main draw victory at a major.

Tuesday's Wimbledon first round matches featuring Americans:

Iga Swiatek[1](POL) d. Sofia Kenin 6-3, 6-4

Jessica Pegula[5] d. Ashlyn Krueger 6-2, 6-0

Danielle Collins[11] v Clara Tauson(DEN) 6-3, 4-4, suspended

Katie Volynets[Q] v Maria Carle(ARG) postponed

Bernarda Pera d. Anastasia Potapova(RUS) 6-7(4), 6-4, 7-6(6)

Lauren Davis v Camila Osorio(COL) postponed

Robin Montgomery[Q] d. Olivia Gadecki(AUS) 6-4, 6-4

Caroline Wozniacki[WC](DEN) d. Alycia Parks[Q] 6-2, 6-0

Ben Shelton[14] d. Mattia Bellucci[Q](ITA) 4-6, 6-3, 3-6, 6-3,  6-4

Mackenzie McDonald v Emil Ruusuvuori(FIN) 6-7(8) 6-4, 7-5, 3-4, suspended

Chris Eubanks v Quentin Halys[Q](FRA) postponed

Marcos Giron d. Henry Searle[WC](GBR) 3-6, 6-3, 6-4, 6-4

Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard[LL](FRA) d. Sebastian Korda[20] 7-6(5), 6-7(4), 7-6(6), 6-7(4), 6-3

Taylor Fritz[13] d. Christopher O'Connell(AUS) 6-1, 6-2, 6-4

There's good news to report for the men's calendar this summer, with a new ATP Challenger 75 announced for the first full week of August in Lincoln Nebraska. 

Here's the release from Topnotch Management:

Professional Tennis to Return to Lincoln, Nebraska

The newest ATP Challenger Tour event, the Lincoln Challenger, will take place at the University of Nebraska - Lincoln this August.

LINCOLN, Neb (June 28, 2024) - Professional tennis will return to Lincoln, Nebraska this August 4 - August 11 at the Sid and Hazel Dillon Tennis Center on the campus of the University of Nebraska - Lincoln. The event, featuring $82,000 in prize money, is a part of the ATP Challenger Tour and will be operated by Topnotch Events, the events division of global sports agency, Topnotch Management. Lincoln hosted an ATP Challenger event in 1978 and 1979, the first two years that the ATP Challenger Tour existed. 

"We are excited and honored to be hosting the ATP Challenger Tour for the inaugural Lincoln Challenger," said Derek Bombeck, Director of Sports at Visit Lincoln. "Lincoln is anxious to showcase our world class facilities, our unique Midwestern dining and our wonderful attractions.  We look forward to providing a one-of-a-kind experience to all of the athletes and fans who will be traveling to Lincoln for this incredible event.  We are confident that the community will embrace this event and help showcase why Lincoln is a premier sports destination."

The Lincoln Challenger will be a part of the American hard court summer swing on the ATP Challenger Tour, that leads into the US Open at the end of August in New York City. The event also represents one of only six ATP Challenger Tour events to take place on a college campus in the United States.

"This is an exciting opportunity for the sporting community here in Lincoln. Some of the top men's tennis players in the world will head to Lincoln to prepare for the US Open," explained Tournament Director, Alex Guthrie. "The amount of support already received from the community has been tremendous and we are going to have great activations for fans, including Semifinal Saturday (on August 10) presented by Omaha Steaks. The fans are going to be in for a great treat of tennis and experiences during the week."

The event has partnership opportunities still available for individuals and businesses.  Additionally, tickets will be available to purchase online as the event gets closer. The event will also be looking for volunteers in different capacities such as ballpersons, drivers and ushers.

For more information on the Lincoln Challenger, please visit www.lincolnchallenger.com

Inquiries: Alex Guthrie, Tournament Director: alex@topnotchmanagement.com

About Topnotch Management:
Topnotch Management is a leading global sports agency specializing in tennis, pickleball and squash. Based in Cleveland, Ohio, Topnotch manages a roster of some of the world’s leading athletes and operates professional events around the United States, including Tennis in the Land, a WTA 250 event. The Lincoln Challenger will mark the third ATP Challenger that Topnotch Events operates (Lincoln, Cleveland, Columbus).

Alex Guthrie, Director of Events

Topnotch Management 

The release doesn't mention it, but points from this Challenger will count for the USTA's US Open Wild Card Challenge, with that the final week for points accrual in that competition.  It is also the same week as Kalamazoo, so none of the top juniors will be competing there, although I would expect many of the top college players entering.

Johnston Sweeps, Schuman Goes Back-to-Back at ITF J200 in Mexico; Seven Americans Advance to Wimbledon Second Round; Tien Extends Win Streak to 16 at Bloomfield Hills Challenger

Noah Johnston is still listed in the Wimbledon boys qualifying, which begins Thursday at Roehampton. If he does make the trip, he won't have any grass court preparation, but the 16-year-old left-hander from South Carolina will have the confidence earned after sweeping the titles of the ITF J200 last week in Tampico Mexico. 

After Johnston and Benjamin Willwerth won the doubles title on Friday night, they met in the singles final Saturday night, with top seed Johnston posting a 6-4, 3-6, 7-6(1) victory over the sixth-seeded Willwerth.  In the doubles final, top seeds Johnston and Willwerth, who won the J200 title in Mexico two weeks ago, defeated unseeded Ronit Karki and Jack Satterfield 7-5, 6-3.

Johnston is up to a career-high ranking of 54 with the titles, while Willwerth, also 16, is up to a career high of 92.

The girls singles title also went to the top seed, with Aspen Schuman winning her second J200 title in as many weeks. This week the 16-year-old from Northern California defeated No. 2 seed Maya Iyengar 6-3, 7-5 in the final.  Schuman is also at a career-high ITF junior ranking with the title, now at 33.

Nancy Lee and her Canadian partner Emma Dong won the girls doubles title, with the No. 2 seeds defeating top seeds Capucine Jauffret and her Jamaican partner Alyssa James 6-2, 7-5 in the final. 

There were three other singles titles for Americans last week on the ITF Junior Circuit. At the J100 in Ecuador, unseeded 17-year-old Alba Martinez swept the titles, earning her fourth doubles title and second singles title on the ITF Junior Circuit. In the singles final, Martinez, a four-star from Florida, defeated No. 6 seed Londyn McCord 6-2, 6-3. Martinez also got the better of McCord in the doubles final, with partner Daniela Chica. The unseeded pair defeated top seeds McCord and Ligaya Murray 6-4, 6-1 for their third title as a team.

Another sweep for an American junior came at the J30 in Honduras, with top seed Nicole Okhtenberg winning her first two ITF Junior Circuit titles of the year. The 16-year-old from Florida defeated unseeded Natasha Jerkunica 6-1, 2-6, 6-4 in the singles final. Top seeds Okhtenberg and Adelie Osher won the doubles title over No. 2 seeds Siham Richmagui of Honduras and Sandra Talamo Pinto of Venezuela 6-3, 6-1. 

Sixteen-year-old Jacob Lee won the boys title in Honduras, with the top seed beating No. 2 seed Alejandro Ochoa of Mexico 6-2, 2-1 retired for his third ITF Junior Circuit singles title. Lee also reached the doubles final, with Ochoa.

There were two doubles titles for Americans at J30s, with Aida Oviedo winning in Argentina and Shaya Jovanovic winning in the Netherlands.

Five Americans are through to the round of 16 at the ITF J300 in Roehampton: Kaylan Bigun[1], Alex Razeghi, Shannon Lam, Thea Frodin and Iva Jovic[5].

The first day at Wimbledon saw a few surprises, with one of the most notable not involving an American. Twenty-three-year-old qualifier Lulu Sun of New Zealand, a former Texas Longhorn, defeated Australian Open finalist and No. 8 seed Qinwen Zheng of China 4-6, 6-2, 6-4 for her first main draw win at a major. Sun will play fellow qualifier Yuliia Starodubtseva of Ukraine, a former All-American at Old Dominion. Starodubtseva, 24, defeated Alison Van Uytvanck of Belgium 6-4, 6-3 for her first main draw victory at a major. 

Americans went 7-7 in first round matches today, with Ben Shelton's match suspended due to darkness.

Monday's Wimbledon first round results of Americans: 

Coco Gauff[2] d. Caroline Dolehide 6-1, 6-2

Erika Andreeva[LL](RUS) d. Emina Bektas 7-6(5), 3-6, 6-3

Sloane Stephens d. Elsa Jacquemot[LL] 6-3, 6-3

Madison Keys[12] d. Martina Trevisan(ITA) 6-4, 7-6(4)

Maria Sakkari[9](GRE) d. McCartney Kessler[Q] 6-3, 6-1

Daria Saville(AUS) d. Peyton Stearns 6-4, 6-2 

Emma Navarro[19] d. Qiang Wang(CHN) 6-0, 6-2

Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova[25](RUS) d. Taylor Townsend 7-6(4), 6-1

Daniil Medvedev[5](RUS) d. Aleks Kovacevic 6-3, 6-4, 6-2 

Tommy Paul[12] d. Pedro Martinez(ESP) 6-2, 6-1, 4-6, 6-3

Ben Shelton[14] v Mattia Bellucci[Q](ITA) 4-6, 6-3, 3-6 susp.

Lloyd Harris(RSA) d. Alex Michelsen 3-6, 4-6, 7-6(5), 6-2, 7-6(9) 

Frances Tiafoe[29] d. Matteo Arnaldi(ITA) 6-7(5), 2-6, 6-1, 6-3, 6-3

Brandon Nakashima d. Sebastian Baez[18](ARG) 6-2, 6-3, 6-4

Tuesday's Wimbledon first round matches featuring Americans:

Sofia Kenin v Iga Swiatek[1](POL)

Ashlyn Krueger v Jessica Pegula[5]

Danielle Collins[11] v Clara Tauson(DEN)

Katie Volynets[Q] v Maria Carle(ARG)

Bernarda Pera v Anastasia Potapova(RUS)

Lauren Davis v Camila Osorio(COL)

Robin Montgomery[Q] v Olivia Gadecki(AUS)

Alycia Parks[Q] v Caroline Wozniacki[WC](DEN)

Ben Shelton[14] v Mattia Bellucci[Q](ITA) 4-6, 6-3, 3-6 susp. Monday

Taylor Fritz[13] v Christopher O'Connell(AUS)

Mackenzie McDonald v Emil Ruusuvuori(FIN)

Chris Eubanks v Quentin Halys[Q](FRA)

Marcos Giron v Henry Searle[WC](GBR)

Sebastian Korda[20] v Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard[LL](FRA)

Qualifying was completed today at the ATP Challenger 75 in Bloomfield Hills Michigan, with four of the six qualifiers Americans: Quinn Vandecasteele(Oregon), Christian Langmo(Miami), Ryan Seggerman(Princeton, North Carolina) and Stefan Kozlov.

The 2022 Kalamazoo 18s champion and finalist both advanced to the second round. Champion Learner Tien(USC) came back to defeat James Trotter(Ohio State) of Japan 4-6, 6-3, 6-3 for his 16th consecutive USTA Pro Circuit victory. The jump from the $15K level to the Challenger level is usually a large one, but Tien managed to adjust quickly this week. Trotter won the Tyler Texas Challenger 75 at the beginning of last month, which was the last Challenger on the USTA Pro Circuit.  

Ethan Quinn(Georgia), who Tien beat in the 2022 Kalamazoo final, breezed past Ozan Baris(Michigan State) 6-2, 6-2 and will play fellow 20-year-old Philip Sekulic of Australia in the second round. Sekulic upset No. 2 seed Emilio Nava 6-0, 2-6, 7-5.  Top seed JJ Wolf(Ohio State) beat wild card Andres Martin 6-4, 7-5.