Debru Replaces Kuzuhara Atop ITF Junior Rankings; Exsted, Hamilton and Cordova Earn First ITF Junior Circuit Titles; USTA Clay Court Championships Underway, Top Seed in B16s Ousted
The International Tennis Federation released its usual weekly junior rankings yesterday, but because Wimbledon did not offer any points, the huge changes usually accompanying a junior slam are absent. Those who earned points last year lost them however, and that's how 2022 Roland Garros boys champion Gabriel Debru of France ended up as No. 1 this week. Bruno Kuzuhara, whom he replaced, had no way to defend his quarterfinal points earned at Wimbledon last year, nor did 2021 quarterfinalist and 2022 Wimbledon boys champion Mili Poljicak of Croatia, who would be the new ITF No. 1 if points had been offered at Wimbledon this year.
Nothing dramatic happened in the girls rankings, with Petra Marcinko of Croatia staying at the top spot, as she had only one round of points to defend at Wimbledon, so didn't lose much. But Liv Hovde, who wasn't high enough in the ITF junior rankings to receive entry at last year's Wimbledon, would have overtaken Marcinko as ITF No. 1 if points had been awarded for Wimbledon this year.
A warmup for the USTA Clay Courts this week was part of the ITF Junior Circuit in the United States, with the J4 event held in Daytona Beach last week.
Two 15-year-olds won the singles titles, both securing their first titles on the ITF Junior Circuit.
No. 9 seed Alanis Hamilton defeated No. 11 seed Kaitlyn Carnicella 6-7(4), 6-1, 6-4 in the girls singles final, and No. 8 seed Maxwell Exsted beat unseeded Tanner Povey 6-2, 6-2 in the boys singles final.
The doubles finals in Daytona Beach were both all-USA contests, with No. 7 seeds Povey and Cooper Woestendick defeating Brandon Vu and Cayden Wang 6-2, 6-2 in the boys championship match. Povey and Woestendick have won a previous doubles title on the ITF Junior Circuit with a different partner.
In the girls final, No. 5 seeds Christasha McNeil and Akasha Urhobo defeated No. 2 seeds Alba Martinez and Elizabeth Tkachenko 6-3, 6-2. It's the first ITF Junior Circuit title for 15-year-olds McNeil and Urhobo.
At the JB3 in Cancun last week, Francesco Cordova, the No. 15 seed, defeated No. 2 seed Luciano Alcocer of Mexico 2-6, 6-3, 7-5 in the boys singles final.
The USTA National Clay Court Championships began last Saturday with the boys 12s, and that division is already through to the quarterfinals.
Alexander Ena, the No. 1 seed in the boys 16s, lost in Tuesday's third round to Dylan Jaen, a No. 33 seed, 7-6(5), 6-0.
Below are the top 16 seeds in each division, as well as the quarterfinal matchups for the B12s. I've noted when a seed has already lost in the first three rounds. Not all third rounds are complete, with rain delaying matches at the B16s and 18s in Delray Beach. The headings serve as links to the full draws.
B12s, Lake Nona FL1. Elliott Awomoyi
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