Florida’s Black Shoots Up Jr. Rankings After USTA International Spring Tennis Title

Left to right: Runner-up Georgia Drummy and champion Hurricane Tyra Black following the girls’ 18s singles final (Photo: Steve Pratt)

Florida 17-year-old Hurricane Tyra Black won the biggest title of her career on Sunday when the No. 13 seed upset No. 5-seeded Georgia Drummy of Ireland 6-7(6), 6-4, 6-1 for the Grade 1 USTA International Spring Championships girls’ 18s crown in Carson, Calif.

The Boca Raton native during the week upset the No. 3 seed Peyton Stearns, the top seed Margaryta Bilokin in the semifinals, and the No. 5 seed Drummy. She won her final two matches of the tournament from a set down.

Black used everything in her arsenal, including slice off the forehand and backhand wings, to keep the big-hitting Drummy off balance.

“Today I had to slice a little bit more because she likes to put the balls away,” Black told reporters afterwards. “So I didn’t want to put it in her strike zone. I went for a few more slices, so she really couldn’t get a rhythm.”

Black entered the event at No. 124 on the ITF international junior rankings, and rises to No. 55 this week. She joins a list of past champions of the event that include Sloane Stephens (2009) and Melanie Oudin (2008), and past participants-turned-pro Madison Keys, Christina McHale, Vania King, Nicole Gibbs, CoCo Vandeweghe, Lauren Davis and Taylor Townsend.

“This is my first Grade 1 win,” she said. “It makes me really happy to win this and to finally break through with some good wins so far this year.”

Black trains with Lawrence Carpio at LAT Academy in Boynton Beach, and also works with her father Sly Black. Drummy trains at the Evert Academy in Boca Raton. 

For full tournament results go to www.ustaisc.com.