Sun Rises as Americans Sweep Orange Bowl 16s

Sun and Volynets

Boca Raton-based 16-year-old American Steven Sun came from a set down to win the Boys’ 16s singles title last weekend at the Metropolia Orange Bowl, held at the Frank Veltri Tennis Center in Plantation, Fla.

Sun in the final defeated No. 10 seed Vikash Singh of India 3-6, 7-5, 6-1. Along with California’s 14-year-old Katie Volynets, who in the Girls’ 16s final defeated 14-year-old Imani Graham of Saint Johns, Fla., 6-4, 6-3, it was the first time Americans swept the Orange Bowl 16s titles since 2009.

Singh served for the match against Sun at 6-3, 5-3, before Sun changed the momentum, winning 10 of the next 11 games.

“I just tried to get back into it, one game at a time,” Sun said. “That’s what I was telling myself. I had nothing to lose. I was down a set, 5-3 and a break, so I just decided to go for it, and it worked out.”

Volynets became the first player to win the Girls’ 16s singles titles at the Eddie Herr Championships and Orange Bowl back-to-back in the same year. Volynets at 5-foot-4 had to give up seven inches to the 5-foot-11 Graham in the final.

“I feel like her mental game was a little bit stronger than mine today,” said Graham, who lives just south of Jacksonville. “I didn’t really expect to get to the finals of Orange Bowl, so it’s been a great week. It’s tough to lose in the finals, but she’s an amazing player. I wouldn’t have it any other way — other than winning.”

In the Boys’ 18s final, No. 1-ranked Serb Miomir Kecmanovic won his second consecutive Orange Bowl title, defeating No. 2 seed Yibing Wu of China 6-3, 6-1. In the Girls’ 18s final No. 9-seeded Kaja Juvan of Slovenia defeated No. 1 Anastasia Potapova 6-1, 6-4.

For complete results go to www.usta.com/Youth-Tennis/Junior-Competition/2016_orange_bowl_international_tennis_championships.

January ‘Tennis Thanks the Troops’ Events at Isleworth in Windermere

Tennis players can help military families when ThanksUSA’s Tennis Thanks the Troops and Isleworth Golf & Country Club present a morning of tennis activities on Friday, Jan. 13, 2017 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Isleworth Golf & Country Club in Windermere, Fla.

Events include a Pro-Am, Power 90 “Cardio” Doubles, a Veterans Adaptive Clinic for wounded service members, a pro exhibition, a wine tasting, and a luncheon featuring Guest Speaker General Ann E. Dunwoody, U.S. Army (Ret.), America’s first female four-star general.

“Your participation in this special event will benefit ThanksUSA’s Military Family Scholarship Program,” says organizer Mike Dombrowski.

Included will be a Q&A and book signing by Dunwoody for her book, “A Higher Standard: Leadership Strategies from America’s First Female Four-Star General.”

For more event info or to sign-up go to www.thanksusa.org/isleworth.html.