Thanks! You’re almost done...
is being subscribed to the USTA National Campus newsletter. Help us personalize your experience even more.
Required
Required
Required
Want more? Add the following:
By clicking 'Sign Up' you agree that you have read and understood the terms of use and privacy policy  for usta.com
headerimage
Thank you and see you on the courts!
Follow USTA for exclusive tips, access and more.
scroll-top

2018 USTA May National Level 2

Anthrop, Games Earn Singles Titles

May 22, 2018
primary-article-image

Singles and doubles crowns were earned on Tuesday, the final day of the 2018 USTA May National Level 2, featuring some of the nation’s most talented boys and girls in the 16s division.

On the boys’ side, top seed Jack Anthrop (Orlando, Fla.) displayed his determination by besting fourth seed Trinity Grear (Adelphi, Md.) 7-5, 4-6, 6-2 in a high-quality final. In the girls’ championship match, second-seeded Leyden Games (Newport Beach, Calif.) proved too tough for No. 1 seed Madison Sieg (Greenwich, Conn), claiming the title 6-4, 6-2.

Anthrop and Grear were locked in a battle right from the start, trading early holds before Anthrop was able to surge in front. It appeared the No. 1 seed would end up taking the opening frame comfortably when leading 5-3; however, Grear dug deep to even the score at 5-5. From there, Anthrop came up with big serves and solid baseline play to win the final two games.

The second set started off much differently, with Grear earning five consecutive games for a commanding 5-1 lead. But just as he managed to rally in the first, this time Anthrop would not go away quietly, eventually closing the gap to 5-4. With the pressure on, Grear served it out to force a third. In the decisive frame, Anthrop once again broke first only to see Grear bounce right back. Extended rallies and tremendous court coverage highlighted an entertaining last handful of games, where ultimately Anthrop cut down on his mistakes and came up with enough winners to clinch the trophy.

The girls’ final featured seven straight holds of serve before Games broke to serve for the set at 5-3. She had a trio of set points, but was unsuccessful in serving it out. It would take two more set points in the next game, but finally Games broke the serve of Sieg again and took the set, 6-4.

Sieg looked to have things back on track right away in the second frame with a break in the opening game, but could not consistently cut the errors out of her play to pose a serious threat. Games broke back to tie the score at 1-1, which eventually turned into a string of four in a row for a 4-1 lead. Sieg continued to battle, trimming her deficit to 4-2, but a quick hold by Games gave the top seed no opportunity at one final run. She closed it out in style, breaking Sieg at love.

Getting on court late in the afternoon were the two doubles championship contests. The girls took to the court roughly 10 minutes before the boys, which would prove a major difference when the rain moved in to disrupt play.

No. 1 seeds Karly Friedland (Hollywood, Fla.) and Ariel Johnson (Coconut Creek, Fla.) were up against the second-seeded duo of Games and Brooke Theis (Lake Forest, Ill.) with the title on the line. A scratchy start by Friedland and Johnson put them in an immediate 0-2, 0-30 hole. Playing just one set to six with no-ad scoring left them little time to turn things around, but they managed to do so by rattling off three games for a 3-2 lead. After Games held to knot the score up at 3-3, the top seeds would surrender a mere three points the rest of the way en route to a 6-3 triumph, denying Games her second title on the day.

The boys’ doubles final began outdoors before it was forced to finish up indoors. The fifth-seeded tandem of Jacob Bickersteth (West Bloomfield, Mich.) and Eli Gordon (Highland Park, Ill.) faced off with No. 4 seeds Anthrop and Kian Vakili (Longwood, Fla.). When Bickersteth and Gordon took the first nine points of the match, the result seemed all but decided, but a pair of Gordon double faults in the third game left the door open.

With the fifth seeds leading 3-2 and returning at 30-40, a heavy downpour suspended play; once the match resumed indoors, Bickersteth and Gordon won the next point for another service break. Even though Anthrop and Vakili did get back on serve, they were never able to get on even terms. After breaking Vakili, Bickersteth served out the win for the duo, and Anthrop was denied a second championship trophy by the same margin as Games, 6-3.

For complete results from the 2018 USTA May National Level 2 Championships, click here.