By Steve Pratt, special to USTA.com
 
RANCHO MIRAGE, Calif. – Wearing their matching Adidas white tops and lime green shorts, Marcos Giron and Mitchell Krueger were seen chatting with each other after each won boys’ ITF 18s second-round matches on Wednesday at the 44th annual Easter Bowl USTA National Spring Championships, taking place at the Rancho Las Palmas Resort.
           
Were they talking about whether or not they would mix it up or wear the same outfits, looking more like doubles partners than opponents once they meet in Thursday’s round of 16? Or were they reminiscing about the first and only time they faced each other, in the second round at the 2009 Orange Bowl 16s, with Giron winning and eventually losing in the finals to Alexios Halebian?
 
"Nah, he was just telling me about his match," said the unseeded Giron of Thousand Oaks, Calif., who beat Fallbrook, Calif., resident David Doehring, 6-4, 6-2. "He had a tough first set that went to a tiebreak, which he won 11-9. You can’t really take anything from that match we played before because it was so long ago. I won in three sets, so it should be a really good match."
           
Giron has now won 14 consecutive matches with his six wins at the Claremont ITF and six more wins at Carson plus two at the Easter Bowl. The number 14 was one Giron wasn’t aware of. "I lost track. It doesn’t matter. I have a lot of confidence right now. It’s just one match at a time."
 
Giron said it’s important for him to keep the outside distractions to a minimum. "I just have to focus on the tennis and not do anything extra, like hanging out with friends and running around. I just have to stay more focused over the next couple of days."
 
Unseeded Ellen Tsay is another unseeded 18s players turning heads so far this week.
           
On Wednesday, Tsay, of Pleasanton, Calif., recorded a nice win over Skylar Morton of Bethesda, Md., 6-3, 6-2. Tsay is a former Easter Bowl 16s winner who will play at Stanford next year. She has chosen to play just the Easter Bowl and the National Hardcourts this year on the junior circuit, as well as some USTA Futures and Challenger events at the professional level.
 
"The Easter Bowl has always been my favorite tournament and is obviously one of the better tournaments in terms of the competition," she said. "Having won the 16s here helps (in her decision to play)."
           
Tsay recalled her three-set win over Sarah Lee in the 2008 16s final as her favorite Easter Bowl memory. So far. "I remember the final match. I was down by a lot and like one inch from losing it, and I pulled through to win," she said. "I then won the doubles (with Lauren Herring), so that was like a double-whammy. I was elated after that."
 
Escaping three-set wins on Wednesday in the 16s were top-seeded boys’ and girls’ 16s players T.J. Pura and Jamie Loeb, who both lost their first sets but rallied to win.
 
In the girls’ 18s round of 16, unseeded 15-year-old Allie Kiick of Plantation, Fla., beat No. 16-seeded Chanelle Van Nguyen of Coconut Grove, Fla., 6-3, 2-6, 6-3.
 
Asked by a local reporter afterward what spurred her on, Kiick mentioned it was food motivated. "Hamburger and fries," she said. "That’s how (my parents) bribe me."
 
The self-proclaimed Katy Perry mega-fan, Kiick said she loves watching the Food Network and Rachael Ray’s show for cooking tips. "It’s all I watch," she said.
 
The reporter followed up with this question: Which would she rather win -- Wimbledon or "Top Chef"? "That’s a tough one," she said. "Probably Wimbledon, though."
 
Kiick admitted she’s never had an In ‘N Out burger, so that’s the first place she was headed after the victory.
 
In the girls’ 14s round of 16, Rebecca Weissmann of Loveland, Colo., upset No. 2-seeded Ndindi Ndunda of Burke, Va., 6-2, 6-4.
 
Weissmann will face Maria Shishkina in the quarterfinals on Thursday. It will be a rematch of their Eddie Herr quarterfinal two years ago, which Shishkina won. "(Ndunda) hits such a big ball, but I was able to keep the pressure on her and come to the net a lot," Weissmann said. "I know Maria will be a tough match, but I’m ready for her."
 
To keep up with all the Easter Bowl news, visit the website at www.easterbowl.com, and check out the tournament on Facebook and Twitter (@easterbowl).
 

Wednesday, April 13, Results:

Boys’ 18s Second-Round Singles
Marcos Giron Thousand Oaks, CA def. David Doehring Fallbrook, CA 6-4; 6-2
Mac Styslinger (7) Birmingham, AL def. Hunter Reese Kennesaw, GA 6-1; 6-1
Michael Redlicki Hawthorn Woods, IL def. Andrew Scholnick Winnetka, IL 6-1; 6-1
Anthony Tsodikov San Francisco, CA def. Mitchell Polnet Churchville, PA 6-2; 6-2
Emmett Egger (8) Issaquah, WA def. Jason Tahir Rochester, NY 6-3; 6-2
Dennis Novikov (4) Boca Raton, FL def. Casey Kay Alpharetta, GA 6-4; 6-4
Shane Vinsant (3) Keller, TX def. Dennis Mkrtchian Reseda, CA 6-3; 6-4
Michael Rinaldi (9) Palm City, FL def. Seth Stolar Encino, CA 6-3; 6-3
Mitchell Krueger (5) Aledo, TX def. Nick Wood Knoxville, TN 7-6(9); 6-1
Alexander Petrone (11) Staten Island, NY def. James Boyd Rancho Santa Fe, CA 6-1; 6-4
Andrew Adams South Richmond Hill, NY def. Anthony Delcore (15) Omaha, NE 6-4; 2-6; 6-1
Alexios Halebian (2) Glendale, CA def. Roy Lederman Golden Beach, FL 6-4; 6-3
Anton Kovrigin Rockville, MD def. John Richmond Pawleys Isl, SC 6-4; 6-1
Connor Farren (6) Hillsborough, CA def. Andrew Korinek Mansfield, TX 6-4; 1-6; 7-5
Bjorn Fratangelo (1) Pittsburgh, PA def. Gregory Scott Manhattan Beach, CA 6-2; 6-3
Thai Kwiatkowski Charlotte, NC def. William Kwok (10) Bradenton, FL 7-5; 6-7(1); 6-1
 
Girls’ 18s Round-of-16 Singles
Ellen Tsay Pleasanton, CA def. Skylar Morton Bethesda, MD 6-3; 6-2
Alexandra Kiick Plantation, FL def. Chanelle Van Nguyen (16) Coconut Grove, FL 6-3; 2-6; 6-3
Gabrielle Andrews (9) Pomona, CA def. Hannah King (6) Dunwoody, GA 7-6(2); 3-0 Ret (inj)
Stephanie Nauta (4) Bradenton, FL def. Mayo Hibi Irvine, CA 3-6; 7-6(1); 7-6(2)
Kelsey Laurente (12) Miramar, FL def. Mia King Hendersonville, NC 7-6(3); 6-2
Kyle McPhillips (13) Willoughby, OH def. Lorraine Guillermo Walnut, CA 6-4; 6-3
Grace Min (1) Duluth, GA def. Stephanie Vlad Scottsdale, AZ 6-1; 6-2
Samantha Crawford Tamarac, FL def. Taylor Townsend Stockbridge, GA 3-6; 6-3; 6-4
 
Boys’ 16 Third-Round Singles
Stefan Menichella (12) Irvine, CA def. Benjamin Tso (17) Lexington, MA 7-5; 4-6; 6-4
Brandon Sutter (17) El Dorado Hills, CA def. Brendan McClain (16) Ventura, CA 6-0; 1-0 Ret (inj)
Trey Daniel (6) Leawood, KS def. Richard Pham (17) Saratoga, CA 7-6(9); 6-4
Nikko Madregallejo (5) Monrovia, CA def. Elliott Orkin (17) Marietta, GA 5-7; 6-3; 6-0
George Goldhoff (9) Woodlands, TX def. Henry Craig Murrieta, CA 7-6(2); 6-2
Luca Corinteli (3) Alexandria, VA def. Michael Guzman Napa, CA 6-3; 6-3
Gregory Garcia (4) Poway, CA def. Quentin Monaghan Chatham, NJ 6-2; 5-7; 6-0
Drew Dawson Irvine, CA def. Robbie Bellamy (17) Pacific Palisades, CA 5-7; 6-1; 6-3
Abraham Hewko (10) Palm Desert, CA def. Strong Kirchheimer Cary, NC 6-1; 7-5
Ronnie Schneider (2) Bloomington, IN def. Daniel Kerznerman (17) Brooklyn, NY 6-2; 6-3
Jack Murray (13) Beverly Hills, MI def. Mac Roy (17) San Antonio, TX 6-4; 6-2
Thomas Pura (1) Pacific Palisades, CA def. Yannik Mahlangu Henderson, NV 1-6; 6-0; 6-4
Gage Brymer (8) Irvine, CA def. Noah Rubin (17) Rockville Centre, NY 6-3; 6-2
Spencer Papa (11) Edmond, OK def. Konrad Zieba Glenview, IL 6-3; 6-2
JC Aragone (17) Yorba Linda, CA def. Yale Goldberg (7) Beachwood, OH 2-6; 6-1; 6-3
Edward Covalschi (15) Shelby Township, MI def. Thomas Mayronne Monroe, LA 6-2; 7-5

Girls’ 16 Third-Round Singles
Sivan Krems (6) Thousand Oaks, CA def. Jessie Lynn Paul Greenville, NC 6-0; 6-2
Caroline Doyle (17) San Francisco, CA def. Iris Lin South San Francisco, CA 6-4; 6-1
Olivia Sneed (17) Prairie Village, KS def. Shannon Hudson (13) Virginia Beach, VA 2-6; 6-0; 6-2
Lindsey Hodge Roswell, GA def. Megen Cochran Calhoun, GA 6-2; 6-1
Francis Dean Arcadia, CA def. Sierra Stone Powell, OH 3-6; 6-2; 7-5
Alanna Wolff (11) Deerfield Beach, FL def. Monica Lin (17) Schaumburg, IL 6-2; 6-3
Spencer Liang (2) Potomac, MD def. Madison Westby Tulsa, OK 4-6; 6-4; 6-1
Louisa Chirico (17) Harrison, NY def. Crystal Yen (10) Saratoga, CA 1-6; 6-3; 7-5
Katrine Steffensen (3) Scarsdale, NY def. Brooke Hughes (17) Bee Cave, TX 6-2; 6-1
Sarah Gong (17) Hermosa Beach, CA def. Lauren Stratman (9) Goleta, CA 7-6(1); 4-6; 6-4
Jamie Loeb (1) Ossining, NY def. Lexi Borr (17) Westfield, NJ 4-6; 6-2; 6-4
Sarah Gealer (16) Los Angeles, CA def. Mariana Gould (17) Boise, ID 6-0; 3-6; 7-6(6)
Dasha Ivanova (15) Beaverton, OR def. Maegan Manasse (17) Redondo Beach, CA 6-0; 6-2
Quinn Gleason (7) Mendon, NY def. Manon Peri (17) Los Angeles, CA 6-4; 7-5
Kimberly Yee (4) Las Vegas, NV def. Alexandra Bourguignon Boynton Beach, FL 6-2; 6-3
Jana McCord (8) San Diego, CA def. Elizabeth Profit Long Beach, CA 7-5; 7-5
 
Boys’ 14s Round-of-16 Singles
Artemie Amari (17) New York, NY def. Catalin Mateas (8) Braintree, MA 6-3; 6-4
Robert Seby (2) Oro Valley, AZ def. Tommy Paul (11) Greenville, NC 6-1; 7-5
Kial Kaiser (10) Saratoga, CA def. Eduardo Nava (5) Woodland Hills, CA 6-1; 2-6; 6-2
Martin Joyce (4) Hinsdale, IL def. Kyle Mautner (13) Greenwich, CT 6-4; 6-4
Henrik Wiersholm (1) Kirkland, WA def. Sameer Kumar (9) Carmel, IN 6-0; 6-1
Ernesto Escobedo (7) West Covina, CA def. Reilly Opelka (16) Palm Coast, FL 6-2; 7-6(5)
Logan Smith (6) Carlsbad, CA def. David Mitchell (14) Castle Rock, CO 6-2; 6-4
Chase Colton Davie, FL def. Kyle Seelig Hatfield, PA 6-4; 6-2
 
Girls’ 14s Round of-16-Singles
Maia Magill (17) Studio City, CA def. Peyton Gollhofer Cartersville, GA 6-3; 6-2
Katerina Stewart (8) Miami, FL def. Ellie Halbauer Daniel Island, SC 6-1; 4-6; 6-2
Julia O'Loughlin (6) Lighthouse Point, FL def. Jessica Ho (12) Wexford, PA 6-3; 7-5
Rebecca Weissmann (17) Loveland, CO def. Ndindi Ndunda (2) Burke, VA 6-2; 6-4
Alexandra Letzt (16) Scottsdale, AZ def. Meredith Xepoleas (17) Newport Beach, CA 7-5; 7-5
Mehvish Safdar (17) Mason, OH def. Andie Daniell (17) Douglasville, GA 7-5; 6-1
Maria Shishkina (5) Bradenton, FL def. Kenya Jones (17) Memphis, TN 6-2; 6-2
Chloe Ouellet-Pizer Chapel Hill, NC def. Mia Horvit (17) Parkland, FL 6-4; 6-4

Boys’ 18s Second-Round Doubles
Mitchell Krueger / Shane Vinsant (2) def. Andrew Scholnick / Jason Tahir 6-2; 6-4
Tyler Gardiner / Thai Kwiatkowski def. Anton Kovrigin / Danny Riggs 6-4; 3-6; 1-0(9)
Brandon Clark / Seth Stolar def. Charles Boyce / Tim Kopinski 6-4; 7-5
Alexander Petrone / Michael Redlicki (8) def. Brendan Aguilar / Kristofer Yee 6-1; 6-7(5); 1-0(10)
John Pearce / Alex Sidney def. David Doehring / Morgan Mays 6-2; 7-6(4)
Casey Kay / Hunter Reese def. Gregory Scott / Spencer Simon 7-5; 6-1
Marcos Giron / Andrew Korinek def. Nikhil Jayashankar / Anthony Tsodikov 6-4; 6-2
Connor Farren / Dennis Novikov (3) def. Roy Lederman / Nick Wood 6-0; 6-2
Anthony Delcore / Austin Smith def. Hunter Harrington / Tucker Saxon 6-4; 6-2
Richard Del Nunzio / Trey Strobel (6) def. Justin Agbayani / Shuhei Shibahara 6-2; 7-5
Austin Ansari / Sean Karl def. Rickey Baylon / Ace Matias 6-4; 7-6(5)
Karim Arem / Alex Fennell def. John Richmond / Ognjen Samardzic 6-4; 6-7(4); 1-0(5)
Emmett Egger / Mac Styslinger (4) def. James Boyd / Samuel Todd Wo (emerg)
Nicholas Naumann / Mitchell Polnet (7) def. Andrew Adams / Robert Livi Wo (inj)
William Kwok / Michael Rinaldi (5) def. Matthew Alves / Hudson Barnhart 6-3; 7-6(5)

Girls’ 18s Round-of-16 Doubles
Kyle McPhillips / Chanelle Van Nguyen (4) def. Danielle Collins / Whitney Kay 7-6(4) Ret (inj)
Shayne Austin / Ronit Yurovsky def. Nicole Long / Peggy Porter 6-3; 2-6; 1-0(10)
Jennifer Brady / Kendal Woodard def. Brooke Austin / Skylar Morton (5) 5-7; 7-6(10); 1-0(9)
Christina Makarova / Alyssa Smith def. Grace Egger / June Lee Wo (emerg)
Gabrielle Andrews / Taylor Townsend (8) def. Makenzie Craft / Madeline Lipp 6-2; 4-6; 1-0(5)
Lauren Herring / Stephanie Nauta (1) def. Hannah King / Mia King Wo (inj)
Courtney Colton / Emily Hahn def. Skylar Kuykendall / Denise Starr (6) 6-4; 6-4
Lorraine Guillermo / Desirae Krawczyk def. Julia Elbaba / Blair Shankle (2) 6-2; 6-3
 
Boys’ 16s Round-of-16 Doubles
Trey Daniel / Thomas Pura (2) def. Dylan Brown / Aidan Talcott (9) 4-6; 6-2; 1-0(2)
Gregory Garcia / Jonathan Poon (9) def. Abraham Hewko / Brendan McClain (6) Wo (inj)
Robbie Bellamy / Gage Brymer (7) def. Ryan Andrada / Daymon Johnson 6-1; 6-3
Miguel Alda / Grant Riechmann def. Conrad Harron / Samuel Shropshire 6-2; 6-2
 
Boys’ 14s Round-of-16 Doubles
Kial Kaiser / Logan Smith (3) def. Peter DeWitt / Kevin Lam 6-2; 6-1
Artemie Amari / Robert Levine (9) def. Charlie Adams / Martin Joyce (8) 7-6(5); 6-2
Ernesto Escobedo / Eduardo Nava (1) def. Colin Harvey / Johnathan Small 6-0; 6-1
Spencer Furman / Sameer Kumar (7) def. Michael Genender / David Mitchell (9) 6-2; 6-3
Tommy Paul / Henrik Wiersholm (2) def. David Hager / Lee-Shawn Stein (9) 6-2; 6-0
Augustus Ge / Robert Seby (4) def. Grayson Broadus / Emanuel Llamas (9) 2-6; 7-5; 1-0(7)
Yancy Dennis / Francis Tiafoe (5) def. Chase Colton / Robby Morin 6-4; 6-7(4); 1-0(7)
Josiah Collins / Nikita Kardivar def. Catalin Mateas / Reilly Opelka (6) 6-4; 2-6; 1-0(7)
 
Girls’ 14s Quarterfinals Doubles
Gabrielle Rodriguez / Katerina Stewart (9) def. Stephanie Hazell / Alexandra Letzt (5) 7-6(8); 6-1
Emma Higuchi / Amber Park (9) def. Ellie Halbauer / Mia Horvit (9) 6-4; 6-7(5); 1-0(4)


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