West Bloomfield Nets 2 Top Midwest Tennis Players

West Bloomfield, MI — Two West Bloomfield athletes, Denali Kitayama and Anika Yarlagadda, were among the top finishers at the prestigious USTA/Midwest Section Closed Junior Championships, which ended in Indianapolis, IN, on June 30 with the final matches in boys and girls singles.

More than 1,000 talented junior players from all five USTA/Midwest Section States — Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, and Wisconsin — competed in the event.

These players are some of the best in the country and many have already committed to colleges across the nation. The tournament includes four different age groups, and players must earn their right to play or be endorsed by their respective USTA District.

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Winners from the USTA/Midwest Section Closed Junior Championship are automatically included in the section quota for the USTA Boys’ and Girls’ 12, 14, 16, and 18 National Championships this August.

Other top finishers in each division of the USTA/Midwest Section Closed Junior Championship will be included in the section quota provided they meet the designated tournament requirements.

In the boys’ 16-and-under singles, Kitayama defeated Robert Cash of New Albany, OH, 2-6; 7-6(4); 6-2

“It’s hard work,” he said, according to a news release. “This is really exciting and it’s made me the happiest person alive right now. This was my goal and I’ve achieved it.”

Although Cash finished as runner-up, he did win the doubles title with partner J.J. Mercer.

Sara Daavettila, of Williamston, MI, defeated Yarlagadda 6-4 and 6-3 in the girls’ 18-and-under singles division.

Daavettila, who just won her second US Open National Playoffs Midwest Section Qualifying Tournament championship in June, finished her last Midwest Closed Championship by winning the singles crown for the second year in a row, and by winning the doubles championship with long-time partner Alyvia Jones.

“It’s a little different than last year since obviously I’m the oldest one here,” Daavettila said. “There was a little more pressure but I really enjoy this tournament and coming to see my friends, and it’s local, so I was headed in with confidence.”

Her opponent, who played up an age group, was excited about reaching the finals and was happy about her performance against the top-seeded Daavettila.

“This feels great,” Yarlagadda said. “I thought I played well. We had long, tiring points, but we both played great and I’m not mad at all that I lost. It was a great match.”

Also:

• 18-year-old boys’ doubles, Connor Johnston, of Novi, and his partner, David Horneffer, of Brookfield WI, defeated Lukas Greif and Johnathan Small, 3-6; 6-4; 1-0(10-5).
• 18-year-old girls’ doubles Sara Daavettila and Alyvia Jones, both of Midland, MI, defeated Kolie Allen, of Lombard, IL, and Meg Kowalski, of La Grange,IL, 6-2; 6-2.
• 16-year-old boys’ doubles, Robert Cash and J.J. Mercer, of Huntington, WV), defeated Cole Shoults, of Carmel,IN, and Andrew Zhang, of Bloomfield Hills, 6-4; 6-1.
• Girls’ 12-and-under singles, Emma Baker, of Chicago, defeated Elisabeth Jones, of Grosse Pointe Park, 6-3; 0-6; 6-4.
• Girls’ 14-and-under singles: Ellie Coleman, of Midland, defeated Ellie Pittman, of Indianapolis, 2-6; 6-4; 6-1.
• Boys’ 12 doubles: Noah Hernandez and Aidan Kim, of Milford, defeated Mujtaba Ali-Khan and and Michael Choi, of Oak Brook, 6-4; 5-7; 10-5.
• Boys’ 14 doubles: Noelle Andrey Ampong and Lucas Guy, of Portage, MI, defeated Nishanth and Nishesh Basavareddy, of Carmel, IN, 6-1; 6-2.