PTC Dominates in Orange County

One of the largest junior national tennis tournaments in America took place at 11 sites in Orange County this past weekend and, not surprisingly, the Palisades Tennis Center was well represented. Nearly 2,000 players from California, Nevada, New York, Illinois, Utah, Texas and Oregon participated and numerous PTC players survived the opening weekend. Playing through strong winds on Sunday, many top players had tough time getting through early rounds. Not so of the PTC contingent. Five of its best players got through 12 rounds without dropping a single set and nine of those sets were 6-0. “A huge tournament like Orange Country brings out the best tennis players in the Western United States,” PTC Head Pro Chris Harradine said. “Our top kids absolutely breezed through the draws. We have about 10 players through to next weekend which is unheard of for a little tennis center like ours.” Among the PTC standouts was Brandon Michaels, seeded ninth in the Boys 10s. He defeated PTC teammate Nick Kolin in the first round when Kolin, trailing 5-0 in the first set, retired. Michaels then routed Omead Moinin of Santa Ana, 6-1, 6-0, to advance to Saturday’s round of 16. In the Boys 12’s, eighth-seeded Alex Giannini of the PTC got a first-round bye, then blanked Kevin Bondar of Calabasas and Jake Douglas of Rolling Hills by 6-0, 6-0 scores to reach the round of 16. PTC teammate Robbie Bellamy, seeded No. 7, also received a first-round bye before beating Anthony Dellovade of Huntington Beach, 6-3, 6-2, and 17th-seeded Justin Chanthalangsy of San Marcos, 6-2, 6-0, in the third round. In the Boys 14s, ninth-seeded Connor Treacy of the PTC got a first-round bye, then beat Andrew Yu of Arcadia, 6-3, 6-0, Dylan Brown of Camarillo, 6-0, 6-3, and 17th-seeded Jimmy Fernandez of Fullerton, 6-1, 6-3, to advance to the round of 16. In the Boys 18s, PTC player Clay Thompson, seeded No. 7, got a first-round bye, then beat Aaron Hamilton of Woodland Hills, 6-2, 6-1, Chad Rubin of Encinitas, 6-2, 6-1, and 17th-seeded Henry Chi of Alta Loma, 6-4, 6-4, to reach the round of 16. None of the girls divisions were started because of the increasing winds, but the PTC will have players in several of the draws when they begin Saturday. In the Girls 10s, Ilana Oleynik is seeded No. 3 and Mary Profit is No. 7. In the Girls 12s, Elizabeth Profit is seeded No. 7. The PTC currently has five players that either are or have been ranked No. 1 in their respective age divisions: Thompson, Eduardo Nava, Walker Kehrer, Josh Rosen and Elizabeth Profit.