While Venus and Serena Williams are battling each other for the Wimbledon crown today, 128 boys and girls will take to the 20 courts at the Champions Club in the first round of the USTA 12-and-under National Open.
There are full-field, 64-player singles draws for the boys and girls, and play begins this morning at 8. Tournament director Eric Voges said the turnout was strong, better than last year, despite the struggling economy.
"We've got kids from New York, Florida, Puerto Rico, Texas and from all over," he said. "Our numbers are actually up from last year when we had a few openings. I think a lot of it has to do with the holiday because people are off work and the whole family can come and spend a few days here."
The top seed in the boys' draw is Tommy Paul from Greenville, N.C., who is ranked No. 4 nationally. The highest seeded area player is Jack Gray from Ooltewah, a No. 9 seed. Gray, ranked No. 12 in the South, plays Preston Morpeth of Midland, Ga., at 10 a.m.
Also in the boys' draw are Chattanoogans Turner Voges and Taylor Burgan.
Sofia Kenin of Pembroke Pines, Fla., is the top girls' seed -- she's ranked No. 15 nationally. The local players are Jennie McBrayer and Christine Palisoc of Hixson, Aspen Dressler of Signal Mountain and Sarah Faith Ingell of Chattanooga.
John Frierson is in his fifth year at the Times Free Press and fifth year covering University of Tennessee at Chattanooga athletics. The bulk of his time is spent covering Mocs football, but he also writes about women’s basketball and the big-picture issues and news involving the athletic department. A native of Athens, Ga., John grew up a few hundred yards from the University of Georgia campus. Instead of becoming a Bulldog he attended Ole ...
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