There’s no doubt that USTA Eastern juniors would prefer to win in Arthur Ashe Stadium at night, with more than 20,000 people on their feet and millions of people watching around the world. But a close second for most would be beating some of the best juniors in the world at the US Open, seeing their names on the big scoreboard in front of Ashe and hearing their hometown fans cheer them on during every point.
Robin Anderson of Matawan, NJ had an amazing run through the US Open. She won two matches to qualify for the Junior US Open main draw. She then defeated the 11th seed An-Sophie Mestach of Belgium, took down fellow American Kyle McPhillips, and handled 8th seed and 2008 Junior Wimbledon champ Laura Robson in straight sets. Ultimately, Anderson couldn’t get past Daria Gavrilova, the top seed and eventual champ.
Anderson said the Junior US Open experience is very different than competing in ITF or Supernational tournaments. “I love the crowd,” said Anderson. “I love all the people that come to my matches, and I think they help me a little bit.”
Anderson was one of three USTA Eastern juniors to win some matches at the Junior US Open. Julia Elbaba of Oyster Bay, NY and Krista Hardebeck of California made it to the second round in the doubles main draw by defeating Saska Gavrilovska of Serbia and Danka Kovinic of Montenegro. Also in the first round, Ester Goldfeld of Brooklyn, NY teamed up with Chanelle Van Nguyen of Florida to defeat Margarita Gasparyan of Russia and Nigina Abduraimova of Uzbekistan.
Both doubles matches went to third-set, 10 point tiebreakers. Goldfeld said the key to victory for her and her partner was staying aggressive and playing together. “Chanelle does the volleys, and I play from the baseline,” Goldfeld said. “So I think we make a really good team.”
In Elbaba’s match, it was just a question of trying to end the points at the net and volley at the net girls’ toes. “That’s where you always aim,” Elbaba said.
It didn’t hurt, though, that she had her local supporters in the stands. “We have the crowd with us and they’re all rooting and supportive,” said Elbaba. “So it was a great feeling.”
USTA Eastern at the Open Highlights:
· Shaun Bernstein (Plainview, NY), Alex Petrone (Staten Island, NY), Leighann Sahagun (Queens Village, NY), Robin Anderson (Matawan, NJ), Julia Elbaba (Oyster Bay, NY) participated in the Juniors US Open Qualifying Tournament.
· Ester Goldfeld (Brooklyn, NY) was accepted directly into the Junior US Open main draw.
· Christina McHale is accepted directly into the Women’s US Open main draw.
USTA Eastern at the Open Results:
· Robin Anderson was a Junior main draw quarterfinalist in both singles and doubles.
· Ester Goldfeld and her partner reached the second round of doubles in the Junior US Open main draw.
· Julia Elbaba and her partner reached the second round of doubles in the Junior US Open main draw.