Jaffee, Pollak make huge strides

Michael Augsberger
Jun 15, 2023
4 min read

The Road to THE TOUR CHAMPIONSHIP 2023

June 10 - UTR 12U - The Tennis Curator Open

June 11 - UTR 16U - The Beach Open

After a record fifty players competing the previous week, The Beach Open 16U kept the momentum rolling for the Tennis Central Junior Circuit. No one took fuller advantage than Jack Jaffee and Archer Pollak, the weekend's two champions, and not just because of their haul these two days.

Jaffee breezed through the 16U event, meeting the stiffest resistance in the first set of his semifinal against Ilan Faraci. After a 5-3 start, he righted the ship to win again 4-1 and keep rolling in similar fashion in the final against Albert Li, who had dropped only a few games to that point.

Pollak pulled off the doubleheader by entering both tournaments across age levels, winning the Tennis Curator Open 12U round robin on Saturday and reaching the quarterfinals on Sunday. He and Devin Leung, by the luck of chance, met in the last match of the group, both unbeaten to that point to decide the title. Pollak had squeaked by Shiloh Auzoux, while Leung had roared past everyone in the group.

Pollak took the first set 4-2, and the tournament came down to their second set tiebreaker, which Pollak won in excruciating fashion, 8-6.

Most impressive of all is the champions' climb in the rankings. Jaffee rocketed himself 100 places up to 16th in the 16U rankings. Pollak cracked the Top 10 in the 12U rankings and surged into the top 30 in the 16U.

Alexandru Cana and Patrick Fallon both won 10-6 tiebreaks to take third sets in the opening round before bowing out in the quarters, their Round of 16s turning out to be the most enthralling matches of the tournament. Selim Karabulut took the consolation final for its fifteen points in the 16U rankings. He defeated Spencer Weiss 7-5 in a second set tiebreak in the Open's most competitive match.

Changes at 18U were small, but the other four rankings lists saw some tumult. Not at the top position---Shiloh Auzoux and Jon Ozenci's leads are safe, for now---but the Top 10s look a lot different this week. Solomon Ravitz and Ilan Faraci jumped three, five, and six places depending where you look at 14U and 16U. Both are firmly in the Top 10 at 16U, with Faraci all the way to third.

Sajan Chandela was the beneficiary of Arnav Nadikatla's points drop at 12U, though Pollak's fourteen-place climb is the headline. And at 10U, Devin Leung moved up three spots to 5th.

Remember the newly added feature to the rankings: the Plus / Minus, which will tell you how far up or down the player has moved within the last week.

Champions

6/10 UTR 12U: Archer Pollak

6/11 UTR 16U: Jack Jaffee

The full tables now look like this.

Each weekend this spring and summer, Tennis Central is bringing you USTA and UTR tournaments at Holton-Arms School. Earn points for advancing through each round, just like on the pro tours, and qualify for the TOUR CHAMPIONSHIP at season's end.

Bigger events offer more points, with the TOUR CHAMPIONSHIP offering the most, as well as prizes.

Check here for updates each week to the Tennis Central Tour Rankings, a 52-week points system based on the pro tours, as well as recaps of all the action and photos.

2023 Tour Schedule

March

Mar 18: USTA L7 Boys and Girls 12U

Mar 19: USTA L7 Boys and Girls 14U

April

Apr 8: UTR 14U - Sweet Spotter Open

Apr 16: USTA L7 Boys and Girls 12U

Apr 16: USTA L7 Boys and Girls 14U

Apr 23: UTR 14U and 16U - Potomac Spring Tennis Festival Open

Apr 29: 15U UTR - Teen World Open Classic

Apr 30: 12U UTR - Anguilla Service Trips Open

Apr 30: 10U Green Dot UTR - Anguilla Service Trips Open