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Massive leap for Gong amid two tiebreak finals

Writer's picture: Michael AugsbergerMichael Augsberger

The Road to THE TOUR CHAMPIONSHIP 2023

July 22 - UTR - BGO Cup 14U

July 23 - UTR - String48 Classic 18U



The drama was steep at the return of the UTR Tennis Central Junior Circuit events after a week off forced by rain. David Gong is no stranger to winning group stages and boys' USTA events, but he claimed his first main draw final in his TCJC career.


It's not often the best matches of the tournaments are the finals, but it was true as well at the 18U event. Newcomers Aidan Guiles and Matthias Linke wowed the crowd with an even closer final that went 10-8 in the tiebreak to Guiles for his first championship.


Gong made massive strides in his quest for the top spot in the rankings with the win. With the 10-4 win over Carter Mills in the final, he improved to 5th in the 14U rankings. Both he and Mills entered the Top 10 with the newfound points, with Mills just behind at 7th.


Another big winner was Aryan Dhiman, against whom finalist Linke needed a 7-4 first-set tiebreak in order to move on from the semifinals. Dhiman won the opener against Likith Gaddipati and leapt up the tables. He now sits in 11th, a fifteen place jump, which is just a few places ahead of the champion, Guiles.


Zachary Mills had entered the 10U event but like Gong is no stranger to the spotlight, either. Moved up to 14U, the multi-time champion met Gong in the semis where he was outmatched in a three-year gap, a rarity for the younger Mills. Still, his semifinal performance means that he moves up three places to 6th on the 10U Tour. Having debuted on the 14U Tour this week, he enters at 36th thanks to his many 10U wins.


Shiloh Auzoux solidified his position at the 10U top as his sister Siena aimed to catch him at the same tournament, producing one of the matches of the weekend in the first round against Zachary Mills. Mills needed a 12-10 tiebreak in the second set to polish off the 10U leader, but Auzoux did have a last laugh, winning the consolation bracket and then, a few hours later, the Blue Glove Open group championship in Tennis Central's spring flex UTR league.


Not much movement at the top of the leaderboards to mention, with Solomon Ravitz and Jon Ozenci firmly in their places. But Jonah Treitler entered the Top 10 at 18U.


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

7/22 UTR 14U: David Gong

7/23 UTR 18U: Aidan Guiles


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


April

Apr 30: 10U Green Dot UTR - Anguilla Service Trips Open - rescheduled for June 3


May


June


July


August

Aug 12: 10U Singles & Doubles UTR

Aug 13: 14U & 16U UTR

Aug 19: 10U & 16U Singles & Doubles UTR

Aug 20: 12U & 18U Singles & Doubles UTR

Aug 26: 10U UTR

Aug 27: 14U Singles & Doubles UTR


September

September 2: 12U & 18U UTR

September 3: 15U Singles & Doubles UTR

September 9-10: THE TOUR CHAMPIONSHIP

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