Some of you may be wondering how it all worked out for Donald Young, the American junior prodigy who was prematurely declared world champ (and the youngest ever, at that) back in December.
Our indefatigable friend and junior tennis nut Colette Lewis over at Zootennis links to this comprehensive Junior Year in Review story by the USTA’s Sally Milano (wonder if she’s mint or orange?).
How amazing is it that Young and his rival, Marin Cilic, came within one match of actually playing each other in a winner-take-all shootout for the top ranking? I’m amazed that this story didn’t get more press; Young deserved it, for coming through in such a pressure-filled situation. Young, who's 16, got roughed up pretty badly on his frequent forays onto the pro tour this year, so the honor he earned as the world's youngest-ever official junior champ must be extra sweet—no matter how hungry he is for success on the men's tour.
Note too that surprise U.S. Open junior champ Ryan Sweeting has elected to be a Gator (second item down at Zootennis). Colette quotes extensively from indefatigable tennis nut Charlie Bricker’s Sun-Sentinel piece on Sweeting.
I wonder how many other mainstream media reporters went to the Orange Bowl to check out the action? Sure, the Sun-Sentinel is a south Florida paper. But I know Brick—he would have gone to the tournament on his day off, even though it was the height of football season. It’s great that an NFL writer like Bricker not only takes tennis seriously, but covers it like it’s a “real” sport instead of a cross between Celebrity Bowling and Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous.