Longines Hosts Junior Tennis Event at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center

April 11, 2011 | By Long Island Tennis Magazine Staff
HPIM4764

On Saturday April 9, 16 boys, ages 12 and under, took the courts at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center to compete in the Longines Future Tennis Aces event. They were all playing for the chance to win an all-expenses paid trip to the French Open to meet and play against tennis greats, Andre Agassi and Jim Courier at Roland Garros.

Twelve-year-old Michael Chen Zhao of Princeton Junction, N.J. won the United States’ 2011 Longines Future Tennis Aces Tournament. Zhao defeated Aleksandar Kovacevic of New York, N.Y., 6-2, 6-1 in the championship match on Saturday and will represent the United States as he competes against fellow finalists from 15 countries around the world at the global event at Roland Garros during the final weekend of the French Open.

“I had a lot of fun competing here at the Longines Future Tennis Aces tournament and am really excited to represent the U.S. in Paris and play on the red clay at Roland Garros,” said Zhao.

The runner-up, Aleksandar Kovacevic, earned two courtside tickets to this year’s U.S Open.

The boys who were the top players in their sections; USTA Eastern, Middle States, New England and Harlem Junior Tennis League were selected on two main criteria: athletic performance and philanthropic work in their community.

Each player had to submit a 300-word essay on how they would give back to their community. Essays were reviewed by a panel of judges from Longines, Tennis Magazine and Andre Agassi who has been a brand ambassador since 2007.

"Philanthropy is something that is very important to us," said Longines U.S Brand President Jessica Judkins. "It’s wonderful that these boys are so gifted in tennis but important values and growth as a human being are very meaningful."

At the event the boys also got the opportunity to hit with 1993 French Open doubles champion Luke Jensen.

"It’s a unique environment and a good event for all of these kids because it gives them their very first taste of the big time," said Jensen. "Just being able to play at the U.S. Open makes them all winners today."

Jensen, who won 10 ATP doubles titles, is currently the head coach of the Syracuse University tennis team. “This really is a once in a lifetime opportunity for these boys,” said Jensen. “In a 16-player draw, they had to bring their very best tennis from the very first point, to win the chance to go to one of the biggest tournaments in the world.”

One of the participants, Athell Patrick Bennett of Valley Stream, N.Y. said that he enjoyed the whole experience. "I’ve played Nationals so I’m used to the intensity of these kind of tournaments. I was nervous at first but once I got out there I loosened up a bit and started to relax." He said the best part was getting to hit with Jensen. "He hits the ball really hard and accurate. It was really fun playing with him."

Other Long Island participants included, Finbar Talcott of Sea Cliff, N.Y. and Alan Delman of Great Neck, N.Y.

“Congratulations to Michael and all of the remarkable young men and athletes here at the Longines Future Tennis Aces tournament today,” said Jennifer Judkins, Longines U.S. Brand President. “We are proud to support the future of tennis and look forward to watching Michael represent the U.S. at Roland Garros. As the official timekeeper of the French Open, Longines is proud to continue its support for the sport of tennis, the development of children and its work with Longines Brand Ambassadors Andre Agassi and Stefanie Graff’s important charities, the Andre Agassi Foundation and Children for Tomorrow.”

U.S. participants for the Longines Future Tennis Aces tournament included:

Name  Affiliation Hometown
Joshua Marchalik  USTA Eastern Section East Brunswick, NJ
Finbar Talcott  USTA Eastern Section Sea Cliff, NJ
Athell Patrick Bennett  USTA Eastern Section Valley Stream, NY
Alan Denman USTA Eastern Section Great Neck, NY
Nicholas Fauchet USTA Eastern Section Pittsford, NY
George Gramatikov***  USTA Eastern Section Vestal, NY
Sumit Sarkar  USTA Eastern Section New York, NY
Aleksandar Kovacevic**  USTA Eastern Section New York, NY
Michael Chen Zhao*  USTA Middle States Section Princeton Junction, NJ
Joseph DeMarco USTA Middle States Section Erie, PA
Eliot Rozovsky USTA New England Section Brookline, MA
Maxwell Freeman USTA New England Section Ashland, MA
Revanth Boppana USTA New England Section Boxboro, MA
Harris Foulkes USTA New England Section Belmont, MA
Zuhri Sinclair  Harlem Junior Tennis League New York, NY
DJ Smith Harlem Junior Tennis League Roosevelt Island, NY

*U.S. Champion, 2011 Longines Future Tennis Aces Tournament
**Runner-Up, 2011 Longines Future Tennis Aces Tournament, U.S.
***Consolation Draw Winner, 2011 Longines Future Tennis Aces Tournament, U.S.

The Road to Longines Future Tennis Aces is part of Longines’ global commitment to support and develop tennis’ superstars of tomorrow. All the players who qualify for the Paris event will have the opportunity to attend the French Open Women’s Final on June 4. The grand prize winner of the global Longines Future Tennis Aces tournament will receive financing for his tennis equipment until his 16th birthday, courtesy of Longines.

Full results from the U.S. finals of the 2011 Longines Future Tennis Aces tournament can be found here.

 

 

 

 

 


Long Island Tennis Magazine Staff
Centercourt
Pointset

March/April 2024 Digital Edition