Kalamazoo, Mich...Phillip King of Long Beach CA and Robby Ginepri of Marietta GA are this year's top seeds in the 18-and-under-age-division. For King it will be deja vu when he returns to Kalamazoo as the number one seed in the 18s to defend his Championship. Last year he beat Mardy Fish in the finals to capture the title. King has been playing as an amateur in satellite professional events since January. The number two seeded Robby Ginepri won the Easter Bowl over Eric Nunez of Aventura FL and was last year's 16s super national champion. Ryan Newport of Cypress TX is the number three seed. Rajeev Ram of Carmel, IN is this year's top seeded player in the 16-and-under-age-division. He has been playing in mostly 18s events this year. Prakash Amritraj of Encino, CA is seeded number two and Douglas Stewart of Malibu, CA number three. Timon Corwin, tournament director, said "The 18s draw is very strong, several of the top seeds are coming into this tourney with a lot of International playing experience. Phillip King has been playing in professional satellite tournaments for the last eight months. The talent pool at the top of the 16s is as good as it has been in recent years."

Michigan players to watch include Kalamazoo's own Eric Hodgman and Trevor McLeod who will be playing in the 16 age division.

The seeded players will be officially introduced at the opening night ceremonies on Friday, August 4 prior to the National City Bank Exhibition match between Jan-Michael Gambill and Paul Goldstein.

For ticket information call (616) 337-7343. Tickets will be available at Stowe Tennis Stadium during the week of the tournament. The ticket booth number is (616) 337-7336. PLEASE NOTE: If you are interested in daily results via electronic mail through the Internet contact Mike Keenan by surface: USTA Nationals, Kalamazoo College, Kalamazoo, MI 49006, c/o Mike Keenan or by E-mail: mike.keenan@wmich.edu

Source: Tournament Office