Connor Farren’s first match of the tournament got off to a shaky start on Sunday. The top seed in boys 16s struggled in the first set before defeating Christopher Barrus, Marmora, N.J., 7-5, 6-0, on one of the three front courts at Stowe Stadium. Farren thought he’d be a top five seed, but was surprised to be No. 1. “I didn’t know if they were gonna use the ITF rankings for the seeding,” he said. “I knew I would be one of the top five, but it’s great to be the top seed. “I love being the top seed. I think it’s the first time in a USTA tournament I’ve ever been a No. 1 seed. I was always playing up.” The last time Farren competed in 16s was a year ago in Kalamazoo. “My coach wanted me to push myself to try to do well and put pressure on myself to do well in a tournament in my own age group,” he said. Farren said the first round is always tough. “Nerves and I focused a little more in the second set,” he said. “I was just trying to get used to the conditions in the first set.” Farren finished his match before the thunderstorm puddled the courts, forcing several in-progress 16s singles matches inside. The delay lasted 3 hours, 20 minutes until the outside courts were playable. The top five seeds in 16s all advanced in second-round, straight-set wins. The 18s don’t play their third round until Monday. Ronnie Schneider (2), Bloomington, Ind., defeated Samuel Lam, Old Westbury, N.Y., 6-3, 6-0; Noah Rubin (3), Rockville Centre, N.Y., beat Robert Seby, Oro Valley, Ariz., 6-1, 6-1; Luca Corintelli (4), Alexandria, Va., defeated Alexander Solonin, Tarzana, Calif., 6-3, 6-3, and Gage Brymer (5), Irvine, Calif., beat Joshua Yablon, New York City, 6-3, 6-2. In doubles, 16s top seeds Schneider and Yale Goldberg, Beachwood, Ohio, defeated Minnesotans Charlie Adams, Wayzata, and Myles Tang, Minneapolis, 6-1, 6-1. Second seeds Corinteli and Spencer Papa, Edmond, Okla., got past Edgar Diaz, Gurabo, Puerto Rico, and Isaiah Mayerchak, Princeton, Minn., 6-0, 6-3.

Source: USTA Nationals Staff