Mitchell Frank, the No. 2 seed from Annandale, Va., lost just three games in his first three matches. In Wednesday’s Round of 16, he dropped the first set before defeating Austin Smith (15), Cumming, Ga., 3-6, 6-1, 6-1 in boys 18s. He’ll face Hunter Callahan (23), Lower Gwynedd, Pa., who also pulled out a three-setter, 4-6, 6-4, 7-5, over Brett Clark (11), Naples, Fla. “In the first set, he was just playing well,” Frank said. “My ball was a little short. I was a little nervous, then I got down a break in the second, but this whole summer I felt like I’ve been playing from behind, I’ve been playing good competition. There was no reason for me to panic down a set and a break. “I just stayed in the match and kept working and things turned quickly. That’s what happens.” During the 10--minute break between the second and third sets, Frank stayed on the court. “I’ve been playing Futures all summer and I don’t really agree with the 10-minute break,” he said. “I don’t think it’s really good. The fact of the matter is, at this point, I better be able to figure it out on my own. “I didn’t leave the court, I told my coach I didn’t want coaching, I’ve got to figure this out on my own. I don’t know how I would have felt if I had lost, but obviously, I’ve been doing it all summer.” In the third set, “I was up 2-1, a break, and I was up 40-love and he brought it back to deuce and I ended up holding,” Frank said. “And that was a huge momentum shift for me when it could have turned either way. I stayed strong there and was able to pull it out pretty easily after that in the third.” In other midday 18s matches, Jack Sock (1), Lincoln, Neb., defeated Emmett Egger (10), Issaquah, Wash., 6-1, 6-1; Alexios Halebian (8), Glendale, Calif., defeated Spencer Newman (14), Miami, 7-6(2), 1-6, 6-2; and Junior Ore (29), Gaithersburg, Md., beat Charles Depaolo, Asheville, N.C. 6-1, 6-3. Other 16s results include J.C. Aragone (13), Yorba Linda, Calif., over Gage Brymer (5), Irvine, Calif, 7-6, 4-6, 6-3; Luca Corinteli (4), Alexandria, Va., over John Carswell, Pleasant Prairie, Wis., 4-6, 6-1, 6-1; Connor Farren (1), Hillsborough, Calif, over Spencer Papa (9), Edmond, Okla, 6-1, 7-6(7); and Ronnie Schneider (2), Bloomington, Ind., over Thai Kwiatkowski (15), Charlotte, N.C., 6-3, 6-2 .

Source: USTA Nationals Staff