The top four seeds in boys 16s all advanced to Saturday’s singles semifinals, but there were some shakeups in boys 18s. Collin Altamirano, Yuba City, Calif., is the lone unseeded player left in the main draw. No unseeded player has ever won the tournament. “I don’t play as much as the other kids when it comes to juniors,” Altamirano said. “I expected not to be seeded. It’s good. I’m doing what I came here for.” One of just two three-set matches in Friday’s quarterfinals went to Tommy Paul (pictured), Boa Raton, Fla., the third seed in boys 16s. Paul defeated No. 9 Reilly Opelka, Palm Coast, Fla., 6-4, 6-7(3), 6-2. The two players train together which has its advantages. “It’s always hard to play someone that you train with,” Paul said. “He’s like pretty much my roommate, so that makes it a little harder. The only good part about it is that we really know each other’s game, so we didn’t really have to scope each other out too much.” The other three-setter went to Gage Brymer, the top boys 18s seed from Irvine, Calif., who defeated Ernesto Escobedo (5), West Covina, Calif., 4-6, 6-4, 6-2.

Source: USTA Nationals Staff