KALAMAZOO, Michigan – The quarterfinals of both the 18 and 16 singles draws after six days at the 2017 USTA Boys’ 18 and 16 National Championships.

In 18 singles, No. 1 seed Sam Riffice (Orlando, Fla.) broke No. 9 Gianni Ross (Orlando, Fla.) to force a first set tiebreak, and after winning the tiebreak 7-0, Riffice won set two 6-2 to earn a berth in the quarterfinals. Riffice’s opponent, No. 5 JJ Wolf, dispatched No. 30 Timothy Sah 6-1, 6-1 in his round of 16 match.

No. 2 Patrick Kypson (Greenville, N.C.) needed a second set tiebreak win to defeat No. 27 Trey Hilderbrand (San Antonio, Texas) in straight sets, and the 16 singles champion from 2015 did just that, winning his round of 16 match 6-2, 7-6 (2). Kypson will face No. 7 Sebastian Korda (Brandenton, Fla.), who defeated No. 11 Alexsandre Rotsaert (Boca Raton, Fla.) 7-6 (5), 6-4.

Fresh off of his victory over No. 3 Trent Bryde (Suwanee, Ga.), No. 29 Ryan Goetz (Greenlawn, N.Y.) continued on to the quarterfinals with a 6-2, 6-3 win over No. 25 Mason Beiler (New Port Richey, Fla.). Goetz’s opponent in the quarterfinals, No. 6 John McNally (Cincinnati, Ohio), avenged a 2016 quarterfinal loss to No. 10 Vasil Kirkov (Tampa, Fla.) with a 5-7, 7-5, 6-4 victory.

The final matchup of the 18s quarterfinals is No. 8 Danny Thomas (Reynoldsburg, Ohio) vs. No. 12 Alafia Ayeni (San Diego, Calif.) Ayeni edged No. 4 Oliver Crawford (Sparanburg, S.C.) in three sets 6-2, 5-7, 6-3.

In 16 singles, seven of the top eight seeds are playing in the quarterfinals. No. 1 seed Brandon Nakashima (San Diego, Calif.) needed just 55 minutes to defeat Spencer Whitaker (Richmond, Va.) 6-0, 6-1. Nakashima will face No. 6 Leighton Allen (Austin, Texas) in the quarterfinals, who lost just two games in a 6-1, 6-1 win over Ronan Jachuck (Boca Raton, Fla.).

No. 2 seed Andrew Dale (Leesburg, Va.) took down No. 15 Marcus McDaniel (Vacaville, Calif.) 6-4, 6-1. His quarterfinal opponent, No. 8 Stefan Dostanic (Irvine, Calif.) needed three sets to get by No. 10 (Brandenton, Fla.) 5-7, 6-4, 6-4.

After needing three sets to win third and fourth round matches, No. 3 Siem Woldeab earned a straight-set win over No. 21 Andres Martin (Flowery Branch, Ga.) in a round of 16 match. Woldeab will face No. 7 seed Karl Lee (Oak Brook, Ill.), who beat No. 16 Adam Neff (Bradenton, Fla.) in straight sets 6-3, 6-4.

No. 4 Will Grant (Roca Raton, Fla.) defeated No. 13 Jaycer Lyeons (Houston, Texas) 6-0, 6-4 to earn his spot in the quarterfinals. He will face No. 12 Garrett Johns (Atlanta, Ga.), who beat unseeded Michael Che (Tenafly, N.J.) 7-6 (5), 6-2.

For doubles, the 18s round of 16 matches are being played at Stowe Stadium this evening with the 16s round of 16 matches happening at Western Michigan University.

Thursday’s schedule includes all 18 singles quarterfinals to go along with doubles quarterfinals in both 18s and 16s. The 16 singles quarterfinals will be held on Friday.

Source: Mitch Blankespoor