KALAMAZOO, Michigan – The 18 singles semifinals as well as both 18 and 16 doubles semifinals are set after day seven of the 75th USTA Boys’ 18 & 16 National Championships held in Kalamazoo on Thursday.

In 18 singles, No. 5 JJ Wolf (Cincinnati, Ohio) battled back from a set one loss to defeat No. 1 Sam Riffice 5-7, 6-4, 6-1 to earn his first semifinal berth at the nationals. Wolf will face No. 12 Alafia Ayeni who beat No. 8 Danny Thomas (Reynoldsburg, Ohio) 6-7 (6), 6-4. 6-4, marking the second consecutive day Ayeni beat a top eight seed (No. 4 Oliver Crawford).

No. 2 Patrick Kypson, who has not lost a set in the 18 singles draw, defeated No. 7 Sebastian Korda (Bradenton, Fla.) 6-4, 7-6 (6) to earn his spot in the semifinals. His opponent, No. 29 Ryan Goetz (Greenlawn, N.Y.), took down No. 6 John McNally (Cincinnati, Ohio) 6-3, 7-6 (4). 

The 18 singles semifinal round will be played on Saturday.

In 18 doubles, No. 1 Vasil Kirkov (Tampa, Fla.) and Danny Thomas (Reynoldsburg, Ohio) survived a three-set affair with No. 6 Mac Kiger (Katonah, N.Y.) and Ryan Seggerman (Coronado, Calif.) 6-1, 4-6, 1-0 (7). The top seeds will face unseeded Nathan Perrone (Moorestown, N.J.) and Jake Van Emburgh (Belleair Beach, Fla.) in a semifinal match tomorrow (Friday) as the two defeated No. 4 Sam Riffice (Orlando, Fla.) and Gianni Ross (Orlando, Fla.) 6-4, 7-5.

No. 2 Oliver Crawford (Spartanburg, S.C.) and Patrick Kypson (Greenville, N.C.) handled No. 12 Austen Huang (Elk Grove, Calif.) and Sean Scully (Hilton Head Island, S.C.) 6-4, 6-4 in a quarterfinal match. Crawford/Kypson will face No. 3 JJ Wolf and John McNally after the two Cincinnati, Ohio, natives came back from a set down to defeat No. 5 Christian Alshon (Boca Raton, Fla.) and Trey Hilderbrand (San Antonio, Texas) 3-6, 7-5, 1-0 (4).

In 16 doubles, three of the top four seeds advanced to the semifinals. No. 1 Robert Cash (New Albany, Ohio) and Ryder Jackson (Nicasio, Calif.) along with No. 3 Will Grant (Boca Raton, Fla.) and Tyler Zink (Bradenton, Fla.) lost just four games in straight set victories. They will face each other in a semifinal match tomorrow.

No. 2 Eliot Spizzirri (Greenwich, Conn.) and Spencer Whitaker (Richmond, Va.) won their quarterfinal match in straight sets, and will face No. 24 Eshan Talluri (San Diego, Calif.) and Siem Woldeab (La Mesa, Calif.) in the semifinals after Talluri/Woldeab edged No. 15 Spencer Brachman (Commack, N.Y.) and Cannon Kingsley (Northport, N.Y.) 2-6, 6-3, 1-0 (9).

Tomorrow’s schedule includes 16 quarterfinals, 18 and 16 doubles semifinals, two rounds of 16 feed ins, and one round of 18 feed ins.

Source: Mitch Blankespoor