Tennis Players Take to Courts for 2017 Joe DiBenedetto International Days Tournament

During the annual International Days celebration last week, tennis players got involved during the 2017 Joe DiBenedetto International Days Tournament.

There were four different draws for this tournament including adults singles, junior singles, open doubles and a kids’ competition.

The tournament began on Friday evening with the kids’ competition (for those ages nine and under) and the junior draw playing their first matches. The players in the kids’ competition included Jessi King, Mandy Riggs and Matthew Riggs.

The junior draw consisted of 10 players between the ages of nine and 17. All rounds of the junior draw were played in pro-sets (first to 8, or 9 in the case of both players hold serve and get to 8). Junior competitions included Chandler Clifford, Mersedez Clifford, Amanda Johansen, Lisa King, Abby Moore, Hannah Moore, Rayna Paskett, Samantha Roberts, Max Wheeler and Cristian Winder.

The first two rounds were done round robin fashion, after which the top four players, based on matches won and then on games won, were put into two semifinal matches. In one semifinal, Roberts beat Chandler Clifford 8-5 and King beat Moore 8-4.

In the junior championship match, Roberts won the championship over nine-year-old King by a score of 9-7. In the third place match, Chandler Clifford took home third, winning his final match against Moore by the score of 8-1.

Following the kids’ competition and the junior draw, the adult singles competition began. The participating players were Mike Ault, Antonio Cordova, Landon Fehlberg, Natalie King, Nikki King, Jason Olson, Pete Riggs, Erick Trejo and Jerry Wheeler.

The first match was a one set play-in between Wheeler and Nikki King, with Wheeler securing the first round spot by a score of 6-1.

The first round matches were best two of three sets (single elimination) and resulted as follows:

Mike Ault beat Jason Olson by a score of 3-6, 6-1, 6-4
Landon Fehlberg beat Pete Riggs by a score of 6-4, 5-7, 6-4
Antonio Cordova beat Erick Trejo by a score of 6-0, 3-6, 6-3
Natalie King beat Jerry Wheeler by a score of 6-1, 6-0

Second round (semifinals)

Mike Ault beat Landon Fehlberg by a score of 6-1, 6-0
Natalie King beat Antonio Cordova by a score of 6-3, 6-4

Championship match:

Mike Ault beat Natalie King by a score of 6-0, 6-1

Third place match:

Landon Fehlberg beat Antonio Cordova by a score of 6-4, 6-2

Finally, for the open doubles draw, there were four teams and two rounds. In the first round, Riggs and Mersedez Clifford beat Natalie King and Nikki King by a score of 6-4 while Tracy Hoyt and Marie Mancina beat Ault and Lisa King by a score of 6-1.

In the open doubles championship match, Hoyt and Mancina bested Riggs and Mersedez Clifford, 6-1. In the third place match teamed with Mike Ault, Lisa King beat her mom (Natalie King) and sister (Nikkie King).

For those that missed out on the tournament, there are several options for kids and adults to learn or improve tennis. Carbon County Recreation runs spring, summer (two courses) and fall classes. Pete Riggs (Carbon High boys’ coach) is available for adult and kids’ lessons either through Carbon Rec or individual small group basis (for more info please call 435-630-1991), and Jordan Shettell is available for individual or small group lessons (for more info please call 801-358-7934).