This year was the year for Mark to go to all the National Tournaments this summer as this is his "second year" of playing B14s. He had till December of this year, when he turns 15 to compete in this category. Mark went to Clay Courts, Hard Courts and Doubles National Tournaments.
This year, Clay Court Nationals were held in Dothan, Alabama in early July.
Mobile, Alabama hosted Hard Courts (just like last year and in 12s) in early August.
And we went to Orlando, FL for Doubles Nationals at the end of August.
The tournament organizers in Dothan, tried really hard to make it a fun event for all the boys (and even parents). After the check in and a group picture (and instructions), we were supposed to have a mega swim party at the water park next door, with food and everything. But as we finished the check in, huge thunderstorm rolled in and ruined the plans. They postponed the swimming party for an hour or so, but by then most kids kind of dissipated and so only a few of Mark's friends decided to go play on the slides for a bit. They had a blast! And the parents had a few of the fancy cheeses/fruit/snacks/drinks.
The next morning, it was anything but fun and laughter--the competition was stiff! This is the strongest players in the country after all. Here is Mark with his draw.
Mark was playing doubles with Connor this year again.
Mark and Connor did really well until they got to the 3rd round where they lost to Rafa and Everest in the third set.
In the previous match, Connor was super cramping for a while before the match. It was a miracle he was able to play, but somehow Mark "carried" him and they won a pretty challenging match! Rafa and Everest were a little better this time though, so our boys lost in a third set tiebreak.
Mark did pretty well winning his first match against Ivan Urbanovich, a boy who beat Mark in Florida in November of last year in a third set tiebreak. But then he lost his second match against Rich Morgan in a pretty tight match. Mark moved on to the consolation and won a few more matches against tough opponents but then was stopped in his tracks by Simon Hernandez who was a seeded player. It was a great tournament for Mark especially because he survived it physically. The conditions were SO hot and humid it was crazy. People were getting sick, cramping, withdrawing....it was tough. So well done, Mark!
About a month later, Hard Court Nationals welcomed 192 B14s players from all over the USA to Mobile, AL.
Mark played doubles with Connor again!
It's a BIG event! Pretty well organized too, full of prizes, free sandwiches and good tournament rates and swag.
We tried to snap a few pictures but it wasn't always an opportune moment. But here--this is a picture of the winners! They had a few tough doubles matches again but they won a few matches and got through the Round of 16 where they lost to the 1 seed.
Mark and his trusty cooler that Connor's mom brought in her car as they drove down and we flew. Mark wouldn't have survived without it. The heat index was 113F, I mean, it was so hot that it felt like an inferno. Mark changed his whole outfit after each set and had to drink gallons of water and electrolytes.
Another day...another early morning warm up before the heat sets in.
A few pictures for fun--our dominant duo of Mark and Connor by the Southern flag.
Now a little about Singles. Well, there was a lot actually! Mark did so well! He made it to the round of 32 in the draw of 192. In the main draw, he had to play the number 3 seed from CA who had just won Clay Courts. And in the previous match, Mark outlasted another boy from CA in a 4 hour match--it was a third full set. It was absolutely insane! The boy collapsed after the match, cramping and unable to move, so they had to call medical support and get a wheelchair for him. It was very dramatic. And I took Mark straight to a massage therapist who is a Ukrainian from Odessa (that I found through some sudden connections and Varvara, a Russian mom in Mobile). He did a magical massage that made it so that Mark was absolutely pain free and relaxed for the following day!
After that main draw loss, Mark was moved to consolation where he played two more great matches! And both were against boys from California again! He had to win one match in a third set tiebreaker, but lost the last match while actually playing great (against a boy who later in the year was Orange Bowl finalist!).
We all considered it a great success as Mark definitely put his best effort into this and showed so much physical toughness and resiliency!
He also got a Sportsmanship award, which is always really cool. Still tough to lose but need to recognize the great effort and progress.
After Mark finished the tournament, we drove towards Fort Walton Beach to meet up with the Broughs who had just moved to Eglin AFB (where we used to live for Robert's residency). We met up with them at a Smoothie King and had a fantastic chat after all these years! Afterwards, Mark and I drove along the beautiful Emerald Coast, got some steamed shrimp and spent a couple of hours at Navarre Beach--gorgeous as ever (and absolutely worth a trip from anywhere!!!). We then drove to Pensacola and flew home. What a trip!
But! Our tennis summer was not over!! Mark had National Doubles Championship to play in Orlando for the weekend before school started. That is why we had to say bye to Alex the day before he was flying to Utah--we were leaving to fly to Orlando.
Mark played doubles with...Connor!
USTA National Campus is the place where they played, right under the flight path of the airplanes headed to MCO.
The boys competed really well, beating some Florida boys and then a pair from Southern/Midwest, and finally Eastern section (that was a thriller...).
Mark in his natural habitat after eating yet another poke bowl between the matches.
They, sadly, lost their fourth match to number 1 seeds (who probably should have just played 16s as the whole tournament was just too easy for them). And on the last day, the boys had to play for the 3/4th place play offs against Mason Vaugh and James Andrew Ross. Unfortunately, they didn't play as well as they usually do and lost 6:1, 6:3.
It's still quite amazing! A National Tournament and they got FOURTH place!
Their opponents got bronze ball as a reward.
And here is a picture with Connor, Dani (Mark's friend from Cameron's) and her partner. Dani got second place (silver ball).
Posting this picture as this is a picture of Mark's number one fan (and I am wearing my famous skirt that I bought at the BX in Japan).
It was quite an amazing long weekend at the USTA National Campus. Someday, we'll be back to compete at this highest level!
Our flight home was on Southwest at 8 pm, and it so happened that Connor and Dani were on our flight. So they all sat together in a row while the moms-Kelly, Jennifer and I all sat behind them. The flight was a lot more fun with friends, that's for sure. All these kids had their first day of school the following morning, so everyone was elated with great results and excited about what's coming next!
Lyana.
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