Battle in the Burg Sample Photos

Here are some photos that I took during the second annual Battle in the Burg National Level 3 junior tournament at University of Mary Washington in Fredericksburg, VA. Hope you like them and click here to see more on the USTA/Mid-Atlantic Facebook page. If you are looking for a tennis photographer please feel free to email me at KelynSoong@gmail.com.

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New Faces Ready to Represent Mid-Atlantic at Intersectionals

Josh Hublitz of Vienna, VA made the most of his opportunity to qualify for the Mid-Atlantic Intersectional team at the first-ever qualifying playoffs.

The last minute alternate played some of his best tennis of the year to earn a trip to Shreveport, LA July 10-14 along with seven other Mid-Atlantic Boys’ and Girls’ 16 players.

For Hublitz, the feeling was that he had nothing to lose.

“I was an alternate and I didn’t even know that I was going to be playing so when I first came out a lot of pressure was taken off,” he said. “I came out and I played probably some of the best tennis I’ve played in a while.”
Joining Hublitz on the Intersectional team will be several new faces, including 13-year-old Francis Tiafoe of College Park, MD. The steady baseliner scored an upset over fellow team member and number-one seed Chris Vrabel of Centreville, VA to finish undefeated.

“I wasn’t expecting to qualify,” said Tiafoe, who plans on teaming with Hublitz in doubles. “I had a big win over Chris Vrabel. I just thought I could do well because it’s on clay and clay is my favorite surface.”

The playoffs were held on the clay courts at The Tennis Center at College Park to prepare players for the same surface found at Intersectionals, a tournament that includes players from all 17 USTA sections and features singles, doubles and mixed doubles competition.

Returning members from last year’s group are Vrabel and Virginia Beach, VA resident Shannon Hudson – who will help lead a young squad along with Head Coach Paul D’Amico.

First time qualifier Lizzie Stewart of Oakton, VA is looking forward to competing with her friends, some of whom she defeated to make the team.

“I played some really close friends and I just played well and kept consistent,” she said. “I’m really excited. I’m ready to represent.”

Thirteen-year-old Ndindi Ndunda of Burke, VA echoed Stewart’s sentiments.

“I expect it to be fun and tough tennis,” she said.

Wrapping up the Girls’ 16 squad is Amanda Atanasson of Owings Mill, MD who faced stiff competition but prevailed after posting a solid win on the last day of qualifying.

For the Boys’ 16 team, Anton Zykov narrowly missed qualifying for the 2010 team and is excited about playing this year.

“I’m looking forward to playing in Louisiana and traveling. It should be a lot of fun,” he said. “I didn’t get the experience last year so I’m hoping to play all these matches with other sections.”

These eight Mid-Atlantic players earned their way onto the team and are ready to represent the section under the scorching Louisiana sun.

Click here to read this article on the USTA/Mid-Atlantic website.

Click here to view photos I took from the Intersectional Playoffs posted on the USTA/Mid-Atlantic Facebook page.

Summer Reading: "A Game to Love" and "High Strung"

For tennis fans that enjoy reading, books with in depth profiles of the game's best players are always a fun read. That is why I'm excited to read Steve Tignor's book, "High Strung: Bjorn Borg, John McEnroe and the Untold Story of Tennis's Fiercest Rivalry," which within in a chapter gives readers a behind the scenes glimpse of two of the sport's biggest personalities. I have always enjoyed Tignor's vivid and descriptive writing and I marvel at how his words leaves the readers feeling like they were actually there. I'm sure this book will be no different. Look for a full review to come when I finish reading.

I also received in the mail today "A Game to Love: In Celebration of Tennis" by award winning sports photographer Mike Powell. Flipping through the pages I was awed by the intense and intimate photographs the greatest stars of modern tennis. It makes for a great coffee table book and I'm sure any fan of tennis can appreciate it. I wish it had more players though, as Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal are heavily featured throughout.