New Yorkers Loeb and Elbaba to Battle for American Collegiate Invitational Title

September 5, 2014 | By New York Tennis Magazine Staff
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Photo credit: USTA

In the semifinals Friday of the inaugural American Collegiate Invitational at the U.S. Open, two locals from New York advanced to the finals, as Oyster Bay, N.Y.’s Julia Elbaba and Ossining, N.Y.’s Jamie Loeb will meet for the Inaugural American Collegiate Invitational title. The winner of the American Collegiate Invitational will receive either a main draw or qualifying draw wild card entry into the 2015 U.S. Open, based on their individual ranking. The champion will also get wild cards into two USTA Pro Circuit events, while each runner-up will get one.

“It’s always exciting to play here in Flushing,” said Elbaba, who played two U.S. Open junior events and qualified both times, but never won in the main draw. “It brought back a lot of memories being on these courts.”

Elbaba, who plays for the University of Virginia, came from behind to defeat Stanford’s Kristie Ahn 3-6, 6-1, 6-1, to advance to the finals on Court Six. Up next was Loeb, who plays for North Carolina and trains at the John McEnroe Tennis Academy on Randall’s Island, was a 6-3, 6-1 winner over Danielle Rose Collins, Elbaba’s teammate at Virginia and the reigning NCAA women’s singles champion.

Loeb, Elbaba and Ahn, from nearby Upper Saddle River, N.J., each have played in the U.S. Open before, with Ahn even qualifying for the women’s pro main draw back in 2008.

“It’s awesome being here,” Ahn said. “It’s great exposure for college tennis and to be a part of the first one is such an honor. From here this event is only going to get better. It’s not quite main draw, but it’s pretty amazing.”

And as far as the rest of the competition in the American Collegiate Invitational, "Amazing,” “Thrilling,” “Exciting” were the buzzwords coming from some of the 16 collegiate players who took part in the event played at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center.

University of North Carolina women’s tennis player Hayley Carter described the thrill of practicing next to Serena Williams, while UCLA’s Clay Thompson said he fulfilled a lifelong dream before ever striking a ball.

“I was so excited,” said Thompson. “I walked in yesterday and picked up my credential and walked on-site and said, ‘My dream is complete; I’m at the U.S. Open as a player.’ No matter what happens from here doesn’t matter. If I were to lose in the first round, I’m still on the world’s greatest stage for tennis. It’s just amazing. There’s no better place in the world to play a tournament.”

"I’ve literally been dreaming about this day since I was a kid,” said the University of Florida’s Olivia Janowicz. “I grew up in Jersey, and I remember coming here and watching (Kim) Clijsters when she was an unknown.”

Janowicz’s college teammate Alex Cercone added, “It’s a dream come true, and I’m honored to be a part of this group. The environment is different than anything I’ve ever experienced.”

Credit all photos to the USTA

 

 

 

Ossining, N.Y.'s Jamie Loeb (left) will face Oyster Bay's Julia Elbaba in the finals of the inaugural American Collegiate Invitational 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Julia Elbaba in action Thursday in Flushing Meadows


New York Tennis Magazine Staff
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