Cary Leeds Hosts 29th Annual Mayor’s Cup

June 13, 2017 | By New York Tennis Magazine Staff

The 29th Annual Mayor’s Cup All-Scholastic Tennis Championships was held at the Cary Leeds Center for Tennis and Learning as once again the best tennis players from New York City’s public schools came together for the week-long tournament which is known as the largest scholastic tennis event in the United States.

The culmination of the tournament came on Sunday as the finals for each of the various individual divisions were played on a steamy hot day in the Bronx.

One of the first to finish up was the Boys Varsity Doubles, as Bronx Science’s Alexander Chiu and Alex Goldstein came back from a set down to beat Hunter’s Christopher Mohri and Daniel Rafimayeri 6-7, 6-2, 6-2.

After dropping the first set, Chiu and Goldstein made a tactical adjustment as both played from the baseline on their opponent’s serve. It worked, as the pair rattled off 12 of the final 16 games to claim the Mayor’s Cup trophy.

“We’re good friends off the court and play a lot together,” said Chiu. “We know each other’s weaknesses and strengths and we build our tactics around that.”


Alex Goldstein (left) and Alexander Chiu (right) celebrate a point during their Mayor's Cup victory. 

Dealing with the heat over the course of a three-set match was a difficult job, and the duo made sure it stayed fresh throughout the contest.

“We took a lot of time in between points to discuss tactics and took our full breaks on the change overs to get some rest,” added Goldstein. “That helped a lot.”

Shawnte Beale, a freshman who captured the Girls Middle School singles title last year, moved up to play the varsity division this year and came out on top, defeating Bronx Science’s Christina Huynh 7-5, 6-2.

Beale said she wanted to be the more aggressive player in this match and it paid off.


Shawnte Beal followed up her Girls Middle School title last year by winning the Girls Varsity championship this year. 

“I was able to attack her short balls and keep the pressure on,” said Beale, who recalled a match two years ago against in which Huynh won in straight sets. “I had a lot of confidence from winning the middle school title last year and used that on the court today.”

In the Boys Varsity Singles division, Beacon freshman Noah Edelman defeated Gabriel Sifuentes of St. Francis 6-2, 7-5 to win the Mayor’s Cup title.

Edelman had never played Sifuentes before but noticed early on that he had a good forehand and a one-handed backhand, and tailored his tactics to attack the backhand.


Noah Edelman battled through the heat to claim the Boys Varsity Singles title. 

“It was a really tough battle,” he said. “I was able to neutralize his forehand really well. The points were really long so it really came down to whoever could stay in it longer.

It feels great. It was tough out there today and I’m glad I was able to push through and represent Beacon.”

Throughout the day, New York Junior Tennis & Learning (NYJTL) hosted clinics and taught tennis drills, and the day concluded with a ceremony to honor the tournament and award winners.

Below are the winners from the Mayor’s Cup All-Scholastic Tennis Championships:

Varsity Team Event: Beacon

Boys Middle School Singles: Jace Alexander, Dwight

Boys Varsity Singles: Noah Edelman, Beacon

Girls Middle School Singles: Natalie Eordekian, St. Sebastian

Girls Varsity Singles: Shawnte Beale, Home School

Boys Middle School Doubles: Jean Paul Santamaria/Jean Pierre Santamaria, IS 119

Boys Varsity Doubles: Alexander Chiu/Alex Goldstein, Bronx Science

Girls Varsity Doubles: Isha Agarwal/Madison Li, Horace Mann


New York Tennis Magazine Staff
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