Coming into this week’s USTA Girls’ 18s National Championships, 18-year-old Ashley Kratzer of Newport Beach, Calif., did not envision winning the hard court title at the Barnes Tennis Center. But the unexpected happened on Sunday afternoon as the third-seeded Kratzer finished an incredible tournament run by defeating 33rd seeded Kelly Chen of Cerritos, Calif., 6-2, 4-6, 6-4 to win the 18s national championship and earn a USTA gold ball and a wild card into the US Open. After splitting the first two sets, Kratzer gained control of the third set with two early service breaks to establish a 4-0 lead. Chen, to the delight of the cheering crowd, fought back with two service breaks of her own and tied the set at 4-4. In the ninth game, Kratzer regained momentum as she held serve at love for a 5-4 lead. As Chen served to stay in the match, Kratzer dropped only a single point and broke serve to close out the match. “It feels absolutely amazing. I was not expecting to win the whole tournament. I set a goal just to get to the semis,” Kratzer said after winning the title. “To actually win is amazing.  I was playing some of my best tennis. I’m so excited to be in the US Open. It’s always been a dream of mine. I’m really looking forward to that.” The newly-crowned Girls’ 18s singles champion enjoyed playing before the large crowd that packed Stadium Court and she was well aware that Sunday’s final was being broadcast to a national television audience on Tennis Channel. “It was a little nerve-wracking at first. I was a little nervous. It was really cool that Tennis Channel was here,” she said. “It’s nice to see that (girls’) tournaments are now being televised. It was an amazing tournament. I thought the crowd was awesome. All and all it was a good experience.” In the Girls’ 18s doubles final, fifth-seeded Taylor Johnson of Redondo Beach, Calif., and
Claire Liu of Thousand Oaks, Calif., captured the title with a hard-fought 6-7, 6-3, 6-2 victory over sixth-seeded Hailey Baptiste of Washington D.C., and Ellie Douglas of McKinney, Texas. Liu and Johnson received a USTA gold ball and a wild card into the doubles main draw at the upcoming US Open in New York. For complete tournament results, please go to:   
http://tennislink.usta.com/tournaments/TournamentHome/Tournament.aspx?T=185581#&&s=8Results0
 
For the final tournament draws, please go to: http://tennislink.usta.com/tournaments/TournamentHome/Tournament.aspx?T=185581#&&s=7  About USTA Girls’ 16s – 18s Nationals:
The USTA Girls’ 16 & 18s National Championships are the premiere hard court tennis tournaments for amateur and professional American girls aged 18 and 16 and under in the United States. In 2010, both age groups began playing their events concurrently at San Diego’s Barnes Tennis Center. Tournament participants, who represent nearly every state in the United States, have been endorsed by their respective USTA Section or have received USTA special exemptions based on their results in qualifying tournaments, junior rankings, or results on the WTA Tour or International Tennis Federation Junior Circuit.  Past tournament champions include Chris Evert, Tracy Austin, Andrea Jaeger, Zina Garrison, Mary Jo Fernandez, Jennifer Capriati and Lindsay Davenport.  Sunday’s Results
 
Girls’ 18s Singles
Championship
Ashley Kratzer (3), Newport Beach, Calif., def. Kelly Chen (33), Cerritos, Calif., 6-2, 4-6, 6-4
 
Third Place
Whitney Osuigwe (8), Bradenton, Fla., def. Caty McNally (12), Cincinnati, walkover