WHITNEY OSUIGWE TOPS KAYLA DAY TO CAPTURE USTA BILLIE JEAN KING GIRLS’ 18s NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP

Osuigwe Teams with Caty McNally to Win 18s Doubles Title

 

SAN DIEGO – (August 12, 2018) – For Whitney Osuigwe it will be a day she will always remember. The 16-year-old from Bradenton, Fla., came back from a 5-1 first-set deficit to defeat top-seeded Kayla Day 7-5, 6-3 in one-hour and 44 minutes to win the USTA Billie Jean King Girls’ 18s National Championship.

 

Playing before a capacity crowd on Stadium Court on a bright, sunny day at the Barnes Tennis Center, Osuigwe fell behind early and took an injury time-out at 1-4 in the opening set.

 

“I felt a little kink in the back of my (left) leg and I wanted to get it check out, so it didn’t become any worse and I could play throughout the entire match,” Osuigwe said.

 

When the match resumed, Day held serve at love to extend her lead to four games and looked to be on her way to winning her second Girls’ 18s singles title in three years.

 

However, Osuigwe began playing more aggressively during the baseline rallies and the strategy paid off as she capitalized on three service breaks and won six straight games to capture a hard-fought first set in 55 minutes.

 

In the second set, Day broke Osuigwe at love in the third game to take a 2-1 lead, but the second-seeded Osuigwe found her groove and played a consistent baseline game to win four straight games for a 5-2 advantage.

 

After Day held serve to stay in the match, Osuigwe served for the championship at 5-3 and had to fight off two break points before winning the title on her second match point. Osuigwe will receive a singles main draw wild card into the upcoming US Open for winning the title.

 

“I knew if I just kept fighting, I could come up and win. It felt so amazing. All the hard work I’ve put into this week and the previous weeks getting ready for this, it’s finally over,” Osuigwe said after accepting her USTA gold ball. “I’m going to go to the Big Apple. I’m super excited. I’ve never played the main draw of a Grand Slam.”

 

Later in the afternoon, Osuigwe returned to Stadium Court and teamed Caty McNally of Cincinnati to win her second national title of the day as they defeated Elli Mandlik of Bradenton, Fla., and Peyton Stearns of Mason, Ohio, 6-4, 6-3 to win the Girls’ 18s doubles title.

 

McNally and Osuigwe earned USTA gold balls and a U.S.Open main draw doubles wild card.

 

For final tournament draws in each division, please go to: https://tennislink.usta.com/tournaments/TournamentHome/Tournament.aspx?T=208363#&&s=7

 

USTA Billie Jean King Girls’ 16s & 18s National Championships

Barnes Tennis Center

San Diego, Calif.

Sunday’s Results

 

Girls’ 18s Singles

Championship

Whitney Osuigwe (2), Bradenton, Fla., def. Kayla Day (1), Santa Barbara, Calif., def. 7-5, 6-3

 

Third Place

Cori Gauff (3), Atlanta, def. Salma Ewing (4), Lakewood, Calif., 6-3, 6-0

 

Girls’ 18s Doubles

Championship

Whitney Osuigwe (1), Bradenton, Fla., and Caty McNally, Cincinnati, def. Elli Mandlik (7), Bradenton, Fla., and Peyton Stearns, Mason, Ohio, 6-4, 6-3

 

For complete scores and results, go to: https://tennislink.usta.com/tournaments/TournamentHome/Tournament.aspx?T=20836-3#&&s=8Results0