Championship Week
Benjamin Tso Wins Boys' 14s Nationals
by James Hill, 18 August 2010
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Top-seeded Benjamin Tso completed his 14-and-under career in grand style by winning the singles title of the USTA Boys 14 National Championships at McFarlin Tennis Center.
Tso, from Lexington, Mass., won his first USTA gold ball with a 7-6 (6), 7-5 victory over seventh-seeded
Henrik Wiersholm of Kirkland, Wash., in a tightly played match which lasted for over two hours.
Next up for Tso will be the boys 16s tournament of the USTA Winter Nationals at Scottsdale, Ariz., in December.
"It's a different field," said Tso, of the 16s events, of which he already has experienced success. "The kids are bigger, and they hit harder. That helped me for this tournament, getting ready to hit the ball harder than the other players. Gradually, as I get older, I will start to do better."
Tso won the 16s title in July of the New England Sectional Championships, held at West Haven, Conn. Later in the month, the five-star player was a finalist at the USTA Clay Courts 14s tourney at Fort Lauderdale, Fla. He lost a three-setter to Daniel Kerznerman.
The 5-foot-10, 150-pound Tso did not just sail right into the championship match at McFarlin, as he was challenged a number of times. Alexandru Gozun of Sarasota, Fla., took him to three sets in the fourth round, before Tso prevailed 1-6, 6-3, 6-2. The round of 16 paired Tso and the top Texan in the draw - 15th-seeded Will Showers of Bellaire. Tso, who trains at the New England Academy of Tennis in Natick, Mass., advanced to the quarters with a 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 win.
