Special from
Zoo Tennis
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KALAMAZOO, Mich. - Gus Grumet won his first gold ball at the USTA National Clay Courts Championships in July. A second came in his very next tournament, with the No. 1 seed capturing the USTA Boys 16s National championship with a nerve-jangling comeback at Kalamazoo College's Stowe Stadium.
Singles Champion Gus Grumet
© Zoo Tennis
Trailing No. 16 seed Arin Pallegar 4-0 in the final set of his 6-7(4), 6-2, 7-6(2) victory, Grumet refused to accept the end of his 19-match winning streak, drawing on his experience in the first set of the final to retain his optimism.
"I was really frustrated, and that mindset changed," said the 16-year-old from Mill Valley, California, who had also engineered a comeback in the semifinals with a 2-6, 6-2, 6-3 decision over No. 6 seed Keaton Hance. "I was like, you know what? there's no point in being frustrated, you can still win this match. I had come from down a double break in the first set, so I knew I could do it if I just played more patient but still went for my shots. I knew I could come back."
Despite that confidence, Grumet remained in a precarious position, although he quickly broke back for 4-1 to halt Pallegar's considerable momentum. Grumet saved a break point in the next game, but when Pallegar held for 5-2, the advantage was his.
