Buchanan Advances to Final of 2009 U.S. Open Junior Boys’ Championships – Ohio State Buckeyes
9/14/2009 12:00:00 AM | Men's Tennis
COLUMBUS, Ohio – After competing in his first-career Grand Slam singles tournament a week earlier, sophomore Chase Buchanan, a member of the Ohio State men’s tennis team, advanced to the final of the 2009 U.S. Open Junior Boys’ Singles Championship. Buchanan lost 6-1, 6-3 to No. 3-seed Bernard Tomic of Australia Sunday in Flushing, New York. A native of New Albany, Ohio, Buchanan defeated three seeded players on his way to the final, including winning back-to-back matches Saturday at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center.
“It’s been a great experience,” Buchanan said. “I learned winning matches and concentrating on every point pays off eventually. I got to play against some of the best talent there is and I feel like this will help my collegiate game even more. I am definitely going to be more focused on the court.”
Despite losing in the boys’ championship final, Buchanan leaves the U.S. Open with memorable experience, which included a wild card into the men’s main draw, where he lost in the first round in straight sets to world No. 7 Jo-Wilfried Tsonga of France.
Tomic, who won the 2008 Australian Open Juniors at the age of 15, broke Buchanan in the fourth game and went on to defeat the last U.S. player standing in the junior draw. On his way to the boys’ final, Buchanan downed some of the best young tennis talent from across the globe, including a 6-3, 7-6 (4) victory against top-seed and 2009 Australian Open Junior Boys’ Champion Yuki Bhambri of India.
The Buckeyes begin the 2009-10 fall season at the D’Novo All-American Men’s Tennis Championships Oct. 3-11 in Tulsa, Okla. Buchanan, ranked 108th in the ITA preseason singles polls, received the main draw wildcard in singles.
2009 U.S. Open Junior Boys’ Championship
Flushing, New York
USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center
Singles
First Round
Chase Buchanan (USA) def. No. 11 Kevin Krawietz (GER) – 3-6, 6-1, 7-5
Second Round
Chase Buchanan (USA) def. Hiroyasu Ehara (JPN) – 6-4, 6-4
Third Round
Chase Buchanan (USA) def. Marton Fucsovics (HUN) – 6-2, 6-3
Quarterfinal
Chase Buchanan (USA) def. No. 1 Yuki Bhambri (IND) – 6-3, 7-6 (4)
Semifinal
Chase Buchanan (USA) def. No. 8 Gianni Mina (FRA) – 6-3, 6-3
Final
No. 3 Bernard Tomic (AUS) def. Chase Buchanan (USA) – 6-1, 6-3
