$92,000
U.S. Open
By Larry Hodges
Right: Margaret Smith signing prize money checks. Copyright 2001 by Larry Hodges.
"Every year the U.S. Open gets better and better. This year was the best yet – everything was scheduled, on time, and well organized," said Johnny Huang, newly crowned North American Men’s Singles Champion and ITTF Pro Tour Men’s Singles Finalist. It was just a few years ago that the U.S. Open had become nearly a laughingstock in the world, with poorly scheduled events and even a players’ walkout.
The final day of the U.S. Open had only five events – Under 10 and Under 12 Boys’ and Girls’ Singles, and Under 1800. There was also the regular Bobbie Gusikoff Fund-raising Benefit Hardbat Tournament, run by Ed Ball and won by Lily Yip over a chopper using a clipboard for a racket, who shall remain nameless unless you see the byline above.
Marcus Jackson (L) and Diana Li (R) being interviewed on TV. Copyright 2001 by Larry Hodges.
Marcus Jackson (Under 10 Boys' Singles Champion) and Diana Li (Under 12 Girls' Semifinalist) were both interviewed for the local Channel 6 TV station; photos of this will go up later.
Under 12 Boys’ Singles
Lorencio Lupulesku, Under 12 Boys' Singles finalist and nephew of Ilija Lupulesku. Copyright 2001 by Larry Hodges.
Sherif Shola of Egypt won this event over Lorencio Lupulesku of Yugoslavia, 16 & 16. The event had a very strong international draw, and Andew Lin of Florida was the only USA junior to make the semifinals, losing to Lupulesku at 15 & 16. Lorencio, it turns out, is the nephew of that other Lupulesku, Ilija, the former Yugoslavian star now living in Chicago. On the other side of the draw, Shola defeated Jorge Alberto Mino Pujo of Ecuador, 21 & 8.
Below: Under 10 Boys' Singles Champion Marcus Jackson (R) loops against Roberto Torres Zevallos of Peru in the Final. Copyright 2001 by Larry Hodges.
Under 10 Boys’ Singles
Marcus Jackson of Maryland defeated Roberto Torres Zevallos of Peru in the final, -18,15,16. Marcus led 12-7 in the third before Zevallos pulled to 13-12, but leading 17-16, Marcus scored four in a row to end it. In the semifinals, Marcus defeated Shelby Lane of Tennessee at –22,14,18,while Zevallos defeated Preston Chin of Georgia, 13 & 14.
Under 12 Girls’ Singles
Top-seeded Judy Hugh of New Jersey defeated Jessica Yick of California in the final, 7 & 12. Judy’s main scare in the event had been in the semifinals, where she’d lost the first game to Diana Li of Florida before winning, -16,15,9. In the other semifinal, Jessica had defeated Ercilia Santos of Dominican Republic, -13,11,14.
Some of the Under 10 Girls at the U.S. Open ham it up for the camera.
Copyright 2001 by Larry Hodges.
Under 10 Girls’ Singles
Linden Li of Maryland defeated Amy Huang of Florida in the final, 14, & 18. Linden came in sporting a way-out-of-date 521 rating that probably made opponents rather overconfident! In the semifinals, Linden defeated Gilliam Wu of Florida, while Amy defeated Viviana Rubio of Puerto Rico.
Under 1800
Geraldo Gandia of Puerto Rico won the event over William Maisonet of Florida, 17 & 16. Gandia had a few close calls – he lost the first game of his first match (round of 64) before defeating Hugh Lu at –12,17,14; in the quarterfinals he had barely defeated fellow Puerto Rican Johana Garcia at 10,-20,19. In the semifinals he also had won two close games, against Anthony Maharaj of Florida, 18 & 20. In the other semifinals, Maisonet defeated Evan Momios of New York, resident on-line photographer at this tournament, at –18,12,12.
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