At age 13, Raymond Sarmiento of Fontana, Calif., is “playing up” this week in the USTA National Boys 16s Clay Court Championships. Wednesday at Woodmont Country Club, the 5-foot-3 Sarmiento “played up” in more ways than one, facing 6-foot-4 Drew Courtney, of Clifton.
It was a fascinating duel as the 107-pound, unseeded Sarmiento, a rising eighth-grader, countered the big serve and powerful baseline strokes of the ninth-seeded Courtney, a rising junior at Robinson Highand reigning Virginia Group AAA state singles champion.
Unlike their disparity in height, the margin of the match was thin as Sarmiento found a way to win the most critical points, capturing a 7-5, 6-4 victory to advance to the round of 16 today. Play continues through Sunday at Woodmont.
“I’ve played guys that size, but I’ve never beaten one,” said Sarmiento. “In the second set, I kind of noticed he was tiring. ‘Make him play,’ was all I said to myself.”
Courtney’s defeat, coupled with fifth-seeded Jared Pinsky’s loss to unseeded Erik Corace, of Naples, Fla., 6-3, 6-7, 6-3, in the 18s, leaves the Washington area unrepresented in the final four rounds. Last year, Pinsky, a senior at Churchill High, made it to the semifinals of the 16s.
Could that be Sarmiento’s destiny this year? At times Wednesday, he appeared overmatched. Such was the case in the middle of the first set, when Courtney won four straight service points, even firing back-to-back aces on his second serve. In the next game, Courtney ripped precise returns deep into Sarmiento’s court, winning four of five points to square the set 4-4.
But in the decisive game of the first set, it was Sarmiento who was making the sharp returns, coming to the net, and moving Courtney. On break point, Sarmiento’s volley fake was so convincing, it sent Courtney sprawling. After firing his racquet against a fence, Courtney had to dust a sheet of cinders from the back of his shirt and pants.
“I gave him some angles and I was hitting behind him,” said Sarmiento. “That was working a lot. That and my inside-out forehand.”
In the second set, Courtney again overpowered Sarmiento in a few games, but the 13-year-old was undaunted, responding with his best tennis. At the end, Courtney appeared frustrated and dropped the final seven points.
“He’s young, so he really has nothing to lose out here,” said Courtney. “He’s really tough. Whenever I broke, he broke me right back.”
This is Sarmiento’s first super national tournament in 16s competition. He’s proven his ability at his age group winning a 12s national championship last year in Tuscon. In January, he won the prestigeous Teen Tennis in Bolton, England, a tournament that drew the world’s best players 14-and-under. He currently is ranked No. 9 in the nation in the 14 boys.
The victory over Courtney was Sarmiento’s second straight against a seeded player. Sarmiento expects his toughest test today when he takes on No. 3-seeded Jason Smith, of Davis, Calif.
“I have no idea how far I can go,” said Sarmiento. “I’m just taking it one round at a time.”
Net points
» Drew Courtney won two matches in this tournament last year on a sore left foot that he later discovered was broken.
» Courtney was beaten in the round of 64 by eventual champion Tyler Hochwalt, of Scottsdale, Ariz., who also eliminated Pinsky in the semifinals. Hochwalt is seeded fifth this year in the 18s.
» Ray Sarmiento won his first-round match Monday with an unfamiliar racquet. Flying back from Europe, his luggage was lost.
