
By SDCN Editor
San Diego, CA–It was a day to remember for 17th-seeded Ishika Ashar as the 16-year-old from Boca Raton, FL, defeated ninth-seeded Nicole Weng of South Pasadena, CA 7-5, 6-2 in one hour and 32 minutes to win the 16 singles title of the 2024 USTA Billie Jean King Girls’ 16s and 18s National Championships at Barnes Tennis Center.
Ashar will receive a wild card entry into the Girls’ Singles draw of the Junior US Open later this month in New York. While Ashar has attended the tournament in the past as a spectator this will be her first appearance as a player.
“It’s a dream come true. The past year, this is what I’ve been working towards and now I get to go to New York and do my best,” Ashar said after being presented her first USTA Gold Ball. “It feels unreal. I saw the ball go out (on match point) and my emotions were let out. My stress was gone.”
Ashar, who trains in Delray Beach, FL, had never advanced past the second round of a Level One National Championship and lost in the first round of last year’s event. However, when she arrived in San Diego this year, Ashar felt good about her chances to make a run.
“I knew coming into this tournament I was playing well. I got better with every match I played. My confidence just kept going,” Ashar said. “I’m coming to net more and I’m feeling more comfortable. My fitness has gotten better and I’m feeling very confident.”
Following her title victory, Ashar spoke about her hard-fought win over third-seed Isabelle DeLuccia in the Round of 16 that helped her get through to the championship match.
“The Round of 16 was my only three-set match. I lost the first set, 6-7 and then I was able to win 6-1, 6-1. That match really gave me the confidence to know that I can compete and stay out there as long as I needed to,” she said.
Fourteenth-seeded Lyla Middleton of Santa Fe, N.M., won the 16s Third-Place match and a USTA bronze ball when 16th-seeded Nancy Lee of Belmont, MA, could not play the match due to injury.
Later in the day, Middleton teamed with Jordyn Hazelitt of Henderson, NV to win the 16s doubles title with an impressive 0-6, 7-5, 6-2 victory over fifth-seeded Bella Payne of Bradenton, Fla., and Sara Shumate of Bradenton Beach, FL.
Two surprising results highlighted the 18s singles semifinals on Saturday as top-seeded Clervie Ngounoue of Orlando, FL, and second-seeded Akasha Urhobo of Fort Lauderdale, FL, were eliminated in straight sets.
Playing on Stadium Court, third-seeded Iva Jovic of Torrance, CA, continued dominating play in this week’s tournament as she shocked Ngounoue, the defending champion, 6-1, 6-2 in 72 minutes. The 16-year-old Jovic has dropped only 14 games in her six singles matches.
In the lower half of the draw fifth-seeded Valerie Glozman of Bellevue, WA, who will begin playing collegiate tennis at Stanford University this fall, dismissed Urhobo 6-2, 6-4 on Court 10 in 73 minutes.
Glozman will meet Jovic in Sunday’s 18s singles championship at 1 p.m. The match will mark Glozman’s second appearance in the 18s singles finals in the last three years.