15-year-old wins men's open division of Ann Arbor City Tennis Tournament
Jason Kerst, 15, won the men's singles open division champion at the Ann Arbor City Tennis Tournament at the University of Michigan Varsity Tennis Tournament on Sunday, July 14.
Daniel Brenner | AnnArbor.com
- Photo Gallery: Images from the 2013 Ann Arbor City Tennis Tournament
Huateng Holcombe sat on the hill overlooking the courts at the University of Michigan Varsity Tennis Center on Sunday. Huateng’s husband, Sven, was playing for his fourth men’s singles open championship at the Ann Arbor City Tennis Tournament, so she came out to watch.
Heidi Kerst sat in the stands in support of Holcombe’s opponent, her 15-year-old son, Jason. It didn’t matter if Heidi wanted to be there or not.
She had to be. Heidi was Jason’s ride.
Kerst may have needed a ride to and from the court on Sunday, but he certainly didn’t need any assistance on it, as he defeated Holcombe in three sets (6-3, 4-6, 6-3). Kerst pumped his fists and grinned with a mouth full of braces after Holcombe double-faulted on the final point.
“It’s just a great feeling. I worked so hard this last year because this tournament means a lot to me and I didn’t do quite as well last year, so this is a nice result,” said Kerst.
Kerst will be a sophomore at Skyline High School in the fall, where he was the varsity boys team’s No. 1 singles player last year as a freshman. Sunday wasn’t his first success at the Ann Arbor City Tournament, as he won the 18-and-under division when he was 13.
Jason Kerst, left, and Sven Holcombe embrace after the men's singles open division final in the Ann Arbor City Tennis Tournament on Sunday, July 14.
Daniel Brenner | AnnArbor.com
Tournament officials couldn’t remember the last time a junior-aged player won the tournament and the tournament’s archives don’t indicate the age of players.
“He’s just getting a bit more consistent,” said Holcombe, 31, who beat Kerst in three sets last year in the round of 16. “This year he was just that extra few percentage points stronger and more consistent and I couldn’t match that.”
Kerst’s coach, former Big Ten singles champion Peter Pusztai, said when playing an experienced player like Holcombe, the biggest challenge is being able to handle the variety of shots they can play. But Kerst handled the variety just fine on Sunday.
“I’m fairly familiar with his game,” Kerst said. “He beat me 6-4 in the third set (last year), so winning this year in a third set and in a final is pretty great.”
Pete Cunningham covers sports for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at petercunningham@annarbor.com. Follow him on Twitter @petcunningham.
Comments
BobbyJohn
Mon, Jul 15, 2013 : 6:01 p.m.
For Jason to be able to defeat a fine player (and gentleman) like Sven Holcombe is a true accomplishment for a 15 year old tennis player. Sven tried his entire bag of tricks, but Jason kept his composure, continued keeping his shots low over the net, and gave just enough power to his shots, to be able to upset Sean. Your racquet control was most impressive. Well done, Jason.
Pete Cunningham
Tue, Jul 16, 2013 : 5:56 p.m.
Low and over the net was huge. The tape was definitely not Sven's friend on Sunday his attempts at "low and over the net" attempts didn't work out as well as Jason's.
Geoff Larcom
Mon, Jul 15, 2013 : 5:03 p.m.
Clever lead paragraphs on this story, indicating that the champion's mom needed to be there for his ride home. I look forward to watching this young man playing for Skyline this coming year. The Pusztai brothers have left a big imprint on area tennis, and it continues with Jason Kerst!
Pete Cunningham
Mon, Jul 15, 2013 : 5:55 p.m.
Heidi was great. We both lost track of the score during one game and she said "It's not my job to keep score. I'm the taxi."
aareader
Mon, Jul 15, 2013 : 4:09 p.m.
This is fantastic! Jason is a smart, talented teenager who will go far. And what a classy comment from Sven! I guess tennis really is a gentleman's sport.
Sven
Mon, Jul 15, 2013 : 4:01 p.m.
Well done Jason, too good this time mate - and while I still had a chance or two I've a sneaking suspicion you'll be too good for me next time as well. Congrats.
shine16
Mon, Jul 15, 2013 : 2:08 p.m.
Although I don't know any of the whys/hows of this, I think it's noble of Jason to play in the men's division instead of playing in the junior division and not giving any of those players a chance at winning. Clearly his skills are beyond typical for his age.
Pete Cunningham
Mon, Jul 15, 2013 : 5:53 p.m.
There was no junior division in this tournament. Players 19 and older were put in divisions based on skill set and players 18-and-under (aka juniors) are put into the open division, which is typically the toughest division
Pete Cunningham
Mon, Jul 15, 2013 : 1:43 p.m.
For clarification purposes: It is not a USTA (or USATA) rule that juniors can only play in the open division. That is an Ann Arbor Area Community Tennis Association (AAACTA) rule. Sorry for any confusion, thanks to tournament organizer Helen Giordani for emailing me to clear things up.
choi
Mon, Jul 15, 2013 : 12:11 p.m.
"Per U.S.A.T.A regulations, You probably mean USTA regulations,
Pete Cunningham
Mon, Jul 15, 2013 : 1:42 p.m.
Further clarification. It is not a USTA (or USATA) rule that juniors can only play in the open division. That is an Ann Arbor Area Community Tennis Association (AAACTA) rule. Sory for any confusion, thanks to tournament organizer Helen Giordani for emailing me to clear things up.
Pete Cunningham
Mon, Jul 15, 2013 : 1:32 p.m.
Indeed. Thanks. The correction has been made.
Jrileyhoff
Mon, Jul 15, 2013 : 11:59 a.m.
Only 2 players in the draw were under age 19. All the rest were 19-50+, including the finalist Sven who is in his 30s. So, yes, they are men.
Jake C
Mon, Jul 15, 2013 : 5:24 p.m.
Ok NSider, you get right on drafting up a proposal of those "musculature development requirements", I'm sure that will be pretty easy to do. After all, it's not like a 14-year old boy who plays high-school football as a linebacker would ever have more muscles than a 30-year old marathon runner, right?
Pete Cunningham
Mon, Jul 15, 2013 : 1:33 p.m.
Can we all agree that a 15-year-old beating a 31-year-old (and 3x champion) at tennis is a bit different than a 1-year-old beating Manute Bol in a limbo contest.
NSider
Mon, Jul 15, 2013 : 12:20 p.m.
Which is why I am no longer interested in watching any sports events.... US Olympic Women's gymnastic team, aged what? 10+? I think there should be some musculature development requirements to determine if a male is a man or a boy and if a female is a woman or a girl. If not, then bring back limbo contests and watch the under 1 year old men sweep that event!
NSider
Mon, Jul 15, 2013 : 11:49 a.m.
Ah yes... 15 year old "men". Yeah, right.