Girls Nationals: Day leads SoCal contingent at San Diego


Play continues today at the USTA Billie Jean King Girls Nationals, featuring the top American 16s and 18s in competition at Barnes Tennis Center in San Diego. The 16s division has entered Round of 32 play, while the 18s draw resumes play in the Round of 64.

Hina Inoue (Huntington Beach) was dominant in early rounds, earning 6-0 sets in two of her first three matches. She next meets Carmen Corley, a #17 seed. Also in 16s, Rebecca Lynn (Newport Beach) meets top seed Gianna Pielet on Tuesday, while Kimberly Hance (Torrance) meets Kylie Collins.

In the 18s bracket, top seed Kayla Day continues to recover from injury at a tournament she’s won before. The Santa Barbara native was convincing in her opening round match and meets Esther Lovato in the Round of 64. Tough draws also await Nicole Mossmer (La Jolla), who’s won all four of her sets at a 6-1 tally. Mossmer faces off with America upstart Cori Gauff on Tuesday, while San Marino’s Anessa Lee meets talented Whitney Osuigwe.

Other 18s moving forward include Camille Kiss (Redlands), Amanda Chan (Pasadena), Open Sectionals champion Salma Ewing (Lakewood), Jennifer Gadalov (Los Angeles), Lindsay Hung (Oceanside), Rena Lin (Northridge), Charlotte Chavatipon (Fullerton), Jenna DeFalco (Tustin), and Vivian Cheng (Santa Monica).

Draws and live streaming video are available at the tournament website, http://www.ustagirlsnationals.
com. Weekend semis and finals will air on the Tennis Channel beginning Saturday.