Coquitlam Tennis Club Junior Program 2016: Time Ran Out for Defending Boys' Champion

CTC Junior Club Closed – U18 | Winnie Zhuang successfully defended her club title against the same opponent she met in last year's final. She still needed three sets to defeat Donica Labayo. Labayo had her chance in the finals when she levelled the match by taking the second set 6-1, but she eventually lost out 10-4 in the super-tiebreak third set. Labayo also had a difficult semi-final against Giselle Bonney. That match went to three sets with a 10-5 in the third set super-tiebreak. Zhuang defeated her nemesis Anastassia Krasnova 7-5, 6-3 in the other semi-finals. Just weeks earlier, Krasnova beat Zhuang for the Coquitlam Junior Open under 18 singles title. Eighteen years old Bonney collected her third place win in her final junior event. Labayo paired up with Zhuang to win the under 18 doubles crown. Second place went to Bonney and Krasnova after they went down 8-4 to the eventual winner in the round-robin contest.

What was meant to be the last junior title for Alexander Baumann turned contrary to the script. The final between Baumann and Steven Shen had been postponed a few times due to Baumann's ankle injury. A date was finally set to compete the final in time for the Award & Banquet event. Both players have not been playing for a few weeks. Baumann quickly jumped to a one set lead as he took the first set 6-1. Soon Shen found his game and even the match with a 6-2 second set. With the match at one set all, Baumann contemplated retiring as his foot was still bothering him and limited his agility. But he decided to continue as he was confident to make it through the match. Shen broke Baumann's service game early in the final set and kept that lead to finish the set 6-4 and claimed his first club single title. This result bookended the junior rivalry between these two friends as this was Baumann last junior event. They did not know each other at the start of their rivalry. Their first match took place at the Junior Spring Break tournament in Victoria in 2009. Shen won their first encounter in the under 14 consolation final. Baumann then ran off with four straight wins before Shen won one back at the 2011 club event. That was in the round robin portion of the under 18 singles event. After that it was Baumann for another four consecutive match wins before this final.

Alexander Baumann vs Steven Shen Head to Head Matches: 8-3
2009 Junior Spring Break – U14 Champs consolation final: Steven 6-3, 7-5
2009 BC Junior Hardcourt – U14 Challenger consolation semi-finals: Alexander 8-6
2009 Stanley Park – U14 Champs round of 32: Alexander 6-0, 6-4
2009 Coquitlam Junior Open – U14 Champs consolation final: Alexander 6-2, 6-3
2010 Coquitlam Junior Open – U18 Challenger quarter-finals: Alexander 3-6, 6-4, 7-5
2011 CTC Club Closed – U18 round robin first round: Steven 5-7, 6-4, 6-2
2012 CTC Club Closed – U18 round robin first round: Alexander 7-6, 6-0
2012 Whistler Labour Day – U18 Champs round robin: Alexander 7-6, 6-0
2013 Richmond Open – U18 Champs round of 32: Alexander 7-6, 5-7, 6-4
2013 Kelowna U18 Qualifying – Champs consolation final: Alexander 6-1, 6-4
2013 CTC Club Closed – U18 final: Steven 1-6, 6-2, 6-4

Both the under 18 finalists easily defeated their semi-finals opponents. Baumann beat 15 years old Matthew Wong 8-0. Wong was the 2011 under 14 club singles champion. Shen defeated first timer Riley Friend 8-2. Riley is also an 15 years old junior. Baumann's consolation was taking the under 18 club doubles crown with his long time doubles partner Shen. They successfully defended their championships title. The second place went to Marcus Thian and Wong.

Editor's Note: All these club closed reports have been later than usual, nevertheless the results are needed to be archived online.