2015 Review: American Teens (WTA)

A follow up on the 10 American Teens to Watch in 2015 (WTA).  How did the girls do as they tried to transition to the pro tour?

Louisa Chirico (Pic credit: @TennisAtlantic)

Louisa Chirico

Age: 19 (16 May 1996)
Height: 5-9

Plays: Right Handed (Double Handed Backhand)

2015 Year End WTA Ranking: 120

2014 Year End WTA Ranking: 189

Career High WTA Ranking: 109 (11/16/2015)

2015 Highlights: The highest ranked American teen on the list, Chirico had a steady rise in 2015.  The 19 year old qualified for her first WTA tour event in Acapulco, Mexico and won her first WTA tour match in Washington, defeating Heather Watson and  Alize Cornet to reach the quarterfinals.  Chirico's title at the $50K Dothan and a runner up finish at the $50K Indian Harbour Beach secured her the USTA French Open wildcard where she made her grand slam debut.  The New Yorker also reached the $100K and $125K finals in Midland and Limoges, respectively.

Decent Start to the 2015 American Campaign

Not a bad start to the new season from the American bunch highlighted by Venus Williams' victory in Auckland and the Hopman Final.  The ATP performance may not be as good as the WTA's, but there were some nice results at the lower tour events including a surprising start for Ryan Harrison and strong showings by the teenagers on the futures tour.

In the first week of the 2015 season, Venus Williams claimed her 46th title at the ASB Classic in Auckland.  The 34 year old upended fellow former World No.1, Caroline Wozniacki, 2-6 6-3 6-3.  With the victory, Williams is back up at No.18 on the WTA tour ranking.  Also in New Zealand, 21 year old Lauren Davis reached her first career semifinal coming back from 1st set deficient each time.  She defeated fellow Americans, Shelby Rogers and Sloane Stephens, as well as Pole Urszula Radwanska before falling to Williams.  CoCo Vandeweghe also made the quarterfinals.

2015 ITF World Junior Rankings

The International Tennis Federation (ITF) has released the first edition of its' 2015 World Junior Rankings this week.  After the removal of the no longer eligible 1996 born players, the United States is left with fourteen boys and fourteen girls in the Top 100, the most of any nation.  Russia has the next highest total, with twenty-one players, followed by Australia with fourteen.  Stefan Kozlov and Catherine Cartan Bellis lead the USA's contingent.

Joining the 3rd ranked Kozlov, who was as highest as No.2, in the Top 10 Boys club are Taylor Harry Fritz (5) and Michael Mmoh (8).  Former World Junior No.2, Francis Tiafoe, Alex Rybakov, and Reilly Opelka round up the Top 25.  Other players inside the Top 50 include Henrik Wiersholm, William Blumberg, Tommy Paul, and Sameer Kumar.

10 American Teens to Watch in 2015 (WTA)

This is the WTA version of "10 American Teenagers to Watch in 2015 (ATP)".  I'm not as knowledgeable in this field so I inquired some names from @rrjuki and @jokelly_tennis (thanks guys!).  There were so many names and it was tough to narrow the list down to ten so I decided to exclude players who turn 20 years old in 2015.  This list focuses on the 1996 born players and younger.

Taylor Townsend

Age: 18 (16 Apr 1996)
Height: 5-7

Plays: Left Handed (Double Handed Backhand)

2014 Year End WTA Ranking: 102

Career High WTA Ranking: 102 (03/11/2014)

2014 Highlights: Since ending 2012 as the world top-ranked junior, Townsend’s ascendant to the professional rank was steady despite her weight struggle.  The former Junior Australian Open champion jumped 574 ranking spots over the span of two years to a career best of 102.  Under the watchful eyes of the 1990 Wimbledon finalist, Zina Garrison, Townsend won two $50K titles in Indian Harbour Beach and Charlottesville to score the 2014 USTA French Open wildcard.  In her grand slam debut, the 18 year old defeated fellow American Vania King and later upset World No.24 Alize Cornet (FRA) before falling to Spaniard Carla Suarez Navarro (WTA 15).  She also received wildcards into Wimbledon and US Open, but fell in the first round to Klara Koukalova (CZE) and 18-time Grand Slam champion, Serena Williams, respectively.  Earlier this year, the powerful left hander claimed her first premier win over Italian Karin Knapp at the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells and made the doubles finals at the Citi Open in Washington D.C., partnering Eugenie Bouchard of Canada.