Almost Only Counts in Horseshoes and Hand Grenades…

and Tennis Players Take Lengthy Strides to Almost Catch Up Late Lightning and Showers Far from Dampening Stars’ Spirits at “Clays”

USTA National Clays @ Delray Beach – Day 2 

Delray Beach, FL – The second day of action at the USTA Boys 18 & 16 National Clay Court  Championships delivered more bright sunshine and temperatures in the 90s, adding to the elements all the  players face daily playing against other elite opponents in a Tier 1 national tournament. 

Dylan Atkinson has especially been tested the first two days, needing to rally from down a set to claim victory each day. Atkinson, who lives in Old Greenwich, Conn., has overcome all obstacles presented to him the first  two days to advance to the third round of the Boys 18-and-under bracket. He followed up a three-set win on  Sunday with another come-from-behind three-hour endurance test Monday, beating Hayze Loop of Tucson,  Ariz., 3-6, 7-5, 6-2 at the Delray Beach Tennis Center. It earned him the Baptist Health Orthopedic Care  Boys 18s Player of the Day.  

The 17-year-old rising high school senior was down 5-4 in the second set and held off two match points to take  the set and keep his hopes alive for a possible march to Sunday’s final. Perseverance, however, seems to be  in Atkinson’s tennis DNA. It took him several matches to get his first taste of victory when he started playing  competitive tennis several years ago, and he disappointingly failed to win a match here at the National Clay  Court Championships last year. But after some encouragement from his mother Julie, who played collegiately  at Amherst, and his coach, he continued to press on.  

“After I lost (here last year) I was a little upset and kind of wanted to give up, but I kept pushing,” Atkinson said,  acknowledging that the road to success often is filled with some road blocks. “And at the very beginning when I  first started playing tournaments I think I lost eight matches in a row, so I was definitely a little hesitant in  continuing to play. (But) I just like competing with myself and my mom encouraged me to stick with it. She  started off struggling at first, too.”  

Atkinson said winning his first-round match here Sunday helped boost his confidence, too.  “I was super happy and super motivated to win that first one,” he said.  

Atkinson’s next opponent is Aaron Sandler of Huntington Valley, Pa., who beat Atkinson last year in their only  previous meeting and has won both of his matches here in straight sets. 

“I lost pretty badly to him about a year ago, but I’m looking forward to it,” Atkinson said. “I want to keep pushing  in this tournament, and I’ve improved a lot in the past year.”  

Jordan Chang, on the other hand, has recorded straight-set wins in both of his matches so far this week. He  defeated Benjamin Willwerth of nearby Jupiter, Fla., 6-4, 6-2 on Monday at the Palm Beach Gardens Tennis  Center and has been named the South Florida BMW Centers Boys 16s Player of the Day.

The 16-year-old Chang, from Queens, N.Y., reached the semifinals of a tournament in Virginia Beach last  month, his best performance so far on a clay surface that he said really boosted his confidence on the slower  surface. He said he’s pleased that he has so far been able to dispose of both his opponents in straight sets.  

“Those three-hour matches are tough,” Chang said of the three-setters that Atkinson has had to endure his first  two matches here. “Both matches I’ve been up 3-0 in second set and then the heat kind of got to me, so I had  to refocus.”  

Chang lives only about 20 minutes from the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York, site of  the U. S. Open later this summer. He trains at the John McEnroe Tennis Academy on Long Island, and one of  the most memorable moments of his young tennis career happened a couple years ago when he and some  others were awarded time to play a few points against the Hall of Famer.  

“(McEnroe) hit me with a drop shot and then he came to the net and I hit him with a sliding ankle drop shot and  he applauded,” Chang said, adding that he was proud of that gesture from McEnroe. “He’s always serious  even playing with us babies, so he was trying. I was thinking as I was about to hit with him, ‘oh my god this is  my chance to prove (something),’ and I hit him with a winner. I have that video saved.” 

Chang often is asked when first meeting someone if he is related to former ATP Tour star Michael Chang, who was the youngest male player to win a Grand Slam tournament when he captured the 1989 French Open  title on the clay at Roland Garros.  

“I have seen him on film, YouTube, and he’s fast on the court, and I’m pretty fast too,” Chang said of the former  pro whose last name he shares. “My quickness is somewhat like him.”  

Quick work is what Jordan Chang has made of his first two opponents so far this week. He next faces a well rested Abhinav Chunduro of Plano, Tex., who received a first-round bye as a No. 15 seed and won his only  match so far in straight sets Monday. So Jordan Chang might have to channel his best inner-Michael Chang on  Tuesday. And maybe even drop in a little magical shot he used against John McEnroe not long ago.  

Baptist Health will be participating as the official Healthcare Partner for the tournament for the second  consecutive year. As the largest not-for-profit healthcare organization in South Florida, Baptist Health will  provide medical services and support for the players all week and Baptist Health Orthopedic Care will be  presenting the daily Boys 18s Player of the Day. 

BMW, the official automobile of the USTA National Clay Court Championships, will feature a 2022 M3 and M4  edition vehicle on-site at the Delray Beach Tennis Center and South Florida BMW Centers will be presenting  the daily Boys 16s Player of the Day. Next to the display cars, fans can enter a contest to win four box seat  tickets to one session of the 2023 Delray Beach Open. 

Singles action continues on Tues at 8 a.m. EST. Doubles will not begin before noon EST. Matches will  continue being tested at main host site Delray Beach Tennis Center, One Tennis Academy at Boca Lago, Boca  West Country Club, Boca Raton Racquet Club and Palm Beach Gardens Tennis Center. For complete draws,  including match times, locations and results, click here. For all other tournament related information,  visit YellowTennisBall.com/NationalClays. Media interested in covering the event can contact John Butler to  arrange coverage and interviews, 561-350-6795, Jbutler@YellowTennisBall.com. 

Official 2022 Sponsors 

• * City of Delray Beach * VITACOST.com  * Baptist Health South Florida * South Florida BMW Centers * Palm Beach County Sports Commission * Renaissance Boca Raton * Florida Sports Foundation * One Tennis Academy * GAMMA Sports * Complete Performance * Swing Vision * Wilson * Wyndham Boca Raton * USTA 

About The City of Delray Beach: In southeast Palm Beach County, along the Atlantic seashore, a Village by  the Sea that began as an agricultural community in 1895 has become one of Florida’s most popular  destinations for visitors, new families and seasonal residents. The City of Delray Beach encompasses slightly  over 16 square miles with a permanent population of nearly 65,000 and growing. The city’s charm continues to  garner national awards. In 2017 alone the city received three awards: the “All-America City” award from the  National Civic League (NCL) for literacy strides (the NCL also recognized Delray Beach in 1993 and 2001), a  “Playful City USA” designation for providing 24 playgrounds for residents, and the recognition of Atlantic  Avenue as one of the “10 Great American Shopping Streets” by USA Today. In 2012 during the nationally  televised “Best of the Road” special, Delray Beach was chosen by Rand McNally, USA Today and the Travel  Channel as the “Most Fun Small Town” in America. In 2014, USA Today named Delray as one of the “Best  Atlantic Beaches in Florida.”