Clays at the Beach: Finals finish with emotions and drama
Jul 15, 2024
The sun was relentless at Delray Beach Tennis Center as the USTA Boys' 18 and 16 National Clay Court Championships finals took place yesterday. It was as if there was an invisible competitor that each player had to face — the heat.
The first match of the day for the 16 Championships kicked off at 8:30am where Gus Grumet (1) defeated Andrew Johnson (16) 6-2 3-6 6-3. Grumet showed considerable poise throughout the match but lost some rhythm in the second set as Johnson began to dictate baseline play. However, it wasn't enough to stop the no. 1 seed from taking home the gold ball.
Above: Florida Tennis discusses the 16 Championships match with no. 1 seed and winner Gus Grumet. Instagram: Florida Tennis.
The second match of the day for the 18 Championships started promptly at 11:00am where Dylan Long (2) took down Ronit Karki (3) 6-7 6-1 6-4 in a rollercoaster ride of emotions. Long dropped the first set to Karki in a thriller. Then Karki began to cramp. At multiple times it appeared Karki would default but he pushed on and forced Long to gut out the win in three.
Above: The 18 Championships winner Dylan Long holds the trophy with pride. Photo: USTA National Clay Court Championships
Both matches showcased immense grit to endure South Florida's sauna-like conditions. There were plenty of towel breaks and grimaces as the finalists found a way to fight for a third set showdown. In the end, fitness played a critical role — Grumet and Long should be proud that they'd trained for such a marathon final (and tough week) of tennis.
For complete results, check out the draw. And be sure to view the photo gallery below to see the proud champions and finalists at this year's Clays at the Beach.
Photo Gallery
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Source/Photos: USTA National Clay Court Championships