King, Mchale Collect Easter Bowl Titles

by Staff
4/19/2009
by Staff - 4/19/2009

NY Buzz teammates Evan King and Christina McHale each collected titles this weekend at the prestigious 42nd annual Easter Bowl championships held at Rancho Las Palmas Resort in Racho Mirage, California.

On Sunday, the fourth-seeded King defeated No. 2 seed Tennys Sandgren 6-2, 6-2 to capture the boys’ 18 title. The 17-year-old King lost only one set in the 64-draw tournament en route to victory.

King has been red hot since becoming a member of the NY Buzz. Just a week earlier the Chicago native reached the final a week at the USTA International Spring Championships 2009 in Carson, California.

King, though, wasn’t alone on the winners’ podium for the Buzz as his fellow teammate McHale dominated the competition to win the Easter Bowl girls’ 18s title.

The 16-year-old McHale routed tops-seeded Lauren Embree 6-0, 6-3 in the final on Saturday. Like King, McHale was seeded No. 4 and dropped just one set during her title march.

“I always look forward to this tournament,” said McHale, a resident of Englewood Cliffs, N.J. “This was a little unexpected but definitely one of my biggest wins.”

A third member of the Buzz was also victorious this month. Last weekend Sloane Stephens claimed the girls’ 18 singles and doubles titles at the USTA International Spring Championships. The 16-year-old Stephens of Lauderdale Hill, FL, defeated Grace Min 6-1, 6-2 on April 12 in Carson.

Alex Domijan, who rounds out the 2009 NY Buzz roster, did not play in either tournament. Domijan is currently No. 1 in the USTA boys’ 18 rankings.

The Easter Bowl is one of the biggest junior tournaments of the year. Past participants include Pete Sampras, Andre Agassi, Andy Roddick, Jimmy Connors, John McEnroe, Jennifer Capriati and Lindsay Davenport.

The 2009 Buzz begin their season on July 3 at home against the Philadelphia Freedoms. The Buzz will welcome to town 8-time Grand Slam champion Venus Williams to the Capital Region on July 9, and tennis legend Martina Navratilova on July 14.

Tickets for both Venus Williams and Martina Navaratilova night, or for any of the other home matches at University of Albany's SEFCU Arena are on sale now by clicking the ticket link on the left or by calling 518-378-BUZZ. Don't miss out on the future stars taking on the greats of the game.