12/02 - Baddeloo Captures Thanksgiving Classic
HTA’s Michael Baddeloo won the Wildcat Thanksgiving Classic held at Northwestern University’s Combe Tennis Center in Evanston, Ill. on November 13-15. Baddeloo was one of five academy players in the 29 player draw.
Seeded third, Baddeloo received a bye into the round of 16. He won each of his first two matches in convincing fashion, toping Ishaan Jaglan 6-0, 6-0 and HTA’s Ross Gan 6-2, 6-1.
In the top quarter of the draw HTA’s Daniel Choi took a tight first match 4-6, 6-0, 10-4 against Ethan Schnoll before moving on to play Academy mate Sam Wiener in the second round. Choi, the top seed, defeated the fifth-seeded Wiener 6-2, 6-3 to set the table for a semifinal match up with Baddeloo.
Baddeloo got on the board first with a 6-4 first set win, before Choi came back to take the second 3-6. The third set was a battle as the players stayed tied through the first 24 points; Baddeloo took the last two points to take the match and make it to the finals.
The final was another fight as Michael was forced to come from behind after losing the first set 3-6. In his comeback he took the next two sets 7-5, 6-3 to top Adam Collins for the championship.
“Michael is an excellent athlete with a lot of tennis potential,” said HTA Director Ernie Katko. “He has made very nice progress since joining the academy and we are excited to see where his game can go.”
Max MacKinnon was the fifth HTA competitor in the draw, and he fell to eventual semifinalist William Sauser in the first round.
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