Last month, David Henry of Signal Mountain graduated from McCallie and completed his high school tennis career. He signed a scholarship to play at the University of Memphis.

But there’s still one more thing the 18-year-old wants: a chance to play at the National Hard Court Championships in Kalamazoo, Mich.

And he’s taking his first steps toward there at the USTA Tennessee Junior Qualifier. Henry, the third seed in boys’ 18s, advanced to the semifinals of the tournament that sends top singles finishers to the Southern Championships later this month.

The state tournament continues today at Baylor School with the semifinals and doubles finals. The qualifier concludes Thursday with championship matches in singles at Baylor.

Henry, Will Reynolds of Chattanooga and Tarah Garner of Signal Mountain are the sole local participants left in the 18s main draw. Henry will play Reynolds in a boys’ semifinal. Garner will face Allison Hodges of Germantown today.

Reynolds beat Watson George of Memphis, 6-2, 6-2. Henry beat Ezekiel Sansing of Memphis, 6-0, 6-1, in a quarterfinal match.

“A lot of times when I play, I start out going for too much and I start out too tight,” Henry said. “This time, I relaxed and got into a groove a lot faster.”

Garner beat Chelsea Hunt of Old Hickory in the quarterfinals, 6-3, 6-4. Garner lost to Hunt the last time the two played and learned from the experience.

“I lost to her the last time. I wasn’t playing well that time,” Garner said. “She hits everything most people wouldn’t expect to get back. This time, I was trying to keep my shots deep and not hit anything short, or else she’d put it away.”

Guinn Garcia of Knoxville beat Sarah Evans of Chattanooga, 6-1, 6-0 and Hodges defeated Jennifer Taylor of Signal Mountain, 6-1, 6-1. In the 16s event at the Champions Club, Richard Gamble of Harrison lost to Steve Young, 6-3, 6-4 in a quarterfinal.

Comments