USTA SOUTHERN CLOSED 16’S

Rogers teenager breezes to a title

Brooke Killingsworth of Rogers completed her unfettered march through the field with a 6-1, 6-2 victory over Carrie Beckman of Louisville, Ky., in the girls division of the United States Tennis Association's Southern Closed Boys and Girls 16's Championships at Rebsamen Tennis Center in Little Rock on Saturday.

Killingsworth, 16, said no result has equaled the significance of Saturday's achievement.

"To this point, this is the biggest one," she said. "It's meaningful. It hasn't really registered yet, but it's kind of a relief. I've been training for it, and now I've finally got it."

Tournament director Chip Stearns said he was not surprised by Killingsworth's performance.

"We all really thought she'd do well in this tournament," Stearns said. "Maybe not to this degree, but she is playing very well."

Killingsworth, the No. 3 seed, won each of her six matches in straight sets, and none of her opponents won more than three games in a set or five in a match. Killingsworth's three previous matches before the final included 6-1, 6-1 over Jackeline Lopez of Lawrenceville, Ga., and 6-2, 6-1 over Jade Houston of Raleigh, N.C., before she won the semifinal round in a walkover after top-seeded Lara Schneider of Mount Pleasant, S.C., withdrew because of severe dehydration.

"All last night, I just wanted to play," she said. "I just wanted morning to get here. I was nervous, but I was mainly just excited."

For a moment, it looked as if Killingsworth's final opponent might also withdraw. Killingsworth appeared dominant through the first set, but the 15-year-old Beckman, the No. 2 seed, led 2-1 in the second set before falling to the court with a right ankle injury in the fourth game. She received assistance from an athletic trainer, who taped her swollen ankle, and returned to play in the final seconds of her allotted medical timeout.

"I rolled it and I heard it pop," Beckman said. "It happened to my left ankle last year, so it was kind of like, 'Why again?' Injuries are always frightening, and I wanted to make sure it was OK."

Beckman said the pain subsided, but her mobility was compromised. Killingsworth could tell.

"She was still hitting it fine, but she just couldn't get there," Killingsworth said.

Beckman did not again score, but she offered no excuses for her loss.

"She's a really good player," Beckman said. "This tournament, she has basically beat everyone pretty badly. She's playing really well, and I'm happy for her."

Sports on 06/17/2018

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