For the American junior boys team, it has been a successful week after entering the World Junior Team Championships as the No. 12 seed and sharing a pool with Egypt, the prohibitive favorites. After taking care of business against Argentina and Botswana in Pool A, the U.S. pushed Egypt hard, falling 2-1. Despite the loss, Max Reed gave Egypt’s former World Individual champion, Karim El Hammamy all he could handle before succumbing, 11-9, 11-9, 13-11, which secured the pool for Egypt.
The U.S. continued to play well in the knockout round when facing Malaysia for a spot in the top eight. Malaysia ultimately came out on top, 2-1, but once again Timmy Brownell put the Americans in posit for the upset by winning at the third position. On the heals of that disappointment, the U.S. faced ninth-seeded Colombia and came out on top, 2-1, to secure their spot in the 9/10 playoff with Israel on the final day.
Despite facing another team seeded ahead of them, the U.S. boys rose to the occasion and overcame Israel (seeded No. 11) earlier today.
The day got off to a rough start when Mason Ripka, playing at the No. 1 spot, lost in three sets to Daniel Poleshchuk, 11-4, 11-4, 11-5, but the only player on the team to not lose a single match in the team event, Timothy Brownell, leveled the tie at No.2, defeating Roee Avraham in four games 11-6, 11-13, 11-7, 11-8. Capping the day, No. 3 Max Reed clinched the final win for Team USA against Israel’s Noam Peer in four games 9-11, 11-6, 11-2, 11-6.
The ninth place finish marks the third best result for the American boys in the history of the Championships (only a seventh place in 2002 and and 8th place in 2012 have been better).
Group A: [12] United States vs. [11] Israel
Daniel Poleshchuk (ISR) bt. Mason Ripka (USA) 4-11, 4-11, 5-11 (24m)
Timothy Brownell (USA) bt. Roee Avraham (ISR) 11-6, 11-13, 11-7, 11-8 (56m)
Max Reed (USA) bt. Noam Peer (ISR) 9-11, 11-6, 11-2, 11-6 (38m)