Top Seed Dsouza Powers Through for Boys' 14U Title at MAC Open

Jacob Dsouza, the top seed, captured the Boys' 14 & Under singles title at the Level 5 MAC Open, held February 6-8 at Manchester Athletic Club in Manchester, MA. Dsouza was the class of the draw all weekend, dropping just one set en route to the title in a tournament that featured electronic line challenge technology.

A Tight First Set, Then Dsouza Takes Over

The final delivered the matchup the seeds predicted — No. 1 vs. No. 2 — and the first set lived up to the billing. Dsouza and Oyebog went to a tiebreak in the first set where Dsouza edged out 7-5 to take it 7-6. From there, Dsouza shifted gears. He raced through the second set 6-1, breaking Oyebog's serve repeatedly to close out the title in convincing fashion.

Dsouza's Path to the Final

Dsouza's toughest test came in his opening match. Isaiah Martin pushed the top seed to a first-set tiebreak before Dsouza pulled away, winning the breaker 7-1 and then cruising 6-2 in the second. From there, Dsouza was dominant, dispatching unseeded Albert Huang 6-3, 6-2 in the semifinals without facing a serious challenge.

Oyebog Edges Bens in Semifinal Tiebreak

No. 2 seed John Oyebog had a smooth path through the quarterfinals, sweeping past Samuel Guss 6-1, 6-2. His semifinal against No. 4 seed Lukas Bens was a different story. Oyebog took the first set 6-3, but Bens dug in during the second. The set went to a tiebreak, where Oyebog prevailed 7-4 to book his spot in the final.

Bens and Huang Impress in Quarters

Fourth seed Lukas Bens was clinical in his quarterfinal, rolling past Rory McLaughlin 6-2, 6-0 in the most lopsided match of the first round. Unseeded Albert Huang also impressed, knocking off Luke Zhang 6-3, 6-4 to earn his semifinal date with Dsouza.

Full Results

Quarterfinals

Dsouza [1] d. Martin, 7-6(1), 6-2

Huang d. Zhang, 6-3, 6-4

Bens [4] d. McLaughlin, 6-2, 6-0

Oyebog [2] d. Guss, 6-1, 6-2

Semifinals

Dsouza [1] d. Huang, 6-3, 6-2

Oyebog [2] d. Bens [4], 6-3, 7-6(4)

Final

Dsouza [1] d. Oyebog [2], 7-6(5), 6-1