KALAMAZOO, MI- Day two from Kalamazoo featured 16s opening-round action as well as 18s second-round matches. New Englanders were grouped together for the most part at Western Michigan, with a handful scattered at Stowe (Kalamazoo College) and Portage West Middle School.

New England picked up four singles victories in the 16s division, thanks to Sam Feldman, Connor Fu, Nick Condos and Mark Sverdlov. Will Peters, Richard Ciamarra and Ryan Fu all stayed hot in the 18s division, earning singles victories in round two.

New England players talked after their matches on Saturday:

Will Peters- Match thoughts: “I didn’t play as well today, but I’m pretty optimistic about tomorrow. I didn’t play my best today but I was definitely happy to grind out a win.”

“I had confidence I was going to win the match. ADVERTISEMENT I just tried to make more balls, which I didn’t do a great job with in the second set, and I just wanted to make him beat me. I didn’t want to just go out there and lose the match missing everything.”

Danny Milavsky- On first experience at Kalamazoo: “It feels like we’re all being treated like pros. It’s a fun experience, and when you’re on the court and have that chair umpire calling the score, it makes you want to be there. I just wanted to go out on the court and play forever.”

Derek Shen- Takeaways from first Kalamazoo experience : “It’s new, the atmosphere is different, it’s good, but eye opening. Once you start seeing kids from different sections, you realize how to start playing at the big national level and what it takes to compete out here at a steady level. It all comes down to the break and comes down to holding as well. My match was close score wise, but all it took was one break.”

Nick Condos- Thoughts on his match: “These past few months I’ve been struggling a little bit, so to come here and play a pretty solid match overall, that’s definitely a confidence booster. I was hitting my forehand really well, which I struggle with sometimes, and I was serving well, and I think I did well to hang in there.”

Sam Feldman- On finger injury suffered during match: “I cut my hand on the zipper of my cooler and the tape affected me a little bit. When I put pressure on it, the Band-Aid would move a little bit, and that distracted me. I lost five straight games to lose the second set. I took it off in the third and I think it just helped being able to hold the racquet regular again.”

Feldman moves on to play the No. 1 seed, Brandon Nakashima. “I think it’s a great opportunity, and he’ll be by far the best player I’ve ever played. It’s his first match of the tournament, but I don’t feel any pressure at all. I’m just going to give it my all and hope I can get through.”

Matt Campbell- On first match at Kalamazoo: “I came in here, looked (Andrew Branicki) up and he had a good record, so I was kind of nervous. I got down pretty badly but then started picking up my game from there. The nerves just went away and the ball starting falling in. If I had gotten a better lead and made some more returns, it would have been a different game, but he was just better today.”

Day 2 Singles Results:

Boys’ 16s

Sam Feldman- Won, 6-1, 4-6, 6-3

Nick Condos- Won, 6-7(6), 6-2, 7-5

Connor Fu (47)- Won, 6-3, 6-3

Mark Sverdlov- Won, 6-4, 6-4

Derek Shen- Lost, 5-7, 4-6

Danny Milavsky- Lost, 2-6, 6-7

Matt Campbell- Lost 2-6, 2-6

Jack Truwitt- Lost, 3-6, 4-6

Michael Karr- Lost, 5-7, 1-6

Boys’ 18s

Will Peters (41)- Won, 6-4, 3-6, 6-4

Richard Ciamarra- Won, 6-1, 6-3

Ryan Fu (46)- Won, 6-2, 6-2

Nikita Larichev- Lost, 6-7(3), 3-6

Max Freeman (35)- Lost, 4-6, 4-6

Stay tuned as the tournament progresses for New England doubles results.