December 28, 2024 – January 3, 2025
Northeast ISD Blossom Tennis Center, San Antonio, TX

At the Level 1 USTA event in Texas, Catherine Chan delivered an impressive performance, earning recognition for both her athletic ability and sportsmanship. Competing in the Girls 12U age group, Chan not only participated in a series of tough matches but also earned the Sportsmanship Award, a true testament to her character on and off the court.

Tournament Overview
Chan’s journey through the tournament was marked by moments of brilliance and tough lessons, reflecting the competitive nature of the prestigious event. Here’s a breakdown of her matches:

Round of 128 (R128):

Opponent: Alison Brown (#159 National Rank)
Result: Chan dominated the match with a 6-0, 6-3 victory. It was a strong performance to begin the tournament, setting the tone for the matches to come.
Round of 64 (R64):

Opponent: Lyla Qian (#78 National Rank)
Result: In a highly competitive encounter, Chan struggled to convert crucial deuce points. Despite having several game points at 2-2, the match turned in Qian’s favor, as Chan lost 4-6, 2-6. It was a challenging but valuable learning experience.
Round of 32 (R32):

Opponent: Lucia Finchelstein (#74 National Rank)
Result: Chan faced a tough test against Finchelstein, ultimately falling 4-6, 1-6.

Round of C-16 (R16):

Opponent: Dani Grant (#126 National Rank)
Result: In one of the most exciting matches of the tournament, Chan came from behind in the first set, initially trailing 0-3 before winning six straight games to close out the set 6-4. She cruised through the second set, winning 6-2, and advancing to the quarterfinals.

C – Quarterfinals:

Opponent: Aarika Gupta (#93 National Rank)
Result: Chan showed great composure, bouncing back from a 2-2 tie by winning three consecutive games to take a 5-3 lead, eventually winning 6-3. The second set was just as tight, but Chan managed to close it out with a 6-3 win, advancing to the semifinals.

C- Semifinals:

Opponent: Elizabeth Jayich (#107 National Rank)
Result: Chan faced a tough opponent in Jayich but came through in a thrilling encounter. After initially leading 4-3, Chan found themselves trailing 4-5. However, they rallied to win the final three games, sealing a 7-5 first set victory. The second set was similarly intense, but Chan sealed it 6-3 to move into the final.

C- Final:

Opponent: Ella Morris (#113 National Rank)
Result: Chan’s championship aspirations came to a bittersweet end in the final. After starting strong with a 2-0 lead, the match quickly leveled at 3-3 and then 4-4. However, in a heartbreaking series of close games, Chan lost the final set 4-6, 3-6, despite fighting hard throughout. While she fell short of the consolation title, it was clear that Chan had grown significantly through the week.

Doubles Competition
In doubles, Chan partnered with Aleksandra Burnquist. In the Round of 64 the duo faced Grace Yun and Kate Zhang and secured a 6-3, 7-6(4) win, advancing to the next round. However, their run ended in the Round of 32, where they faced Reese Liu and Noa Boar. Despite an admirable effort, Chan and Burnquist were defeated 1-6, 3-6 in a match where every game seemed to go to deuce, but they couldn’t convert the crucial points.