Youth win big in tournament

More than 150 city kids took to the courts at Flushing Meadows-Corona Park recently as part of the City Parks Foundation (CPF) JPMorgan Chase Aces Tennis Tournament.
The competition, held on Thursday, August 16 and broken up into six age categories, featured some of the borough’s top talent.
Cajetan Ferrao, a 14-year-old player from Flushing, took home the first-place prize in the boys 14-and-under category. However, even if he did not win, Ferrao, who plays at Juniper Valley Park, said he would have stayed in good spirits.
“No matter what, just have fun,” Ferrao said, after before heading to his semi-final match.
Corona resident Carmen Ramirez, 15, also won first in the girls 16-and-under group. The runner-ups from Queens were nine-year-old Brittany Poje from Flushing for the girls 12-and-under group, and 11-year-old Michael Jasienowski from Middle Village was runner-up for the boys 12-and-under category.
Pint-sized Jasienowski was pitted against players more than a head taller during the tournament.
“I couldn’t wait for it. I practiced for it everyday. With all my hard work, I went all the way to the final,” Jasienowski said, explaining that he plans to play in the tournament every year until he reaches the age limit.
“It was a really great challenge,” he said.
Because of a several-hour rain delay, kids gathered at the main tent during the tournament, waiting to hit the courts or hear their raffle number called. For each completed division, awards - including U.S. Open hats and socks, as well as tennis rackets - were given out for first, second and third place by raffle tickets.
Many Queens competitors said that they were excited to play in the tournament. Jamaica resident Ryan Rances, 16, was on a roll after winning several rounds.
“It was good,” said Rances about the match he had won before heading to the semi-finals.
Stephanie Sfiroudis, 13, from Middle Village, said her experience was “really cool.” Sfiroudis, who has been playing tennis for 10 years and made it to the quarterfinal round of the City Parks Tournament, hopes to continue the sport in the future.