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Seventh-seeded Hannah Ayrault (Atlanta, Georgia) garnered her first gold ball by winning the singles title of the USTA Girls 12s Clay Court Championships in Boca Raton, Florida.

Finalist Welles Newman (Left) & Champion Hannah Ayrault
© Contributed Photo

The 11-year-old Ayrault claimed the top prize with a 6-3, 6-3 victory over second-seeded Welles Newman (Boca Raton) at the Polo Club of Boca Raton.

“I played against her many times in practice,” said Ayrault, who trains at the Alpha Tennis Academy in Duluth, Georgia and the Windy Hill Athletic Club in Atlanta. “I think my strategy was to move her around and have angles and drop shots. My attitude for the whole tournament was trying to focus on the next point. I did not let anyone intimidate me.”

The top-seeded duo of Shaya Jovanovic (Los Angeles, California) and Daniela Navarro (Carlsbad, California) won the doubles championship with a 7-5, 6-2 decision over the No. 5 team of Madeleine Bridges (Belton, Missouri) and Reiley Rhodes (Annapolis, Maryland).

“We played our strengths to their weaknesses,” Jovanovic said. “They usually play two-back, and we would play two-back as well when returning. My strength is the net, and my partner’s strength is the baseline. I would rush the net and she would stay solid on the baseline.”