Home Boys' Lists Girls' Lists Men's Teams Women's Teams News Photos Contributors Links Help Sign-UpOnline Store
Latest News | Categories | Authors | News Archives
 
 

News & Features

Tournament Feature
Kang Headlines SoCal Blue Chip Success in Bakersfield
Share:    

As most of the tennis spotlight shined on Indian Wells over the weekend, some of Southern California’s top blue chips were logging court time in another part of the state.

Alex Michelsen, Chase Thompson and future Stanford teammates Kyle Kang and Hudson Rivera all won at least one match at the Bakersfield Tennis Open, an ITF 25K event in Bakersfield, California.

Blue Chip Kyle Kang Reached the Bakersfield 25K Final
© ITF

Kang beat the top-seeded Michelsen 6-2, 6-1 in the semifinals before losing to Australia’s Alex Bolt 6-3, 7-6 in the final on Sunday at Bakersfield Racquet Club.

Kang, a Fullerton native, and Rivera, Rancho Santa Fe native, are two of three blue chips in Stanford’s 2023 class along with Nicholas Godsick. Michelsen, an Aliso Viejo native, has signed with Georgia. Thompson, who hails from Mission Viejo, has committed to Notre Dame.

Kang and Rivera were given wild cards into the event and Thompson came through the qualifying rounds. All four SoCal stars are ranked in the top 10 in the Tennis Recruiting Network rankings and won their opening-round matches.

Michelsen beat New Zealand’s Finn Reynolds 6-3, 6-2, Kang beat third-seeded Adam Walton of Australia 6-3, 6-4, Rivera beat American Isaiah Strode 4-6, 7-5, 6-3 and Thompson beat Argentina’s Federico Agustin Gomez 6-3, 6-4 for his first ATP point.

Michelsen eliminated Rivera 6-2, 6-2 in the second round and Kang defeated American and former University of Florida player Sekou Bangoura 6-1, 6-2. Thompson lost to No. 2 Yuta Shimizu of Japan 6-2, 7-5

In the quarterfinals, Michelsen beat No. 6 Naoki Nakagawa of Japan 6-4, 6-1 and Kang beat No. 8 American Aidan Mayo 6-2, 7-5.

Bolt defeated No. 7-seeded American Christian Langmo 7-6, 3-6, 6-2 in the semifinals to set up his meeting against Kang.

 
 

About BOAST

BOAST is proud to sponsor Junior Tournaments at TennisRecruiting.net.

BOAST is the original American tennis brand, and has been rooted in racquet sports since 1973. From reigning on-court and in country clubs, to its rise in pop culture, BOAST has always been a challenger brand and embodies a champion's spirit - taking on the traditional mainstays in tennis and representing those that play on their own terms. Sporting the leaf since '73.

Connect with BOAST on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest, - or on their website.

 

Leave a Comment

 

More Tournament Features

25-Jul-2025
Freitag and Ascenzo Savor First Wimbledon Experience
Making their Wimbledon debuts, Moritz Freitag of Austria and Tristan Ascenzo of the United States were among the 16 boys and 16 girls invited to participate in the fourth annual 14U tournament. They combined to go 9-1 in the four-day event, with Freitag winning the title.

23-Jul-2025
Pohankova, Ivanov Ease Past Americans for Wimbledon Titles
Slovakia's Mia Pohankova and Bulgaria's Ivan Ivanov weren't fazed by the unpredictable English weather at the The Wimbledon Junior Championships, with both beating American opponents on legendary Court One to capture the singles titles.

18-Jul-2025
Weng Completes Collection with Gold Ball in 18s Singles
Nicole Weng was making progressive steps to capturing the first gold ball of her career. The Southern California resident broke through at the USTA Girls 18 National Clay Court Championships in South Carolina, outlasting Janae Preston in three sets in the final.

 
 Tournament Feature Index |   Subscribe

 

About Rhiannon Potkey

Rhiannon Potkey is a veteran sportswriter with more than two decades of experience in journalism. Potkey has covered many sports at many levels and has a passion for finding great stories. Potkey has covered the U.S. Open, junior sectional and national events, college conference championships and Davis Cup matches. Potkey is currently Content Strategist for Tennis Recruiting. You can reach Rhiannon by email at rhiannon@tennisrecruiting.net.
 
 BOAST
 
This History of BOAST
 
An animated history of the BOAST brand since its founding in 1973. BOAST is celebrating 40 years of irreverent style in sports and on the streets.
 
RECENT COMMITMENTS
7/27 Evelyn Hwang chooses Carleton
7/25 William Pullin chooses Redlands
7/25 Warren Gunnar chooses Wayne State
7/25 Cassie Donar chooses Biola
7/25 Ethan Masselis chooses Montana State
7/24 August Allen chooses Sewanee
7/24 Olivia Guzman chooses Oberlin
7/24 Lucas Marionneau chooses Texas
7/24 Natalie Haug chooses Missouri Baptist
7/23 Dante Massetta chooses Bentley

Full Listings: Boys' Commits & Girls' Commits

 
 
RECENT HEADLINES
ITA NEWS
Follow college tennis with the ITA - the governing body that oversees all levels of men's and women's varsity collegiate tennis.  
7/25 2025 ITA JUCO Men's Academic Awards
7/25 2025 ITA JUCO Women's Academic Awards
7/24 2025 ITA NAIA Men's Academic Awards
7/24 2025 ITA NAIA Women's Academic Awards
 
THE LATEST FROM ZOOTENNIS
7/28 USTA Nationals Kalamazoo Seeds; Lajal Saves Five Match Points to Win Bloomfield Hills Challenger, Another Title for Caty McNally; Honer, Jubb Claim…
7/27 Martin Advances to First Challenger Final at Bloomfield Hills; Vidmanova Reaches Another W100 Final; Honer and Anderson Meet for Florence W35 Title;…
7/26 My Coverage of Wimbledon 14U Tournament; Spizzirri and Martin to Meet in Bloomfield Hills Challenger Semifinals; Current, Former NCAA Champs to Clash…
7/25 USTA Nationals Wild Cards; Teams Announced for Girls ITF World Junior Tennis 14U Competition; Seeds Exit at Bloomfield Hills Challenger 100; Friend,…
7/24 My Wimbledon Junior Recap; Spizzirri and Martin Reach Bloomfield Hills Challenger Quarterfinals; USTA Pro Circuit Update; Teams Announced for Boys ITF…
Colette Lewis has covered topflight junior events as a freelance journalist for over a decade. Read her weekly column, follow her on Twitter, and and find more of her daily commentary at ZooTennis.
 
TALK TENNIS

Page updated on Monday, March 10, 2025
Contact our web team with any corrections