The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

IESHA Shepherd picked up a big victory at the Extreme Tennis Academy Level 6 USTA Junior Tennis Tournament in Miami, Florida, over the weekend.

“It was a tough one,” Shepherd told The Tribune. “I haven’t played in a tournament in a while and I had to play two matches in one day, so it was tough on the body.”

In her first match in the round of 16, Shepherd admitted that it was breezy but she managed to secure a 6-0, 6-0 win over Alejandra Coronel.

Shepherd, 17, went on to the quarterfinals where she upset No.3 seed Catilyn Khan. Then in the semi-final, she pulled off a 6-3, 6-2 win over top seed Camilia Ordonez and in the final she finished with a 6-0, 6-2 win over No.2 seed Katty Friedland.

“I really had to play my game because the competition was really tough,” Shepherd said. “I knew that if I wanted to win, I had to be at my best.”

It was Shepherd’s first tournament for the year and she noted that to come out with victories over two of the top three seeds gives her a lot of incentive as she looks ahead to the rest of the season.

“It’s a great feeling to win it,” Shepherd said. “It feels good. I’m ecstatic because it gives me a boost for the future. It just feels good to know that I can compete against different players and come out on top.”

She’s not sure when and where she will play her next tournament, but Shepherd said she’s going to try to stay focused because her ultimate goal this year is to be ready for entry into college in August and hopefully take her game to another level.

Last year, Shepherd attempted to compete on the professional level, but she felt it would be best for her to work out here at home and she’s now making the best of it under the coaching of Marvin Rolle and Kyazi Smith.

“I’m getting a little older so I have to work a little harder on my game,” said Shepherd, who has served as the most outstanding junior female player in the country for quite a while. “So I’m looking forward to getting the best out of any exposure I can get, here and abroad.”

Around April, Shepherd said she should have an idea exactly where she intends to enrol in college. But for now, she said she’s just going to enjoy her success over the weekend.