Formentera Upsets No. 1 Seal for Boy's 16s Easter Bowl Title

RANCHO MIRAGE, CA-- Everyone know the name Lawrence Formentera now. The 15-year-old from Colton, CAlif., went from unheralded local Southern California kid to one of Seena Hamilton's favorites, as Formentera pulled off another upset win on the final day of the Easter Bowl, USTA Spring National Championships.

the unseeded Formentera's incredible run in the boy's 16-and-under division came to a victorious conclusion Sunday at the Rancho Las Palmas Resort.. Formentera beat No. 1 seed James "Bo" Seal of Chattanooga, Tenn., 6-4, 3-6, 7-6, in the most riveting match of the tournament.

Formentera's self-described style is to 'go for it (Fernando" Gonzalez style' and rip winners from the baseline. He and Seal did just that all day, trading points from the baseline, with Formentera having just a little bit more in the tank when all was said and done.

"Even if I didn't have a good point, I just kept doing what I was doing," Formentera said. "I just kept going for it, kept going for my soothes."
Formentera beat the No. 1, 2 , and  3 seeds on his way to his first gold ball and national title. Before beating Seal, Formentera be a;t No. 3 Walker Kehrer of Pacific Palisades, Calif., 6-1, 7-6 (6), in the round of 16. that victory was followed by a Formentera's string of upsets continued, with a 7-6 (6), 6-1 victory over No. 2 seed Evan King.

Thyne Williams, the No. 5 seed from Knoxville, Tenn., took the boy's ITF 18s title with a 6-4 win over Johny Hamui of Weley Chapel, Fla.