Shristi Selvan fights cramps to win USTA girls national title

Indian-origin American tennis star Shristi Selvan overcame severe hand and leg cramps, requiring two medical timeouts, to defeat 14th seed Aarini Bhattacharya 4-6, 6-4, 6-4 and win the USTA Billie Jean King Girls 16s National Championship at the Barnes Centre. The top-seeded 16-year-old, whose parents are originally from Chennai, battled through the brutal final despite not being at peak fitness. After the second timeout, she faced a decision to withdraw but chose to continue, eventually pulling off a remarkable win.

Bhattacharya also needed a medical timeout early in the second set for tightness in her back, which hampered her movement. She had earlier produced a notable upset by defeating second seed Nikol Davletshina in the semifinals. Selvan's victory caps a strong year that included winning the Winter Nationals. She now aims to compete at the U.S. Open Juniors, calling it a big dream to receive the award from Billie Jean King herself.