Alex Suhanitski Wins State Championship
In a remarkable display of skill and determination, Alex Suhanitski clinched the boys singles state championship on June 8, fulfilling one of his final academic athletic aspirations. The junior from New Rochelle not only seized the title but also led Section 1 to a full sweep of the state tournament held at the USTA National Tennis Center in Queens. Chris Cho and Pratik Nayak, representing Clarkstown South, triumphed in the doubles finals, rounding out a successful day for their section.
Suhanitski’s Journey to Victory
Last year, Suhanitski narrowly missed out on the championship, finishing as the state runner-up after a surprising run to the finals. Since then, he has made significant progress in his game and has established himself on the youth tennis circuit, recently earning the distinction of the top-ranked 16-year-old in the country. Yet, he has always emphasized the importance of contributing to his high school team’s success.
Before this victory, Suhanitski had set a personal goal of claiming a section championship after finishing third in the tournament the previous year—a goal he has now achieved. He noted that while his journey to the championship had been rewarding, his legacy would feel incomplete without a state title. The match concluded decisively, with Suhanitski defeating Scarsdale’s Sam Saeed 6-3, 6-2; this rivalry marked a rematch from their prior showdown in the Section 1 finals and showcased their frequent training sessions that had built a camaraderie between them.
“Watching Alex win singles was exhilarating, and I was proud to see so many athletes from Section 1 perform well in the semifinals,” stated Cho.
Saeed had previously battled back from losing the first set against Max Golubenko of Manhasset, showcasing tenacity throughout the semifinals.
Doubles Champions and Their Journey
Suhanitski’s path to victory went largely unchallenged, with his closest encounter being a 7-5, 6-2 semifinal win over Ethan Solop from Roslyn. Meanwhile, Cho and Nayak, despite facing an upset in the Section 1 tournament semifinals, advanced to the state championship thanks to the top three teams securing spots. They redeemed themselves by defeating Geneva High School’s Drew and Tucker Fishback 6-3, 6-4 in the finals on Sunday, demonstrating their resilience.
The duo faced significant hurdles during their matches, often finding themselves down before mounting incredible comebacks to secure wins in the quarterfinals, semifinals, and the final match, a testament to their mental strength with guidance from their coach, Ted Nascola.
Despite a tough battle, Horace Greeley’s Adam Fink and Henry Xue, who were Section 1 doubles champions, made it to the state semifinals but were ultimately eliminated by the Fishback brothers in a closely contested match that ended 6-4, 4-6, 6-7 (7-2).
Looking Ahead
Looking ahead, Cho expressed optimism for the future, noting,
“This gives us the chance to come back, improve, and perhaps win again next year.”
Their achievements mark a proud moment for Section 1 in the competitive tennis landscape.
