With no tennis last month, I decided to continue the 12-year run of my monthly Aces column by featuring 16 teenagers, highlighted in previous Aprils, who went on to reach the ATP and WTA Top 100. Their best professional ranking with the date reached is noted at the end of the caption.
The Czech 18-year-old was an ace in February for her win over Venus Williams in Memphis. Her April results were also impressive, as she won the $75,000 tournament in Monzon, Spain and downed WTA Top 20 fixture Shahar Peer of Israel in Fed Cup play. Kvitova is now at a career ranking high of 95.
WTA career-high 2; 10/31/11; two-time Wimbledon singles champion
Ryan Harrison
The 15-year-old from New Braunfels, Texas joined Richard Gasquet and Rafael Nadal as the only players since 1990 to win an ATP main draw match before their 16th birthday. Harrison, who qualified for Houston's U.S. Clay Courts, defeated 95th ranked Pablo Cuevas of Uruguay 6-4, 6-3 before falling to James Blake. He also reached the doubles final (with LSU's Michael Venus) last week at the Baton Rouge challenger.
ATP career-high 40; 7/17/2017
Jack Sock
The Nebraskan was well known for his 10 gold balls in the 12s, but injuries had slowed his quest for more, and he collected only one in the 14s. Sock got back on track at the Easter Bowl, however, when he won the 16s title with a nail-biting 6-4, 3-6, 7-6(4) effort over Clay Thompson in the final.
ATP career-high 8; 11/20/17; four-time grand slam doubles champion, Olympic mixed doubles gold medalist
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