APP Tour Returns To Action With Some Familiar Names Heavily Favored to Rule in Chicago

The APP Tour is back in action this week for the ZIMMER BIOMET APP Chicago Tournament, being held at Danny Cunniff Park in Highland Park, Illinois.

The facility has 16 permanent courts and six tennis courts that will likely be put to good use. The APP Tour has had nearly a two-month break, with this the first event since the APP Newport Beach Open back in early July.

How to Watch the ZIMMER BIOMET APP Chicago Tournament

• Friday, August 29: 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. CT on APP YouTube
• Saturday, August 30: 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. CT on APP YouTube
• Sunday, August 31: 1:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. CT on CBS Sports Network (on tape delay)

Weather Forecast

Mixed doubles is Friday, which is the only day that looks to be a potential issue.

Women’s singles

• Megan Fudge is the No. 1 seed, but will she have enough in the tank after playing in the English Open and the Monsoon Championships in recent weeks?

• This is looking like a five-horse race – I don’t think anyone outside the top 5 has a realistic chance of winning:
  • Megan Fudge
  • Amanda Hendry
  • Jenna Hessert
  • Yana Newell
  • Christa Gecheva
• I like two women in qualifiers to make it out and maybe pull an upset win in the main draw: Cass Hoag and Cade Pierson.

Prediction: Yana Newell exacts some revenge for her quarterfinal loss to Megan Fudge in Newport Beach, earning her first gold of the year.

Men’s singles

• Chris Haworth won in Newport Beach and is playing very well – he is the guy to beat in Chicago.

• This field is loaded. There are 61 qualifiers in men’s singles, vying for FOUR spots.
• Qualifiers I like to make the main draw: Eric Oncins, Tanner Tomassi, Ammar Wazir, and Jayden Broderick.

Prediction: I think this comes down to two good friends. Chris Haworth narrowly beats Grayson Goldin in the finals.

Mixed doubles

• Grayson Goldin (w/ Brooke Revuelta) and Chris Haworth (w/ Lee Whitwell) are both forced to play qualifiers.
• Susannah Barr and Ryler DeHeart are the No. 1 seed, while Megan Fudge and Jack Munro are the No. 2 seed.
• I really like the No. 9 seed pairing of Cass Hoag and Rob Nunnery.
• It is interesting that Will Howells is teaming up with Yana Newell, who is Erik Lange’s normal mixed partner for the SoCal Hard Eights in MLP.
• This is the most competitive bracket on the weekend – any of the top 12 have a legitimate chance of winning.

Prediction: I think the No. 4 seed – Yana Newell and Will Howells – upset the top seed and then beat the No. 2 seed in the finals for their first gold together.

Women’s doubles

Just like the women’s singles bracket, I don’t think anyone outside of the top 5 has a realistic chance of winning. Here are the seeds in order.

1. Allison Harris/Simone Jardim
2. Jill Braverman/Megan Fudge
3. Susannah Barr/Bobbi Oshiro
4. Amanda Hendry/Mari Humberg
5. Emily Cederquist/Yana Newell

• A lower seed I could see pulling off an upset or two is (16) Cade Pierson and Madalina Grigoriu.

Prediction: Mari and Amanda upset the No. 1 seed in semis, but lose to Jill Braverman and Megan Fudge in the finals.

Men’s doubles

The thing that pops out right away? The top four seeds ALL have a lefty/righty combo. 

1. Jack Munro/Rob Nunnery
2. CJ Klinger/Will Howells
3. Stefan Auverge/Brendon Long
4. Ryler DeHeart/Brandon Lane

• Chris Haworth and Grayson Goldin are paired together and got a wild-card into the main draw.
• 13-year-old Camden Chaffin also got a wild card into the main draw with Jaron Faltinowski.
• No. 14 seed Tanner Tomassi and Kyle Koszuta – AKA Team YouTube – are paired up together again.

Prediction: No. 6 seed Erik Lange and Max Manthou upset CJ Klinger and Will Howells in the semis and then beat Jack Munro and Rob Nunnery in the finals for gold.