Lexi Milunovich in the 2014 USTA Juniors National Hard Court Championship in San Diego.
It was a week to remember for New Canaan tennis star Lexi Milunovich, who surprised some fellow junior tennis players on her way to the National Hard Court Championship semifinals in San Diego.
Lexi, who will be a junior at Greenwich Academy this year, was ranked 17th in the United States Tennis Association’s Girls 16s championship.
She surprised top seed Ryan Peus of Santa Barbara, Calif., 6-0, 6-4 in the round of 16. For the biggest upset of the tournament, Lexi was awarded Adidas Player of the Day.
Lexi continued her winning streak by defeating Riley McQuaid of Tustin, Calif., in a close quarterfinal match, 5-7, 6-0, 7-6(1), to move into the semifinals of the tournament.
She received the Sportsmanship Award and had her picture taken with the Connecticut flag.
In the semifinal, Lexi challenged the eventual tournament champion, Kylie Mckenzie of Anthem, Ariz., in three sets, 7-5, 2-6, 6-2. She was the only opponent to take a set from Mckenzie in the tournament.
Lexi finished fourth in the national tournament, which featured the top 200 junior players from across the country.
The tournament was held from Aug. 2-8 at the Barnes Tennis Center in San Diego. The girls were competing for a wild card into the U.S. Open Junior Tournament that begins in Queens next week.
Lexi is No. 23 in the nation in singles and No. 20 in doubles. She is first in the 16-year-old class and third in the 18-year-old class in New England. Lexi plans to play Division I tennis in college. She is a rising junior at Greenwich Academy.
Lexi Milunovich of New Canaan serves in the 2014 USTA Juniors National Hard Court Championship semifinals in San Diego.