USC’s Madson finishes as WPIAL runner-up
Charlotte Madson makes a return against Ananya Dua during the WPIAL AAA girls’ singles championships. She lost, 6-3, 7-5, to Dua in the finals.
Charlotte Madson returns a volley during the WPIAL Class AAA singles championship match against Ananya Dua. Dua defeated Madson in straight sets, 6-3, 7-5, to win the title. Both however are qualified for the PIAA tournament to be held the first weekend in November.
Charlotte Madson
Saddled with the sniffles, Charlotte Madson had the perfect excuse for her loss in the WPIAL Class AAA girls’ tennis championship. In a show of sportsmanship, the Upper St. Clair junior, however, applauded her rival.
“Sadly not,” Madson said of blaming her cold on her performance, which resulted in a 6-3, 7-5 loss to Ananya Dua. Madson then doffed her cap to the Shady Side Academy singles’ player.
“Ananya played well and I made too many errors,” Madson admitted. “She had a lot of great shots for winners. As most tennis matches do, it came down to who made the most errors.”
Yet, Madson demonstrated grit in the finals, played on Dua’s home courts at Shady Side Academy. She opened up a 3-2 advantage but dropped the next four games to lose the first set, 6-3. In the second set, Madson staved off match point in the ninth game and eventually knotted the score, 5-5, before falling.
“I was proud that I was able to hold out there,” said the 16-year-old junior. “That was my competitiveness coming out.”
Since age 6, Madson has competed in tennis. In addition to playing at the middle and high school levels, she trains at the USC tennis center under Chris Kennedy. Ranked No. 9 in the state in her age group, Madson has met Dua in previous USTA tournaments. Although she has never beaten Dua, Madson says she’s getting closer. “This is the best I’ve ever done against her so far.”
Madson’s best assets, she says, are her ability to play defensively and hit winners. “I play good defense and I hit winners when I need to,” she said of her strengths. “And, I play point by point.”
That strategy paid dividends early in the tournament as Madson beat Jenna Bailey of Franklin Regional and Lucy Gloninger from Hampton in 10-point pro sets to reach the Final Four. In the semifinals, Madson outlasted Laurel Shymansky of Fox Chapel, 0-6, 6-1, 6-2.
Madson is now qualified for the PIAA tournament. The state championships will be held the first weekend in November in Hershey. There is a possibility Madson and Dua could face each other again in the PIAA tournament. Madson will be prepared for the next encounter.
“Eliminate errors and play more consistent,” Madson said she must do if she intends to capture a state crown.
In addition to district and state championships, Madson also explained that her ultimate goal is to play tennis in college. “Hopefully at the Division I level,” she said as she majors in English, academically.
Madson’s love of tennis does take her out of the classroom. She typically travels Fridays to compete in USTA tournaments. However, her marks do not suffer. She maintains a 3.7 GPA.
“Classes are hard, but I make it work. School is not a problem for me,” she said. “I just really love playing tennis.”
And it shows.