Blue Devils Star Heading West For Tennis Finals

Huntington sophomore Jack Flores in action for the Blue Devils tennis team. (Photo/Darin Reed)

Huntington tennis star Jack Flores is heading to the state tennis championships after capturing the Suffolk singles crown in thrilling fashion last week.

The sophomore won his second consecutive county title after battling his way past Half Hollow Hills East senior Abhinav Srivastava in three sets, 6-2, 3-6, 6-4, in a match that was delayed 72 hours due to rain.

He advanced his way through the entire county tournament while battling a shoulder injury that forced him to serve underhand for most of his matches.

Against Srivastava, whom Flores split the first two sets with, the Blue Devil saw the score knotted, 4-4, in the third set. Rain soon came and delayed the county finals for 72 hours.

In the interim, Flores rehabbed his shoulder. When play resumed, he was able to serve overhand and win the final two games he needed to claim the country crown.

“Jack stayed focused during the layoff,” said Jamie Fishlow, Huntington’s longtime head coach. “We got him treatment on his shoulder and he did some light hitting. At that point in the match it was mostly mental and he handled the pressure well. He has worked hard to get to this point and we look forward to the state tournament.”

Flores and Abhinav, seeded first and second in the country tournament, met in the Suffolk Division I finals with the Huntington star winning that match, too.

Flores now advances to the New York State Public High School Athletic Association’s championships, which are set for May 31-June 2 at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadow, Queens.