YOUNG JAMAICAN TENNIS PHENOM SISTERS POISED TO BE NEXT VENUS & SERENA

SISTERS HURRICANE & TORNADO BLACK

The name — Tornado Alicia Black — grabs hold of your eyes and ears, interrupting you from whatever you were doing.
Appearing on the scoreboard of tiny Court 6 at the U.S. Open, it stops passersby who do a double-take to confirm they read it right and then point it out to the person next to them.

The name steals your attention, but it is the 15-year-old’s game that holds it.

ALICIA BLACK

Playing yesterday in front of a few dozen fans in the shadows of Arthur Ashe Stadium, Black may have taken her first step toward stardom after displaying an impressive mix of poise and passion in a win over fourth-seeded Barbora Krejcikova, 7-5, 7-5, to advance to the third round of the Junior Girls’ tournament.

“I’m taking it one step at a time, but hopefully I can play at the big courts at the U.S. Open one day,” Black told media reporters.

It’s the path she was put on.

Black was basically born with a racket in her hands, raised by a father, Sylvester, who played Davis Cup tennis and ran track for Jamaica, and a mother, Gayal, who swam in college.

As a 3-year-old, Black’s parents anointed her Tornado around the same time her younger sister, Hurricane Tyra Black, was born.

TYRA BLACK

“They wanted us to be tennis stars so they picked storm names,” said Black. “I used to hate it because a lot of kids made fun of me, but now I’m getting used to it. I like it now.”

The Boca Raton, Fla., native’s older half-sister, Nicole Pitts, played professionally, but it is her younger sister who is one of the most promising prospects in the country, as the top-ranked 12-and-under player in the nation.

The emergence of Tyra, who is coached by her father, has brought the inevitable comparisons to the Williams sisters, even though Alicia is not yet ready to commit to a future doubles partnership with her sister since she is unsure they can get along together on the court.

Alicia understands the comparison, even listing Serena as one of her favorite players. She just has no interest in joining the list that includes Sloane Stephens, Madison Keys and Taylor Townsend, and declares each young African-American female tennis player from the U.S. as the next Williams.

“I used to hate it, still not liking it now, but I’m getting used to it,” Black said. “I just want to be myself and do my own thing and not follow other people’s steps.

“Now some people are like, ‘Oh, are you going to be the next Sloane?’”

Yesterday, Black displayed the composure of a pro, battling back from a set point in the opening set. She showcased tremendous speed and a powerful backhand, splicing each point with screams or silence.

“I’m pretty interesting on the court,” said Black. “You never know what to expect from me.”

Her game is much more consistent. Standing almost exclusively behind the baseline, Black avoids most unforced errors and carefully chooses when to attack.

To reach the next stage of her development, her coach, Lawrence Carpio, said she has to be more aggressive. That, he said, could help her reach a ceiling that many dream of, but few can reach.

“She definitely has top-five potential,” said Carpio. “Maybe one day she can win a Grand Slam.”

For now, Black is still very much a teenager who likes going to the movies and gets nervous before press conferences, one who is still “too scared” to approach Roger Federer one table over in the cafeteria of the player’s lounge.

But the stage, the travel, the professionals passing by, it’s all becoming normal. It’s the path she was prepared for.

“She keeps getting better,” Carpio said. “She just needs a little more time.”

The storms are starting to swirl.