AMERICAN SPIRIT-Nathaniel Schnugg awaits a return of serve last week during the Wimbledon boys' doubles tournament. While famed United States tennis player Andre Agassi was saying goodbye to Wimbledon last week, 17-year-old Nathaniel Schnugg was making his introduction.

Schnugg made quite a first impression, as he and doubles partner, Kellen Damico, captured the boys' doubles title. Though Schnugg was on the other side of the globe, his grandparents Carl and Angela Manisco, were thrilled to be watching from their home in Moorpark.

"We got up at 5 in the morning to watch his final game on the Internet," Angela Manisco said. "The feed we were getting wasn't that great and you couldn't hear the commentary that well, but we knew when the crowd was cheering that Nathaniel had done something good, because for some reason, there were a lot of fans for the U.S. in the stands."

Two hours later, Schnugg and Damico had pulled off an upset, as the unranked players beat the Slovakian No. 2 seeds, Martin Klizan and Andrej Martin, 7-6 (97), 6-2.

"Our son, Nathaniel's Aunt Sharon and Uncle Carl, and many neighbors from the street were all here," she said. "When he won, we were all jumping up and down and screaming."

"Honestly it just put us on cloud nine," Carl said.

About 10 minutes after Nathaniel won, his grandparents received a phone call.

"We talked to him right after the match," Angela said. "I asked him 'How do you feel? Do you feel tired?' He said no, he wasn't tired, he just felt great."

Nathaniel's grandparents were especially thrilled to see him represent the United States in a positive way.

"The important part is all the American tennis players played poorly," Angela said. "Venus (Williams) and (Andy) Roddick, nobody won. The only ones that made the Americans proud were the Bryan brothers, and Nathaniel and Kellen. I was so happy when it said USA won!"

Carl and Angela can remember Nathaniel getting into tennis at a very early age. Nathaniel has two older brothers, Scott and Steven, who helped Nathaniel learn how to play the game.

"He was a very spunky kid and he followed his brothers everywhere," Angela said. "They all played together at the Saticoy Country Club. There was no competition but more helping and teaching from his brothers."

Nathaniel went to San Antonio about a year ago to go to school at the Andy Roddick School for tennis. While there, Nathaniel was tutored by Roddick's brother, John Roddick.

Damico was also at the school, and the childhood friends quickly learned how to play well together in doubles. As for college, the University of Georgia has offered Nathaniel a full scholarship, though he's still unsure where he will end up.

"I would like to see him win more championships because that (tennis) is his love," Carl said. "Though I also want to see him go to a good college and get a good education along with the tennis."

Angela and Carl go to see Nathaniel play whenever they have the chance, like this past year at the Easter Bowl in Palm Springs. They also both attribute a lot of Nathaniel's success to his parents Kathy and Dr. Steve Schnugg, who put in a lot of time and hard work for him.

"It's amazing to see how far Nathaniel has come," Angela said. "I mean Wimbledon; it's the ultimate of the ultimate."