Friday
Night Tennis at Club Sports for the juniors
had many hard f
ought matches. One of the best matches I have seen in a while was
between Patrick Kawka and Spencer Aguilar. This
was a rematch of the finals match at Summerlin's
Junior tournament earlier this season. And it was neck and neck as these
rally's went on and on. Not because the players were lobbing either. But
because, giving it 100%, both players chased down every ball hitting cross
court, down the line and deep into the base line. A great
shot was returned with a great shot until eventually the last good shot was too
good, or an error was forced, which happened a lot less then t he winners. The
finals match at Summerlin earlier this year had Spencer winning 6-0, 6-3, but
this time Patrick was able to put many more games on the board. The first set
was settled in a very close matter with Spencer winning 7-5, and the second set
was not as close as Spencer won it 6-2. The consolation draw now has a
challenging player in Patrick Kawka. This first round match in many ways may
rival any finals match that might come together. We will see.
Another
duel was between Ali Murphy and Racquel Martinez, both of which had their
parents there to support them. And the support was needed. It was a very close
match with Racquel losing the lead in the first set, then coming back to force a
tie breaker. She then picked up her game as her mother showed up and won the tie
breaker to take the first set. But Ali decided to come back and win the second
set after being down a couple games to zero early on. The third set was equally
as tough as the rally's were hard hit and both hit the ball very close , almost
just hovering over the net and low to the ground. The serves could rival many of
the grown men I
see play daily at Baskin park and
their temperament was excellent, both showing class on the court. And court side
was Dina Basil, Racquel's "Friend and coach" who was there to watch her play in
this first round match. She explained that the young girl is very mature for her
age and has an almost "Too calm" way of playing the game. Yet she said she is
very competitive. Racquel and Ali were also in the
Desert Palm Junior open just recently
where Racquel made it to the finals of the main draw and Aili made it to the
finals of the consolation draw.
Racquels
coach, Dina Basil just got finished playing
professional tennis on the ladies tour and has settled back into Las Vegas where
she grew up and played tennis as a youth. Now she looks on and sees herself in
many of the students she teaches and is able to gain insight into the game of
tennis and this much more important game called life.
This
tournament has been a venue for a number of first time tournament players to
test their metal and it has also brought out a number of Las Vegas best. Case in
point was the first round match for the girls 14 and under where the perennial
finalist and nationally ranked Sheryl Bon
played
against Kristy Gildner who is playing a tournament for the first time having
just recently started to play the game of tennis. But sure enough the simple
approach her coach , Seargant Cultrian, had stressed of just hitting to
ball back worked as she did not look like a beginner but like a girl who is
playing tennis against another girl who played better then her. Sheryl won with
ease and this was a good opportunity for Kristy to experience what it is like to
be beat and to still enjoy oneself. I recall when I got back into tennis after
not having played in years I went down to Lorenzi Racquet club and saw a notice
for a tournament. When I went to sign up I did not know what the rating system
was and when asked how good I was I said, "As far as I am concerned I am very
good", but what I meant is that I handle myself well. Because to me that is how
I determine if I win or not. If I handle myself with class and do what is right
on the court then I have played well.
So the man
said then you can play in the "Open" category, and he said "Is that what you
want to do?"...and pointed out that the best players play in that category. I
said "Sure, I will play open. He may have even tried to talk me into another
level but I decided I wanted to play open. So in my first and only match I lost
0-6, 0-6, but I almost got a game from the guy. But I was killed. And I had won.
I handles myself well, not once
losing my composure. Ironically it was he that began to curse and act out. At
the end of the match he told me I should not be down on myself because he had
played many tournaments over the years and I explained that I was not down and
was satisfied with my play. He then asked me how I thought he played and I
told him that he lost because he lost his composure and to me that equals a
loss. I had a nice talk with him and I have since played the same player and got
7 games from him as he beat me 6-3, 6-4.
The whole thing is fun when you do it right. You leave satisfied with yourself. And that is what it looked like took place for Kristy and her other friend from Bolder City, Heather Malungani. Heather played against Iesha James who is playing in both the 14 and 16 and under. She was able to beat Heather 6-0, 6-0. Their coach said he was not expecting his players to win but wanted to see them simple hitting the ball. And these young ladies, new to the game were able to do that at times against Iesha and Sheryl who were both hitting the ball very well. Heather showed in her game a willingness to go after each and every ball without quitting. But Iesha used her power to dismantle a valiant effort.
Watching
the match was Mrs. James who shared with me her insight into the girls trip to
Florida where some parents have lost the perspective of
what this game is about. To me having some parents act out while having others
staying cool under fire is a great opportunity for the players to see first hand
the difference in behavior and the proper way to carry oneself. No one looks on
at a player or parent who acts foolishly throwing the racket, getting upset or
acting out and admires this. What is admirable is when a player is in a tight
situation, even losing and they carry themselves with the same dignity as if
they were ahead. This type of behavior is often displayed at these junior and
adult tournaments and to me these types of players and parents alike are the
winners. I welcome all parents and players to offer their insight, commentary or
simply provide me with match notes for mew to pace in the players free home page
and into the local tennis news section.
For example
Sheryl Bon's father explained to me that his daughter has just got back from a
national tournament where other local players went to in Las Vegas. Sheryl is
now ranked in the top 100 nationally in the girls 12 and under and
VegasTennis.com reported back in April how Sheryl was able to make it to the
semifinals of the
Mutterspaw championship,
which is Las Vegas's only national Tournament for juniors. Sheryl also was given
the 2001 most promising award at the Poncho Gonzales tournament last year. At 12
she plays in the 14, 16 and even 18 and under age groups. She now takes lessons
with Tim Blenkiron at the
Canyon Gate tennis club. Ratna Pillai and
Jacquelynn Tang were on center court and these girls were lighting the ball up
for the 14 and under age category. I do not
know who won but I did see some excellent volleys and powerful hitting for any
age. One thing is for sure, Las Vegas is not short on talented tennis players
and Club Sport is one
of
many havens for adult and junior players. Being the only indoor facility in what
some consider a hot temperature Valley, they have a large number of their
membership that plays tennis, and plays often. Either in the air conditioned
bubble, the swamp cooled indoor courts, or the beautifully place and landscapes
outdoor courts. The hill and center court seating make for a cool and enjoyable
environment to play and watch the game. Sitting on the grass this evening it was
great how cool it was. Some clubs make the mistake of leaving large pieces of
grass out of there design, when it is this foliage that keeps the area smelling
and feeling nice and cool. One spectator left the shade of the veranda and came
out onto the grass as she could see it was cooler there
even though there was no shade. Grass is the outsides only air conditioner and
at Club Sport their is plenty of it. Just something I noticed and enjoyed.
Mean while
Jonathan Ribaste, the Desert Palm
runner up in the main draw, played against Baron Giuffria, who
also placed
at Desert Palm's Junior open by
winning the consolation draw. The match was short lived as Jonathan won the
first match and was winning the second set 2-0 when he decided to retire due to
an injury he seemed to have been carrying the whole game. I had seen him
grabbing at his arm often, and I know when my body starts to show me I am hurt
or strained I stop right then and there. To me playing injured makes no sense.
If you are injured something is showing you to stop. Why would a person continue
anyway?
Brian Kenyon played Jonathan Fragoso in the boys
12 and under singles. And his whole family was out to cheer him on, on the
grass. His sister, brother, father, mother. The first set was ultra close being
settled in the tie breaker, and the second set went to Brian swiftly 6-1. Then
their was Patrick Kawka's parents as well, also on the grass. Coming over to
watch the play also was the Club Sports Tennis Professional Michael James.
Yesterday's spectator Tyler Bridges had his chance to hit the ball today and he did well playing hard against Team Agassi player Brendon Aguilar. I do not know what the final score was but the match had some good volley's. Brendon and Tyler's parents were on hand to watch the match along with Team Agassi coach Ki Kroll. Also from Team Agassi was the Summerlin finalist winner Stan Breland, who I wrote about playing in the open division at the Monte Carlo tournament.
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