Tennis Topics
Published: June 6, 2009, Richmond Tennis Association website
Hahn, Rusu capture state doubles title; Parker bows in singles final
by John Packett, RTA Staff Writer
The Central Region representatives in the state Group AAA individual tennis championships came out on both ends of close matches Saturday at Jefferson District Park in Fairfax.
The girls doubles team of Emily Hahn and Elena Rusu from Douglas Freeman High School became the only local players to win a state title, outlasting Kiersten Pappas and Julianna Jacangelo of Loudoun Valley 0-6, 7-5, 6-2 in the final.
In the boys singles final, Kyle Parker of Mills Godwin was unable to overcome a pulled stomach muscle and the shot-making of Justin Shane of J.E.B. Stuart in his final high-school match, bowing to the junior 6-2, 6-7 (7-3), 6-4.
Parker was up a service break in the third set at 4-3 but was unable to serve out the match, in part because of the injury that hindered his delivery.
"My stomach muscle, I'm not going to use that as an excuse, but I couldn't really serve very well," Parker said. "I did better than I did yesterday, but he was just teeing off on my serve on some points. I couldn't get much power on my serve."
Parker said he suffered the injury in practice about a week ago, "and then it really started bothering me," he said. "I couldn't even serve in practice for a while. Today was the only day I could actually serve [normally] but still not to the point where I'm fully healthy yet."
Shane is the top-ranked player in the Mid-Atlantic area (boys 18) and his powerful ground strokes eventually wore down Parker. After the Godwin senior pulled out the second-set tiebreaker to square the match, he felt like his chances were pretty good.
"I was pretty confident, but I know he's the number one player in the Mid-Atlantic for a reason," said Parker. "I knew it was still going to be a tough challenge. He moves you around. He's so big and he just puts the ball away."
Parker will be heading to the College of Charleston later this summer, and he concluded his career with a state runner-up finish -- his best showing in the high-school tournament -- as well as being part of the Group AAA team title by the Eagles.
"Definitely had a good senior year," he said. "Wish I didn't lose my last two team matches to James Robinson and Deep Run, but our team ended up winning the states and that's all l care about. College is going to be a lot of fun."
In the girls singles final, freshman Gaby Chaillo of George Marshall beat Pappas 6-3, 6-4, while Sidarth Balaji and Jason Luu of Fairfax took the boys doubles crown with a 7-5, 6-3 victory over Shane and Daniel Santos of J.E.B. Stuart.
Southeastern Open entries are due on Monday at midnight
There's still time to enter the Southeastern Open, set for June 12-14, but you've got to get cracking. The deadline is Monday at midnight.
The tournament, which will be staged at Battery Park after several years at Byrd Park because of flooded courts on the North Side, is for both adults and juniors. Entry fees are $18 for juniors, while adults pay $26 for singles and $29 per doubles team.
Guy Walton directs the tournament that was started and run for many years by the late Dr. John Watson. You can enter elsewhere on this web site.
Mid-Atlantic junior tournaments set for four locations next weekend
Some of the best 16-18 year-old girls and boys in the Mid-Atlantic section will be on display June 13-15 at four area locations.
The boys 16-under category will be played at the Dominion Club while the 16-under girls will hold forth at Willow Oaks Country Club. The boys 18-under division is scheduled for Salisbury CC and the 18-under girls will be held at Woodlake Swim and Racquet Club.
The deadline for entries to these L1 category tournaments is Sunday at midnight.
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