All photos by Roger Padayao
Here is a capsule look at each of the boys’ and girls’ divisions at the Southern California Tennis Association Junior Final 8 Masters championship matches after play was completed on Sunday at the Malibu Racquet Club:
BOYS’ 18s FINAL 8 MASTERS CHAMPION MAX McKENNON: Arizona State-bound McKennon, at left, of Newport Beach got past future UC-Santa Barbara Gaucho Kai Brady of Redondo Beach, 6-3, 7-5.
“I just played with nothing to lose,” McKennon said. “I wish there were more of these when I was younger so I could have played them all. This is the best tournament I’ve ever played.”
GIRLS’ 18s FINAL 8 MASTERS CHAMPION ANNE LUTKEMEYER: In the final match of the day under the lights, Lutkemeyer of Irvine beat Camille Kiss of Redlands, 6-1, 3-6, 6-3.
BOYS’ 16s FINAL 8 MASTERS CHAMPION LAWEE SHERIF: Huntington’s Beach’s Sherif, at right, used his consistent serve and powerful forehand to get past Rohan Murali of San Diego, 7-5, 6-1. Sherif is a high sch’sool junior who attends California Connections Academy, an online school. He is coached by his father at The Tennis Club in Newport Beach.
Sherif said his father was unable to attend the Final 8 as he’s traveling with his sister Shriya Sherif at an ITF event in Cancun, Mexico. “This is a great event and I’m really happy to win it,” said Sherif, a self-described tennis nut who plays every tournament he can. “I think I’ll take a little break from tennis and come back strong in 2020.”
GIRLS’ 16s FINAL 8 MASTERS CHAMPION MIKA IKEMORI: The girls’ 16s winner also came from Huntington Beach as Ikemori, at right, outlasted Kaia Wolfe of Rancho Mission Viejo, 4-6, 6-1, 6-4.
“In the first set I was rushing things and I couldn’t settle down,” said Ikemori, who plays up at just 14-years-old and is a Marina High freshman. “I just had to keep reminding myself to take it one set at a time. I started to move her around a bit and relied on my mental game.”
Next up for Ikemori is the USTA National Indoors in two weeks in Ohio. “I’m so not used to playing indoors, but you don’t have to worry about the wind or anything,” Ikemori said. “But I’d rather play outdoors.”
BOYS’ 14 FINAL 8 MASTERS CHAMPION KANE KELLEY: Kelley, at right, of Tarzana was an unlikely champion as he was originally an alternate in the Final 8 in the 14s. He was leading Anaheim’s Steve Nguyen 3-1 in the final when Nguyen was forced to retire from his match because of a stomach ailment.
“My dad got an email on Wednesday night after practice and I just started celebrating in the car when I found out I got in,” said Kelley, whose brother Gray competed in the 12s event at the Final 8. “I was so excited when I heard the news. It wasn’t the way I wanted to win it, but a win is a win and I’ll take it. It’s awesome to win an event like this.”
Kelley began playing tennis at age 4 at Braemar Country Club in longtime tennis director Sue Pendo’s red, orange and green dot program. Pendo joined Kelley’s family in cheering him on in the final.
GIRLS’ 14s FINAL 8 MASTERS CHAMPION DANIELA BORRUEL: Buena Park’s Borruel, at left, got past Stacey Samonte of Whitter in three sets, 4-6, 6-3, 6-2, and she said staying focused in the final set was the difference in the match.
“This win will have a huge impact on me and my future,” said Borruel, also playing up at 12-years-old. “I’m trying to go pro someday so this just helps me with my confidence to continue reaching that goal.”
Borruel will next take a few weeks off before she travels to WinterNationals in Arizona next month.
BOYS’ 12s FINAL 8 MASTERS CHAMPION JAGGER LEACH: Laguna Beach’s Leach is the son of former USC All-American Jonathan Leach, who was on hand cheering on his son, and tennis Hall of Famer Lindsay Davenport. He beat longtime rival Ford McCollum of Los Angeles, 6-2, 7-6 (3) in the final.
“I remember losing to him 11-9 in the third once in the 10s,” said Leach, age 12, who attends Fusion Academy. “Then I beat him a year later 2 and 1. And he beat me in May, 10-5 in a tiebreaker. We are familiar with each other have practiced before.”
He added: “This feels good, for sure. It’s always fun to win a title.”
GIRLS’ 12s FINAL 8 MASTERS CHAMPION ELENA ZHAO: San Diego’s Zhao, at left, avenged two previous defeats against Tianmei Wang of San Marino taking home the final trophy, 6-4, 6-1.
“I just tried to stay aggressive and give her no free points,” said Zhao, an 11-year-old Mesa Verde Middle School sixth-grader who will play USTA WinterNational 12s next month. “I was trying to force her to miss and not make any unforced errors.”
SPORTSMANSHIP WINNERS: Noah Zamora, at right, of San Diego (18s) won the boys’ award and Iva Jovic took home the honors on the girls’ side (12s).
— Steve Pratt