Saedinia Isn’t at a Loss After Defeat

Shervin Saedinia knows she’s navigating in uncharted waters, but this is where she says she belongs.

Unseeded Saedinia of Woodland Hills was beaten by second-seeded Tiffany Brymer of Apple Valley on Saturday in the semifinals of the Southern California Junior Tennis Championships.

The 6-2, 6-3 loss at Los Caballeros Sports Village didn’t dampen the spirits of Saedinia, who plays in the 16-and-under division.

“I feel good,” she said. “It feels good to be here. I hope I can stay at this level.”

She has another chance to prove she belongs today, when she faces top-seeded Natalie Mikolich of San Diego for third place in a 10:30 a.m. match. Mikolich was upset by Bernadette Bayani of Simi Valley, 6-2, 6-3.

Saedinia, 15, raised many an eyebrow by getting to the semifinals. Unable to qualify for the main draw last year, Saedinia won three matches in straight sets before running into Brymer, a 5-foot-8 serve-and-volley specialist.

After knocking off defending 14s champ Jieun Jacobs of Valencia, 6-3, 6-3, in the quarterfinals, Saedinia had her hands full against Brymer, who turned many short returns into winning volleys.

“I’m not used to playing players like her,” said Saedinia, who was also bothered by a blister on her racket thumb. “She comes to the net.”

Saedinia is a late bloomer. She took up the sport at age 10. While most of her contemporaries were already playing competitively at 10, Saedinia didn’t play tournaments until she was 12.

But she doesn’t lack confidence.

Asked what her chances will be against Mikolich and her powerful ground strokes, Saedinia said, “If I play my game, I’ll win.”

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Coach Robert Landsdorp has helped develop the likes of Pete Sampras, Jeff Tarango, Eliot Teltscher and Tracy Austin. Could he have a new prodigy on his hands?

Nick Weiss of Calabasas, who advanced to the boys’ 16s final, enlisted the services of Landsdorp five months ago. Landsdorp had never seen Weiss in competition until Saturday, when Weiss defeated seventh-seeded David Lingman of Irvine, 6-3, 7-6 (7-5).

What did he think?

“I think he’s pretty good,” said Landsdorp, who has worked with juniors for 30 years. “I’d like to see a bit more power in his forehand and his shots deeper. But, mentally, he’s a tough little cookie.”

After winning the 14s singles title here last year, third-seeded Weiss will have the chance to pull off the rare feat of winning consecutive championships in different age groups if he can stop top-seeded John Paul Fruttero of San Marino in a 10:30 a.m. match.

Reacting to Landsdorp’s evaluation, Weiss acknowledged the fact he needs to hit deeper ground strokes.

“That comes from being tentative,” he said.

But the 15-year-old, who reached the semifinals of the national 14s tournament last year, has added power and improved his serve to prepare for a much tougher road in 1997.

Most impressive, however, is his net game. Weiss has developed a smooth touch at the net, where most other players on the circuit are still awkward.

“He has great volleys,” Landsdorp said. “He doesn’t volley enough. That’s the best execution of any of his shots.”

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Names to look for in the future are Justin Montgomery and Stefan McKinney.

Second-seeded Montgomery, a Channel Islands Harbor resident, routed No. 7 Brandon Waiof San Diego, 6-0, 6-3, in the semifinals of boys’ 12s. Montgomery will face No. 3 Mark Contreras of Temple City in today’s 10:30 a.m. final.

Montgomery beat Wai, 6-2, 6-3, for the championship of a junior designated tournament at Long Beach this year.

McKinney of Santa Paula, son of Cabrillo Racquet Club pro Dave McKinney, beat Lawrence Wang of Anaheim, 6-4, 6-1, to win the boys’ 10 title.

McKinney is 21-0 this year.