Girls tennis: Reitz survives sectionals scare

Steve Virgen

FOUNTAIN VALLEY - It appeared to be smooth sailing for Corona del

Mar High girls tennis standout Brittany Reitz Wednesday in the 99th

annual Southern California Junior Tennis Sectionals at Los Caballeros

Sports Village.

But, in a sudden, dramatic turn of events, Julianna Gates of Encinitas

stormed back during the girls 18s singles first-round matchup. For Reitz,

Gates’ second-set surge turned out to be a good thing.

Reitz, the 2000 CIF Southern Section singles champion, thrived on

Gates’ comeback -- Gates was down, 4-0, in the second set and won, 7-5 --

and answered with a thrilling 6-2, 5-7, 6-2 victory.

“I’m more than excited that I got this type of match,” said Reitz, who

will be a senior in the fall. “It’s always good to get a tough match in

your first match.”

Reitz, the No. 3 seed, will play Brooke Borisoff of Agoura Hills today

at noon. Borisoff won, 6-0, 6-1, over Yucaipa’s Michelle Beyronneau.

On the other hand, Reitz played in one of the more exciting matches of

the day. She used an all-around game, including aggressive attacks to the

net and pinpoint service returns, to score the first-set victory and earn

the 4-0 lead in the second.

Yet, Gates seemed to wake up in the second set. She grabbed momentum

with each winner as she slapped her leg as if riding a horse and

whispered loudly, “Come on! Let’s go!”

Gates won the second set and her hopes strengthened as Reitz went down

with an injury. Reitz re-injured her left leg -- she suffered a torn knee

ligament in last year’s sectionals -- saying she thought she had

hyperextended it when chasing a lob shot.

But, after an eight-minute break, Reitz regained focus and took

control in the third set. With misdirection shots, Reitz took advantage

of Gates’ hustle and approaches to the net.

Said Reitz: “I really couldn’t have had a better match to prepare me

mentally. (Gates) picked it up in the second set. Now, I feel really

prepared for tomorrow.”

Meanwhile, CdM junior-to-be Anne Yelsey quickly defeated Yu Yu

Myinttun, 6-2, 6-3. As Sea Kings Coach Andy Stewart looked on, Yelsey

controlled the match from start to finish.

“It’s always different for the first match because you really don’t

want to lose,” said Yelsey, who is seeded No. 7. “I was a little bit

nervous about that. But, I thought I played well and I think I’m just

going to keep playing better in this tournament.”

Said Stewart: “I know all the girls here are in shape, but Anne is

probably in better shape than anyone here. In her first match, she didn’t

play her best tennis, but she did enough to win.”

Yelsey, like Reitz, advances to today’s Round of 16. Yelsey will face

Lauren Perl of San Diego at noon. Perl defeated Ashley Maddocks of Laguna

Beach, 6-2, 6-2.

Also in girls 18s singles action, Newport Beach’s Natalie Braverman

scored a 6-4, 6-3 victory over Moe Myinttun of Los Angeles.

Braverman will meet top-seeded Iris Ichim of Beverly Hills today at

noon. Ichim won, 6-1, 6-1, over Murrieta’s Kristen Grady.

CdM’s Kimberly Singer lost, but battled relentlessly in a three-set

match against Nina Yaftali of Westlake Villa. After being shut out in the

first set, 6-0, Singer answered with fire and recorded a 6-3 win. But,

Yaftali regained focus and won the third set, 6-1.

In the girls 16s competition, CdM sophomore-to-be Brittany Holland

lost, but still had plenty to celebrate. Mission Viejo’s Lauren Jones

won, 6-3, 6-1, yet Holland, who played in the 14s all season, was awarded

the season-long Southern California Tennis Association Junior

Sportsmanship Award, voted upon by her 14s peers.

“You won’t find anyone who will say anything bad about Brittany,”

Stewart said. “She’s just a great kid. She’s a hard worker and she gets

along easily with all the girls.”