Tennis: Singer captures Southern Open

Richard Dunn

NEWPORT BEACH - Kim Singer of Newport Beach won the Southern Open

girls 18s singles championship last weekend in Chapel Hill, N.C.

Singer, who will be a senior in the fall for Corona del Mar High girls

tennis coach Andy Stewart, rallied to defeat top-seeded Rachel Williams

of Bethesda, Md., 1-6, 6-1, 6-4, in the title match of the United States

Tennis Association event.

The second-seeded Singer won four consecutive matches in straight sets

to reach the final, including a 6-0, 6-2 semifinal victory over

fourth-seeded Christine Simpson of Raleigh, N.C.

Singer, who has been working out lately with former touring pro Debbie

Graham at the Costa Mesa Tennis Center, is one of several nationally

ranked returning players for Corona del Mar, along with Anne Yelsey,

Brittany Reitz, Brittany Holland and Leslie Damion.

Last season, Singer was injured most of the campaign, then helped the

Sea Kings win the CIF Southern Section Division IV team title.

“She’s hitting the ball super right now,” Stewart said of Singer.

“She’s playing great.”