Robert Khoury

Barry Faulkner

Noteworthy victories have suddenly begun to mount for Newport Harbor

High freshman tennis standout Robert Khuory, perhaps none more so

than his upset of the top seed to claim the Sea View League singles

title May 8.

A closer look, however, reveals that possibly his most impressive

string of triumphs are those he earns over his coach in the waking

hours each weekend.

“He beats me to the courts every weekend,” said Newport Harbor

Coach Jeff Thomsen, who believes the key to Khoury’s success is

obvious.

“I think it comes down to his work ethic,” Thomsen said. “I’m

always at the courts early on weekends, but, by the time I get there,

he’s already there running stairs or running lines. It’s starting to

pay off for him. He’s growing as a player and as a person.”

Khoury’s commitment to the game is a fairly recent development,

since the former club soccer player didn’t really begin playing until

three years ago and, Thomsen said, did not become serious about

tennis until about a year ago. But, despite playing catch-up with his

prep peers, many of whom have been banging from a baseline since they

were able to swing a racquet, the combination of determination and

natural talent has made him a rising force.

“He has been unbelievable all year,” said Thomsen, whose Sailors

earned their first trip to the CIF Southern Section playoffs in at

least 13 seasons by beating Irvine in a third-place playoff Friday.

Khoury lost only one game in sweeping three sets in the crucial

12-6 win over Irvine to secure Daily Pilot Athlete of the Week

recognition. “He has had big win after big win.”

A big serve is part of the winning equation for Khoury, who at

6-foot, 170 pounds, is bigger than most of his fellow ninth-graders.

But there is as much finesse as muscle to his game and his mental

toughness has also been key.

“He’s basically an aggressive baseliner who is willing to come to

the net,” Thomsen said. “He has a huge first serve and it’s only

getting stronger. But his bread and butter is his down-the-line

backhand. And, he’s very mature for his age. He really keeps it

together on the court.”

Khoury admits few things rattle him and his competitive drive

helps him maintain an uncommon focus.

“It really doesn’t matter to me who I’m playing,” Khoury said. “I

just want to improve and continue to work harder and harder. If I

play someone who has already beaten me, I want to come back and beat

them. If I play the way I can, good things usually happen.”

Khoury, the No. 2 seed in the Sea View singles tournament, had

never played top-seeded Shimpei Suzuki of Woodbridge until last week.

“But he had beaten a guy I had lost to, so I was fired up to beat

him,” said Khoury, who prevailed, 2-6, 7-6, 6-1, to become the first

Sailor to claim a league singles crown since Geoff Abrams in 1994.

“It felt good to beat a good player,”He beat me pretty badly in the

first set, but I felt much better in the second set. It took me a

while to figure out what to do with him.”

Thomsen figures Khoury has what it takes to earn a college tennis

scholarship. And, while Khoury has such aspirations, he is reluctant

to think that far ahead.

“I just try to go day by day,” said Khoury, who never expected to

be a league champion his first prep campaign. “I try not to get too

excited about things, until they come.”

Thomsen said Khoury’s humility is genuine, but the coach, who

played at Newport alongside Abrams, did not hesitate when discussing

his emerging star’s potential.

“From the first day I saw him two years ago, I knew he was going

to be a great tennis player,” Thomsen said. “He’s well on is way to

doing just that.”