Carsten Ball

Steve Virgen

Carsten Ball’s game plan during the championship match of the Corona

del Mar High All-American boys tennis invitational provided an

excellent indication of his persona.

Ball, Corona del Mar’s No. 1 singles player, is as confident as

they come.

“I was just playing my game, that’s all I was trying to do,” Ball

said after defeating Broughton senior Will Plyler bound for the

University of North Carolina, 8-4, Saturday. “If he can beat me when

I’m doing that, well then he’s good. He deserves to win.”

Ball went about his business and played his game during the

All-American invitational winning all four of his singles sets in the

matches that resemble college tennis format. Ball’s standout

performance helped lead the Sea Kings to their third straight

championship of their tournament that’s in its fifth year and

features talent like the Broughton Capitols of Raleigh, N.C.

With a strong serve, Ball was in control against Plyler, who broke

Ball’s serve just once during the set. Ball, a left-handed player,

kept Plyler off balance with opportune attacks to the net and Plyler

withered with each passing game. It was quite similar to what took

place against Ball throughout the tournament and what has been the

norm during the season, thus far.

Ball, the Daily Pilot Athlete of the Week, is 16-0 in singles play

this season. Of the 24 tournament games he played before the match

against Broughton, he dropped just one. Ball also teamed with junior

Spencer Reitz in doubles and they won three of their four sets, as

both earned all-tournament team honors.

Through it all Carsten was the same: confident and consistent.

“I don’t know if I really have strengths to my game,” Ball said.

“I just go out and play. Of course if you have your serve on, a lot

of times some of the rest of it just falls into place. Sometimes you

have to earn it.”

Ball’s confidence not only comes from his talent, but also from

his upbringing. Since age 9, when he started to play in tournaments,

Ball has been under the guidance of his father, Syd, a former member

of the Australian Davis Cup team and a pro for about a decade. Ball

has also progressed as a player by training with his brother,

Cameron, who is four years older than him, and coincidentally helped

lead the Sea Kings to a championship in 2002 All-American

invitational.

Since then Carsten Ball has grown, not just in terms of tennis,

yet also in height. He added about four inches and now stands at

6-foot-1. Also, during the off-season Ball refined his game, by

playing in tournaments and training at least five days a week.

“He has always had a great game,” Corona del Mar Coach Tim Mang

said. “His serve is a little heavier now and he’s at the net more.

His volley is a little more stronger and he has put more force to put

more shots away.”