Di Giulio captures title

FOUNTAIN VALLEY — Early on, Joseph Di Giulio sprayed the ball the way the country’s top-ranked 12-year-old should on the tennis court — with power and ease.

His mom, April, and one of his two younger brothers, Austin, looking on at Los Caballeros Racquet and Sports Club, thought so.

The winners began piling up for the Newport Beach kid Monday afternoon. Then when he was about to claim the first set in the 12-year-old division title match at the 105th Southern California Junior Sectional Championships, his mom spoke up.

“Let’s go Joseph!” cheered April, prompting the chair umpire to warn her.

“No cheering please,” he calmly announced before Stefan Menichella of Santa Barbara served.

Menichella went on to lose the first set by two games, but April couldn’t stick around to watch the start of the next set.

“I have to go,” she told someone. “I have a good friend over there.”

Mom picked a good time to leave with what unfolded in the first three games.

Top-seeded Menichella went up, 3-0, making Di Giulio look like what he went into the tournament as: an unseeded player. He fought back. Twice he trailed by three games, the second would be the last as Di Giulio came back, winning, 6-4, 7-5, to earn his second championship at the prestigious tournament.

Di Giulio’s coach, Billy McQuaid, watched the end. He was impressed by the player he said he’s been guiding since he was 6.

“It’s kind of like winning Wimbledon,” said McQuaid, the tennis pro at the Palisades Tennis Club. “The only reason he went in unseeded was because he doesn’t play in any 12-year-old tournaments. He plays 14-year-olds and 16-year-olds.

“When you win the sectionals in Southern California, it’s a pretty big deal.”

Di Giulio’s 7-year-old brother Austin knew it was a huge ordeal and he wasn’t even playing. His brother, who last year lost in the semifinals, was on the verge of winning his third consecutive tournament after taking first in events in Santa Barbara and Laguna Niguel.

Austin told everyone in sight that his brother, with the long curly hair, was playing for the championship and how it was a rematch of a 10-year-old sectional championship two years ago between his brother and Menichella.

“I can’t even watch,” said Austin, sitting on the ground behind court No. 17.

Austin rose often to check the score, making sure it was in his brother’s favor. Like a good older brother, Di Giulio took care of that.

After winning his fourth straight game to take the lead, 6-5, Di Giulio kept up his aggressive play. McQuaid said Di Giulio noticed Menichella, ranked ninth in the country, wearing out. Menichella’s shots were high and easy to return.

“I think he was trying to do that because he was sort of nervous and he didn’t want to go for a shot,” Di Giulio said. “He just wanted me to miss. I either hit a win, or miss, that’s the only way he can get a point that way. I just hit more winners than misses.”

That’s been the case for Di Giulio, who said he has won 18 straight tournament matches. He closed out the final with a deep volley that tripped up Menichella. Menichella fell and knew it was over when he hit the court.

“I’ve played him like four times [since I first beat him],” said Menichella, adding that he’s lost each time since. “I think I got an idea of how to beat him next time. Even though I lost, I think I played him right.

“He really doesn’t give you anything. He doesn’t really miss. He doesn’t let up.”

DAVID CARRILLO PEÑALOZA may be reached at (714) 966-4612 or at david.carrillo@latimes.com.