CdM player scores upset

KALAMAZOO, Mich. — With a high school teammate watching him play, Fabian Matthews collected momentum with each winner Saturday in a match against Reid Carleton, the 11th-ranked player in the nation for boys’ 18 singles.

Matthews, who will be a senior at Corona del Mar High, scored a huge upset in the second round of the USTA National Championships in Kalamazoo. He knocked off the 14th seed, 6-2, 3-6, 6-3, as Chris Damion, who is competing in the 16s, looked on.

“[I won] because my forehand was really on and my serve was on, too,” Matthews said in a phone interview. “I was able to dicate the points and make him run around. I got a lot of winners with my forehand.”

Matthews, who has won two CIF Southern Section doubles tiles, entered the match ranked No. 9 in boys’ 18 singles, not in the nation, but in the USTA Southern California rankings.

Possessing regional success, Matthews still seemed overmatched against Carleton, who is from Naples, Fla. But Matthews, who is unseeded, did not seem fazed before, or overjoyed afterward.

According to tennisrecruiting.net, Carleton is the seventh-best recruit, and he has gave a verbal commitment to Duke.

“It is probably one of my biggest wins because he is highly ranked and there is a lot of talk about him,” Matthews said. “People didn’t think I would win, but I pulled it out and showed him. He plays a lot of tournaments and travels a lot. I think he is home schooled. I don’t have time to do that. I stay in school. I guess it doesn’t matter how many tournaments you play.”

Matthews defeated Casey Cullen of Beverly Hills, Mich. in the first round, 6-2, 6-3. He will play against Austin Klores, who is also unseeded, in a third-round match on Monday.

Matthews is hoping to carry along the confidence he acquired with the victory over Carleton.

“It brings a lot of confidence for me,” Matthews said. “Also with Chris Damion, for him to watch it, that gave me a big confidence boost.”

Matthews also competed in doubles. He was teamed with Andre Dorne. After a first-round bye, they lost to Phillip Arndt and Viju George, 7-5, 6-3.

— Steve Virgen