19TH ANNUAL BALBOA BAY CLUB JUNIOR TOURNAMENT:

NEWPORT BEACH — At the end of the first set in the 19th annual Balboa Bay Club Junior Tournament Chris Damion had just lost six straight games to go down one to Corona del Mar High teammate Ryan Peyton. He now had a decision to make. Start making shots and come back to pull out a huge victory or just let this one go.

His decision was obvious. He won the next set and forced a third set where his resilience took over. Damion ended up winning the third set and the exhausting match over the seventh-seeded Peyton, 0-6, 6-3, 7-5, in the Round of 16 of the boys’ 18 singles division Tuesday. Damion advances to the quarterfinals today at 3:30 p.m., playing against fourth-seeded Mikey Zablan of Irvine at the Balboa Bay Club Racquet Club.

Even though the momentum of the match had been completely sucked from Peyton and on the side of Damion after the first set, it was incredible how steadfast Peyton played throughout the entire match.

The third set displayed some huge shots from both players and some huge returns to make it the toughest and longest set of the night. Damion came out strong and made it 4-2 against a seemingly waning Peyton. However, it was obvious that Peyton was not willing to let this one get too far out of hand.

Peyton, who will be a junior at CdM, regained some of that first-set swagger and started hitting his shots and getting Damion to commit simple errors. Peyton won three straight games to go up 5-4 and the victory was in sight.

However, all Peyton saw was Damion, a CdM senior-to-be, winning the next three games and the match overall.

The competition level between the two during the match was what really spoke volumes of these two players. A few intense confrontations about balls being in or out only fueled the flame between the them. In most circumstances this would be great to watch, but this match was different.

Damion and Peyton are also playing doubles in the tournament and most of the exchanges between them in this were not too friendly.

“I wasn’t very nice over the course of the match,” said Damion with a little chuckle after the win. “But I do have a lot of respect for the kid. [In doubles] it will be that competitive but together instead.”

The important thing that both players took away was that they compliment each other’s game very well. Damion is a powerful hitter that goes for winners any chance he can get, while Peyton is steadfast and consistently makes the other guy miss. The obvious resilient nature of both players should also be beneficial in their doubles match today at 6:30 p.m.

This match also allowed Damion to breathe a sigh of relief as he now knows how strong Peyton is going into the next season at Corona del Mar.

“I wasn’t really expecting him to come out and play that well,” Damion said of Peyton. “I’m glad I won but I am even happier that he is on my team. He has just got so much better over the last year.”

Peyton spent the first six games dissecting his opponent, but it was Damion who found his composure and rallied for the draining victory.

MARK RATTO may be reached at (714) 966-4616.