Back pain drains Slevcove

NEWPORT BEACH — Without a healthy back, there was no comeback by Kalika Slevcove.

Slevcove learned it the hard way on the tennis court Wednesday. Taking care of the basics before the match stopped her early.

“I didn’t really stretch much,” Slevcove said. “It’s important to stretch.”

The future Corona del Mar High junior retired in the second set of her Round of 16 match at the 20th annual Balboa Bay Club Junior Tennis Tournament.

Slevcove said her back gave her trouble. Then the No. 12-seeded player in the girls’ 16 singles division gave up at The Tennis Club.

Make that two straight opponents taking themselves out of competition due to injuries against Annika Ringblom of Palos Verdes Estates.

After dropping the first set to Ringblom, 6-3, the problems began for Slevcove. Physically and in the score, Slevcove was hurting.

Ringblom moves on to the quarterfinals today after Slevcove’s back prevented her from continuing. Slevcove trailed, 5-1, in the second set before retiring.

“I would’ve come back,” Slevcove said, “but I couldn’t.

“It was nice to get this far in the tournament. If [the back] felt fine, then I would’ve done much better.”

Slevcove’s debut at the tournament, also known as the War by the Shore, lasted three matches. The first two went the 16-year-old’s way.

The day before, Slevcove said her back felt good. She picked up a 6-2, 6-0 victory against Aislin Elkin of Laguna Beach.

Slevcove said the match lasted 45 minutes. No one gave her a battle the first two rounds.

In the opener, Slevcove beat a high school teammate, Jessica Yi, 6-0, 6-0. The familiarity helped Slevcove easily get past Yi.

“I know how my teammates play and what their weaknesses are,” Slevcove said.

“It was a little odd playing against [a] teammate.”

The oddity returned two days later, in the form of Slevcove’s game.

With the back not at 100%, her shots lost steam. Ringblom routinely broke her serve in the second set.

The two met for the first time and Slevcove came away impressed.

“She just had really good consistency,” Slevcove said. “Her moving up from 14s to the 16s, [proves] she’s a pretty good player.”

When Slevcove is healthy, she’s just as dominant.

Last year on junior varsity, CdM’s No. 1 singles player said she finished 39-1. This upcoming school year, Slevcove plans to make the varsity team, hopefully as a doubles player.

The Sea Kings have finished runner-up in the CIF Southern Section Division I playoffs the last two seasons, and CdM won the title in 2006.

Before Slevcove tries out, you can bet she will remember to stretch properly.

OTHER LOCAL RESULTS

 In boys’ 18 singles, No. 3-seeded Shane Korber, a CdM junior-to-be, advanced to today’s quarterfinals. He beat Newport Beach resident Dante Saleh, 6-1, 6-2. Korber will play against No. 6-seeded Ahdiy Nathan of Rancho Santa Margarita at 12:30 p.m.

Ryan Peyton, the No. 4 seed who will be a senior at Corona del Mar High in the fall, also advanced to today’s quarterfinals. He beat Benjamin Redhead, 6-0, 6-1. Peyton will play against No. 5-seeded Gavin Krogius of San Juan Capistrano at 11 a.m.

Nathan defeated Newport Beach resident Pierce Stemler, 6-2, 6-1, to advance.

 In boys’ 12 singles, No. 2 seeded Austin Di Giulio of Newport Beach beat No. 6-seeded Remus Risnoveanu of Anaheim, 6-1, 6-1. Di Giulio advanced to today’s semifinals, but said Tuesday that he was leaving today for Florida to watch his brother, Joseph, compete at the United States Tennis Assn. Super National Clay Court Championships in Fort Lauderdale, which starts Sunday.

 In boys’ 10 singles, Newport Beach resident Andrew Saleh will play his first match of the tournament, facing top-seeded Leo Hibi of Irvine in the semifinals today at 9:30 a.m.

Saleh opened the tournament with a bye in the Round of 16 and advanced past the quarterfinals after No. 3-seeded Scott Nguyen of Anaheim withdrew because of injury.

 In girls’ 18 singles, Kelli Feeley, an incoming senior at CdM, advanced to today’s quarterfinals. She beat Newport Beach resident Megan Chomeau, 6-0, 6-2. Feeley will play against No. 9-seeded Hazuki Onaga of El Segundo at 11 a.m.

 In girls’ 10 singles, Newport Coast resident Jenna Moustafa, the No. 2 seed, advanced to today’s semifinals. She beat Allison Torres of Upland, 6-0, 6-0. Moustafa will play against Joan Soewondo of Laguna Niguel at 9:30 a.m.