Ojai tennis: CIF singles semifinals living up to expectations

This article was originally on a blog post platform and may be missing photos, graphics or links. See About archive blog posts.

I’m out at Thacher School in beautiful Ojai Valley for the semifinals of the CIF Boys’ Division singles semifinals, and so far I’ve witnessed some scintillating tennis. Thousand Oaks’ Kyle McMorrow has taken the first set over his former doubles partner, Walker Kehrer of Brentwood, after a brilliant display of shot-making by both players.

McMorrow got off to a blazing start with three service winners, then broke Kehrer and held with a topspin lob winner for a 3-0 lead. But Kehrer, one of the craftiest junior players around, broke back with a crosscourt backhand on the line, held, then ended a 23-stroke rally with a passing shot off his back foot to level the set at 3-3. McMorrow broke again to go up 5-3 and served out the set. McMorrow just broke to open the second set, but it’s still anyone’s match.

These two won the Easter Bowl 16s doubles last year and know each others’ games well.

Moments ago on the next court over, Corona del Mar’s Fabian Matthews broke for a 6-5 lead and held serve to win the first set against Crossroads’ Reese Milner.

Check back later!

-- Steve Galluzzo

-- Image from www.ojaitourney.org