San Diego Section Tennis : Burgos’ Rally Beats Crockett

When Mimi Burgos of University City High School took the court against Shannon Crockett of Bishop’s High Saturday in the finals of the San Diego Section singles championships, she remembered what had happened the last time the two met. That was 10 days earlier in the City Western League championships, when Burgos won the opening set but lost the match, 4-6, 6-2, 7-5.

That situation was reversed Saturday. The No. 4-seeded Burgos dropped the first set to the No. 2-seeded Crockett, 2-6, but came back to win, 6-2, 6-0, and win the championship at Bishop’s High School.

“I didn’t put any pressure on her the last time I played her,” Burgos said. “This time, I knew if I let up for a minute she’d come back. Even when I was up five-love, 40-love, I knew she could come back.”

Crockett was the highest-seeded remaining player after No. 1 Cammie Foley of Bonita Vista was eliminated in the quarterfinals Thursday. However, Burgos sought to dispel any notion that she was the underdog.

“I really wanted to win this match,” she said. “I don’t know if I’d call it revenge, but the last time we played I knew I was the better player.”

Although Crockett dominated the first set, her confidence and serve deserted her in the latter part of the match. In the second set, Crockett--who was unable to hold her serve after the seventh game of the first set--double-faulted on break point to give Burgos a 5-2 lead and the momentum.

There were no upsets in the doubles competition as the top-seeded team of Connie Carbone and Karen Price of Bonita Vista beat No. 2-seeded Francoise Barton and Hana Ohkawa of La Jolla, 6-3, 6-1.