San Diego Section Tennis Playoffs : Potter Sails to Singles Title; Miyamotos Win In Doubles

At match point of the San Diego Section singles championships Friday, Tommy Phanco watched the tennis ball slowly float over his head.

His eyes widened, his mind said oh no, his feet stayed put--near the net. No use chasing the impossible.

That exasperating parabola, also known as The Perfect Lob, gave Andy Potter of San Pasqual High School the match, 6-2, 2-6, 7-5, against his friendly rival from The Bishop’s School.

Earlier, brothers Jeff and Jerry Miyamoto of Patrick Henry won the doubles title, beating Torrey Pines’ Craig Zarro and Chris Swortwood, 6-3, 7-6 (7-3).

Potter’s finishing touch was akin to Wyatt Erp brandishing a water pistol. Almost all of his previous shots, which often landed near or on a line, had tremendous pace.

“The first set? I’ve never seen anybody play that well,” said Phanco, a former roommate and opponent of French Open semifinalist Andre Agassi. “It’s hard to beat someone who can hit the ball that hard.”

Moreover, the winning shot came from Potter’s more powerful stroke, the forehand, as Potter sprinted toward the corner.

“I was expecting a shot back down the line,” Phanco said. “He just flicked his wrist. He’s a great athlete.

“I guess what it came down is gutting out the last point. I guess I didn’t deserve to win.”

Phanco’s self-criticism likely had to do with his 0-3 record against Potter this spring. Phanco, the top-seeded player, last year was ranked 28th nationally in the 18-and-under category. Potter was ranked 63rd, but had one less summer of tournaments in that bracket. Each has earned a college tennis scholarship, Potter to Kentucky and Phanco to Miami.

Potter, who nearly matched the arc of his final lob by flinging his racket into the adjacent court after winning, said Phanco was responsible for the turnaround in the second set. He did so by backing up on Potter’s first serves and moving up on his second. As for the third set, Potter more aggressively--if that is possible--attacked Phanco’s second service. The final point came off such a serve.

“I felt bad, because we both played really well,” Potter said. “It was was unfortunate that somebody has to be a loser.”

The match culminated a nomadic high school career for Potter, a native of Lakewood, Colo. He has attended three high schools in order to stay with his coach, Woody Blocker, founder of Tennis Escondido.

“It’s tough, very tough,” said Potter, 18. “You’ve got to be on your own someday, I guess.”

The Miyamotos had not played together during the regular season. They chose to do before the City Eastern League tournament because Jerry, though only 14, had more tournament experience than did Jeff’s partner on No. 1 doubles, Brad Samuels. They won 20 consecutive sets after uniting.

Swortwood and Zarro used lobs and stronger service returns to challenge in the second set, but each Miyamoto jammed his opponent with a deep, kicking serve to capture the final two points.

So much for a good thing, though.

“Next year, we’ll probably play singles in CIF; I just want to win singles next year,” said Jeff, a junior who last year was ranked No. 4 in Southern California’s 16-and-under division.

And if the two meet?

“I’d kill him,” quipped Jerry, a left-handed freshman who last year was ranked No. 3 in Southern California’s 14-and-under division.