London Bridges Gap Between Preps, Pros : Tennis: Although she has the chance for big paydays, the Peninsula junior is happy to play for fun at high school and on the amateur circuit.

Although working for minimum wage is the norm for most high school students, Peninsula High tennis player Nicole London had the opportunity to earn $12,000 last summer for two days of work.

London is the No. 1 singles player for Peninsula, considered to be one of the best girls’ tennis teams ever assembled. But before returning for her junior season, she had to decide whether to continue playing for the Panthers or turn professional.

London competed in the U.S. Open in September, defeating Susan Sloan, 6-4, 6-3, before losing in the second round to Rachel McClure, 6-1, 7-6. If she had been a professional, London would have earned $12,000.

“I was shocked to see I would have made that kind of money,” London said. “I was pretty happy, I never qualified for any professional tournament. It was great in the locker room just to see a lot of (the top players). I got to sit with them in the players’ lounge.”

London, who said she participates in high school matches strictly for fun, has not lost a prep match since she was a freshman at Palos Verdes High. She decided against turning pro because of what she saw happen to other young players whose careers were hampered by the pressures of professionalism.

Jennifer Capriati, for example, entered the pro tour just shy of her 14th birthday and in two years went from a perky, smiling, kid to crying at press conferences after matches.

Some tennis experts don’t find it coincidental that Capriati’s first big win in a tournament came in the Barcelona Olympics, where athletes lived in a village and were shielded from many of the stresses that come with the pro game.

“That (burnout) is always in the back of my mind,” London said. “I’m going to graduate from high school. In a way I kind of knew for myself when you (turn pro) so young you miss out on a lot. By the time I was 20 I would probably be sick of playing on the tour.”

On the national amateur level, London is ranked third in the 18-and-under singles division. London and her doubles partner, Lindsey Davenport, formerly of Chadwick, are ranked first in doubles.

London is not the only Peninsula player with pro potential. The Panthers, ranked No. 1 in the Southern Section Division I coaches’ poll, have not lost a match since the school opened last year and won the 1991 Division I title.

Freshman Amanda Basica is ranked No. 1 nationally in 16-and-under singles; her sister, Amber, a junior, is ranked 14th in 16-and-under; and Janet Lee, a junior, is ranked in the top 10 in singles and doubles.

Playing on such a dominant team allows London to compete in other tournaments or skip a Peninsula match because the Panthers are capable of winning without her. Co-Coach Tom Cox was worried that London’s absence might hurt Peninsula in an Oct. 2 match against San Diego power Torrey Pines, but the Panthers won easily, 15-3, to break Torrey Pines’ 55-match winning streak. At the time, London was competing for the U.S national team at the Junior World Cup in Barcelona.

“If we ever got into a tough match (her teammates would) appreciate having her there,” Cox said.

London has enjoyed playing on the amateur level, competing in tournaments in Spain, France, Belgium, Italy and Australia.

“I’m pretty lucky, my parents don’t even get to go (on most of the trips),” London said.

Peninsula’s other coach, Jim Hanson, coached London’s older sister, Stephanie, when she played at Miraleste. Stephanie, who is seven years older than Nicole, played on the pro tour for about a month before becoming an assistant at USC.

“I knew (Nicole) as a young child when she used to come when her older sister played,” Hanson said. “In their early years they were very quiet but very intense. They don’t allow themselves to make a lot of mistakes.

“I see her being very promising when she makes the jump to the pro tour. All the signs are there that she might succeed.”