PREP TENNIS / CITY SECTION INDIVIDUAL FINALS : Chatsworth’s Huerta Applies Pressure, Defeats Tombakian

Rafael Huerta of Chatsworth High used an aggressive serve-and-volley strategy to defeat Arthur Tombakian of Marshall, 6-2, 6-4, and win his second consecutive City Section singles championship at the Racquet Centre in Studio City on Friday.

With the score 4-4 in the second set, Huerta gave up only one point in the final two games. He won the match with a backhand out of Tombakian’s reach.

“I tried to put a lot of pressure on him and take my time and get him off rhythm,” Huerta said.

Huerta won the first set easily, winning two break points and capitalizing on four double-faults by Tombakian, who lost to Huerta for the third time in three years.

“(Huerta’s) ability to analyze the game is just fantastic,” said Steve Berk, Chatsworth coach.

Huerta didn’t lose a set during the City tournament.

Last season, Huerta became the first Chatsworth player to win a singles title by defeating Jason Weiss of Taft, 7-5, 6-2.

Huerta, a native of Mexicali, Mexico, has been playing tennis since he was 8. Tombakian, a native of Armenia, has been playing since he was 7. Both are seniors.

Jay Jackson of University won the third-place match by default over Dvir Levy of Taft, who did not appear for the match.

In doubles, Oliver Catlin and Jeff Manson of Palisades defeated Brian Sobel and Jason Uslaner of Woodland Hills Taft, 7-6 (7-5), 6-4.

Catlin and Manson, both juniors, played doubles with different partners for Palisades during the season before pairing for the tournament.

In an all-Woodland Hills El Camino Real third-place doubles match, Joe Nguyen and Tom Yang defeated Corey Carnes and Jay Schweitzer, 7-5, 6-1.