Dukes’ Garrison-Jackson Helps Out a Little

There will be nights when the Newport Beach Dukes will need all of Zina Garrison-Jackson, but Saturday was not one of them.

The Dukes needed just a little of Zina against the lowly Strings. Garrison-Jackson jump-started Newport Beach by teaming with Katrina Adams for a doubles victory, then she watched as her teammates put away the winless Strings, 30-16, at the Forum before an announced crowd of 2,712.

The Dukes swept all five sets in raising their record to a league-best 7-0. The Strings fell to 0-6.

Garrison-Jackson played only one set because World TeamTennis rules state a substitute must wait two matches before playing more than a set. Garrison-Jackson, in her second match with Dukes, replaced Manon Bollegraf, who is in Germany playing Federation Cup for The Netherlands.

Bollegraf was ranked first in mixed doubles with Trevor Kronemann and fourth in women’s doubles with Adams.

After a rough start Friday night in Sacramento, Garrison-Jackson was on her game Saturday.

“(Friday) I played so bad,” said Garrison-Jackson, who Friday lost with Adams in doubles, 6-2. “I was pretty nervous, and I wasn’t used to the crowds and the yelling. I wanted to show these guys (Saturday) that I could still play tennis.”

Adams and Garrison-Jackson easily defeated Kim Po and Robin White, 6-2, with Garrison-Jackson’s quick hands making the difference on many points.

Adams built on the lead with a 6-5, 5-2 victory over Po. Kronemann and Rikard Bergh defeated Bjorn Borg and player-coach Larry Stefanki, 6-2, to give the Dukes an 18-9 lead.

“That was the most relaxing match I’ve ever watched,” Dukes Coach Greg Patton said. “After the first set, I knew it was over. We’re just getting better and better.”

Borg was beaten in singles by Bergh and Kronemann, 6-3. Kronemann replaced Bergh with the score tied, 2-2.

“Rikard’s tired, and it’s a thrill for Tank (Kronemann) to play against Borg,” Patton said.

Kronemann and Adams finished the Strings off with a 6-4 victory over White and Stefanki. Kronemann remains unbeaten in seven sets of mixed doubles.

The Dukes play Sacramento (5-1), which is 1 1/2 games behind Newport Beach in the West Division, tonight (5 p.m.) at John Wayne Tennis Club.