Amateur Tu Changes Luck in Pro Event

Meilen Tu just couldn’t seem to get the upper hand on fate. Whatever good that came the way of this talented young tennis player from Northridge appeared to be linked to calamity.

When Tu was elevated to the United States Tennis Assn. Junior National team last summer and was sent to Europe, she suffered an ankle sprain.

She competed with the bad ankle and developed a lower-back problem in the process. By the time she returned for the USTA National 18-under championships in San Jose, Tu couldn’t limp past the round of 16.

Tu was looking forward to celebrating her 16th birthday this year. But when the day came, Jan. 17, a 6.8 magnitude earthquake brought a dark dawn to the occasion.

But today, Tu truly has something to celebrate--and with no complications.

The Granada Hills High student, playing as an amateur, won two matches in her first professional tournament last week--one in singles and one in doubles.

After being one of four qualifiers for the main draw of the $25,000 Coral Gables (Fla.) Challenge tournament, Tu defeated Nana Miyagi of Japan, 6-2, 4-6, 6-3. Miyagi, currently 358th in the world by the Women’s Tennis Assn., was ranked in the top 50 two years ago.

Tu lost her second-round match Feb. 25 to second-seeded Audra Keller of Memphis, Tenn., 6-3, 6-2. Keller is ranked 138th.

In doubles, Tu and Marissa Catlin of Clearwater, Fla., defeated Anne Miller and Sabin Haas, 6-0, 7-6, before falling to second-seeded Keller and Maureen Drake, 6-1, 6-0, in the round of 16.

“It was surprising,” Tu said. “I totally thought I would lose in the first round of qualifying. It’s expected. It’s a different atmosphere. The girls try to intimidate you.

“But I felt real good. I was in good shape. The coaches are really proud of me.”

Tu said she earned 6.5 points toward a world ranking and needs to play two more pro tournaments this year to qualify for a ranking. She said she plans to enter the qualifiers for two Southern California Virginia Slims tournaments later this year.

But Tu, who went 3-0 in the Coral Gables qualifier, said she was more concerned about testing her ability against the pros than earning ranking points.

“It was definitely a different level,” she said. “A level I need to get to.”