Kim Out of Section Singles

Sunny Hills sophomore Kevin Kim has pulled out of the Southern Section singles tournament so he can practice for his upcoming stretch of clay-court tournaments. Kim, the No. 1-ranked boys’ 16 player in the nation, did not play in the section individual tournament last year because of an injury.

Kim competed in the Freeway League tournament, the section individual qualifying tournament, and defeated teammate Joseph Gilbert, 6-0, 6-2, in the final.

“I played league because my coach (Steve White) wanted me to,” Kim said.

But Kim said he had already decided to prepare for three upcoming clay-court tournaments by practicing at Sherwood Country Club in Thousand Oaks May 26-30, the same weekend of the section individual tournament at SeaCliff Tennis Club in Huntington Beach.

In the next two months, Kim will play on the red clay of Italy and France with other top-ranked players in the boys’ 16 division.