Stunova Makes Herself Right at Home in Ojai

Zuzana Stunova of Camarillo will return this summer to the Czech Republic.

Hoping to make a name for herself back home, Stunova said she will try to compete in some international junior events.

She is already making a name for herself here.

Stunova on Friday breezed through two matches in the girls’ 18-and-under division and advanced to the semifinals of the 96th Ojai Valley tennis tournament, where she will face second-seeded Tu Dong of Long Beach today at 8 a.m. at Libbey Park.

Stunova, seeded third, routed Sara Arguilla of El Cajon, 6-2, 6-1, in the round of 16 and had an easier time with Allison Arvizu of Huntington Beach later in the day.

She beat Arvizu, 6-0, 6-2, after which Arvizu shook her head and said, “She had a great forehand.”

Stunova, 16, has a powerful forehand that belies her stature. She’s stands only about 5 feet. But she won’t be satisfied until she blows everybody away.

“I think I am more steady and have more control over the ball [than my opponents],” Stunova said. “I think I have more power.

“I’ve never seen Dong play, but I’m sure if I play well I will win.”

In eight sets so far, only one opponent has been able to win four games off Stunova.

Nick Varvais of Royal High survived a scare in the quarterfinals of boys’ 18 singles, beating Joe Chrisman of Ventura, 7-6 (7-3), 6-3, but he could be in for another fright.

In today’s 8 a.m. semifinals, Varvais, 16, will face top-seeded Geoff Abrams of Newport Harbor in boys’ interscholastic singles. Last summer, Abrams routed Varvais in the quarterfinals of the Southern California Junior Sectional.

“I didn’t have much topspin on my serves and he was putting them away,” Varvais said. “He was breaking me constantly. But I’m happy to be here.”

With temperatures soaring into the 90s--and court conditions much hotter--the last thing Varvais wanted to do was to go three sets with Chrisman.

But Varvais, who outlasted Buena’s Zafar Fisher earlier, 6-0, 7-6, avoided a marathon by winning the final three points of the tiebreaker.

“I stayed calm,” Varvais said. “He was playing about the best he could. I knew I’d outlast him.”

In other matches, Erin Carroll of Ventura advanced to the semifinals of boys’ 16 singles, beating Chris Tebbets of Orange, 6-4, 6-1.

In boys’ interscholastic doubles, three-time defending champions Mike and Bob Bryan of Rio Mesa reached the semifinals with a 6-0, 6-0 victory over George Moungvong and Michael Rodrigues of the University of San Diego.

In girls’ 18 doubles, Shera Wiegler of Calabasas and Kerry Giardino of Palos Verdes advanced to today’s 2 p.m. final against Faye DeVera of Villa Park and Kristian Kraszewski. Wiegler and Giardino beat Jennifer Heiser of Stockton and Lisa Papi of Fresno, 7-5, 6-1.