Moore Working His Way Back Up

FOUNTAIN VALLEY — Ryan Moore of Fullerton was regarded as one of the nation’s top junior tennis players a year ago.

Moore was ranked second in the Southern California Tennis Assn., and 11th nationally in the boys’ 16s. But when Moore moved up to the 18s this season, things suddenly went sour.

“The beginning of the year was a real bust,” Moore said. “I lost three straight matches, and dropped out of the top 16. Things started to really unravel, and I lost confidence in my game. I just haven’t had what I’d call a good season.”

Things changed for the better in this week’s Southern California Sectional Championships.

Forced into the qualifying round because of his lackluster 1996 record, Moore fought his way into the main draw with three preliminary victories, then Wednesday upset the tournament’s top-seeded player, Andrew Scorteanu of Palm Springs.

Moore’s resurgence took another big step forward Thursday when he defeated his friend and doubles partner, Joost Hol of Santa Ana, 6-4, 1-6, 6-4, at Los Caballeros Sports Village.

The victory advanced Moore into today’s quarterfinal round against Nick Varvais of Simi Valley.

The last time Moore and Varvais faced each other was in the Fiesta Bowl tournament in December. “He beat me in a close three-setter there,” Moore said. “But that was the beginning of the bad times.”

Moore’s coach, Chuck Pate of the Tustin Hills Racquet Club, said the big difference between Moore’s play this week and early in the season when he was struggling is strictly a matter of confidence.

“His game was the same then as it is right now, but back then he just wasn’t winning big matches,” Pate said. “He went through a period of time where he didn’t beat anyone who was ranked ahead of him. Ryan is tough on himself too, and the losses bother him sometimes more than they should.

“Momentum is important in any sport. Unless you’re clearly better than the people you’re playing, you’re going to have some ups and downs. Luckily, Ryan is on the upswing at the right time. He’s playing with confidence now, and that’s a big part of his game.”

Pate said he had no complaints about Moore having to come into the tournament as a qualifier.

“He should have, based on his record this year,” Pate said. “But I knew he was as good as at least half of the [16] players who were automatic qualifiers. It might have helped him to have those three matches under his belt before he played Scorteanu.” Moore won that match, 6-2, 1-6, 6-3.

Notes

Katey Becker of Orange upset second-seeded Kari Olsen of San Diego, 6-2, 1-6, 7-6, to advance to the girls’ 16s quarterfinals. Becker’s Villa Park High teammate, fifth-seeded Faye De Vera, lost to unseeded Sara Arguilla of El Cajon, 6-3, 6-1, in the girls’ 18s. In the girls’ 14s, second-seeded Nadia Vaughan of Corona del Mar lost to Jessica Roland of Hollywood, 6-4, 6-2. In the boys’ 18s, fifth-seeded Joseph Gilbert of Fullerton advanced to the singles quarterfinals and teamed with Dylan Mann of Winnetka to defeat top-seeded Scott Kintz and Trent Miller of San Diego, 6-4, 4-6, 6-4, in the doubles semifinals.