Nguyen Tough but Comes Up Short

Saddleback freshman Kim Nguyen might ponder for a few days that easy forehand putaway she missed. But when she forgets about her missed opportunity, Nguyen will reflect on how well she played against some of the top competition in Southern California.

Nguyen’s spectacular and improbable run in the Southern Section individual tournament ended Friday with a 4-6, 6-4, 6-2 loss to West Torrance junior Morisa Yang in the semifinals at the Racquet Club of Irvine. The unseeded Nguyen appeared to be on her way to the finals. She controlled most of the points and had Yang, seeded third, off balance and behind the baseline for most of the first two sets.

Nguyen won the first set, 6-4, and was staring at a 5-2 lead in the second set, but her eyes got too big when she saw a high ball in the middle of the court. She hit the easy shot too hard and the ball sailed out.

Though Nguyen kept her cool and continued to play good tennis, the momentum had clearly shifted. Yang raised her level of play and took the last four games of the second set. In the third set, Yang was even better. She went up 5-1 and never let Nguyen into the set.

“She picked it up,” said Nguyen, three years younger than Yang and a good seven inches shorter. “She was hitting the ball harder and her first serve was pretty consistent.”

Yang had never seen Nguyen play, but she came away from the match impressed.

“She’s going to be a really good player,” Yang said. “She’s really quick and she has an overall game. She had some really easy sitters that she missed and I took advantage.”

Saddleback Coach Frank Conover said he could hardly be disappointed with Nguyen’s performance.

“She played fabulous,” he said. “I know she’s disappointed, but she knows she played well.”

Nguyen, who turned 14 in October, said she is just beginning to find her game.

“I’m starting to get stronger and quicker,” she said. “I feel great that I got this far.”

The two county doubles teams that reached the semifinals also failed to reach the finals. Dana Hills’ top-seeded team of Kate Romm and Amy Tranckino were beaten by San Marino’s Luana Magnani and Lindsey Irons-Kilmer, 6-2, 6-3. Woodbridge’s Andriana Hockicko and Danille Hustedt lost to Santa Barbara’s Sarita Yardi and Callie Grokenberger by the same score.

Romm and Tranckino said San Marino’s tandem gave them a geometry lesson.

“They had some really good angles all day,” Tranckino said. “They were hitting angles on their returns and we didn’t close the court off enough.”

Said Romm: “They were really tough. When we hit a good shot, they’d come back with a better one.”