Kojian’s Lead: Gone With Wind

Arpi Kojian, a freshman at Villa Park High, had Cincinnati’s Emelia Anderson down in the first two sets couldn’t hold onto either lead and lost, 7-5, 7-5, in the third round of the girls’ 16 division Monday night at the Easter Bowl tournament.

Kojian led, 5-4, in the first set and, 3-0, in the second, but she made too many errors against Anderson’s solid baseline game. Kojian was the more aggressive player, but her net game suffered because of the blustery conditions.

“It was just hectic out there,” Kojian said. “A baseliner has more time to worry about the wind. At the net, if it moves, you’re dead.”

On one point, Kojian appeared to be in an easy position to put the ball away. But when the ball darted at the last instant, all Kojian could do was throw her racket up in self defense.

“I’ve played in the wind, but usually it’s going in one direction,” she said. “This was all over the place.”

In another girls’ 16 match, Mater Dei sophomore Melissa Esmero lost to fourth-seeded Kelly McClain of Largo, Fla., 6-1, 6-2. Esmero broke McClain’s serve in the second set, but she had trouble holding serve all day.

“It was hard for me to find my tempo,” Esmero said. “I was also having trouble with my backhand. She’s playing good out there. I wouldn’t be surprised if she won it.”

Esmero said her game is coming along nicely: “My movement is much better and I have a little bit more confidence.”

In the girls’ 14 division, Ashley Maddocks of Laguna Beach lost to top-seeded Jackie Carleton, of Jenkintown, Pa., 6-2, 6-2.