Collins and Artunian Advance Under Unusual Rules

Thanks to some unusual circumstances, Corona del Mar’s Parker Collins and Woodbridge’s Adam Artunian reached the Southern Section individual tournament by winning only one match Wednesday in the rain-shortened Sea View League tennis tournament at Balboa Bay Racquet Club.

The first two rounds were rained out Tuesday, so Sea View League coaches decided to let the top four seeded players compete for the two bids to the section individual tournament.

Collins defeated fourth-seeded Derek Fears of Santa Margarita, 6-3, 6-2, and Artunian downed third-seeded Christian Jensen of Corona del Mar, 6-2, 6-3.

“One match and you’re in the finals, that’s pretty nice,” Artunian said. “It’s too bad for the other guys who weren’t seeded, but that’s the way it goes.”

Woodbridge Coach Joan Willett said senior Ali Kermani might have been hurt the most by the strange situation.

“He’s really a game kid,” Willett said of Kermani. “He wants to play. He’s a senior. He’s very disappointed.”

Collins seemed a little more prepared than Artunian, who struggled with his serve and his backhand.

Artunian, who has signed with Santa Clara, has qualified for the section individual tournament three times without reaching the round of 16. In the singles final, Artunian lost to Collins, 7-6 (7-1), 6-4.