Down and Just About Out, Sheng Does an About-Face

First impressions can be deceiving.

Such was the case Saturday in the Southern Section individual championships at Seacliff Tennis Club.

Nick Weiss of Calabasas High thoroughly whipped opponent Phil Sheng in their first set, winning 27 of 36 points.

But out of frustration grew perseverance for Sheng, who came back for a stunning 0-6, 6-1, 6-3 victory.

“[Weiss] was playing really well,” Sheng said. “He made me miss [constantly]. Going into the second set, I knew as long as I kept playing I’d be OK. . . . I thought if he lets up--like he did--I knew I’d have it.”

Weiss (33-1), a junior who won three of the first five games at love, found trouble in the first game of the second set.

Sheng (52-2), a sophomore from Thousand Oaks High and top-seeded in the tournament, broke Weiss, who lost on four unforced errors, including a forehand shot that sailed wide on break point.

Weiss, who spent nine months training last year at the Chris Evert Tennis Academy in Florida, knew Sheng would find his game.

“I knew it was coming,” Weiss said. “I knew he wouldn’t let me beat him, [6-0, 6-0].”

Sheng was up a break, 3-1, and broke Weiss again when Weiss double-faulted at 15-40. Sheng went on to win 16 of the last 21 points in the set.

In the third set, they stayed on serve until the fifth game.

Weiss broke Sheng at 15-40 to go up a break, 3-2, helped along by a double-fault and two unforced errors.

The turning point came in the sixth game.

With Weiss serving and a chance to go up, 4-2, Sheng dug in.

“Once he broke me, I knew I had to break back, because he wasn’t going to give it to me,” Sheng said.

In a game that featured 10 deuce points and had players both openly frustrated and exhausted at times, Sheng won it on his sixth break point with a booming forehand service return.

“After the fourth deuce point, I knew who ever won [that] game was going to win the match,” Sheng said.

Back on serve at 3-3, Sheng won the next game with three aces and a service winner. By then, Weiss looked deflated.

“He really showed some heart today,” Coach Dave Assorson said. “Time and time against He seems to come through at the crucial point.”

Earlier in the day, Sheng defeated Carl McCafferty, 6-4, 5-7, 6-3, in the semifinals to record his first victory over the San Gorgonio ace in four tries.

“Coming off that [victory over McCafferty], I came into the final with a lot of confidence,” Sheng said.

Weiss defeated Daniel Clemens of Claremont, 6-2, 6-1, in the semifinals.

In doubles, top-seeded David Gleiberman and Goh Fukugaki of Peninsula defeated Andrew Lieu and Willie Mullin of Thousand Oaks in the semifinals , 6-3, 6-2.