City Title Served Up to Magsino

James Magsino was happy he won his first City singles title. He was disappointed, however, with the way he won it.

The El Camino Real junior was looking forward to a rubber match against top-seeded Jason Nguyen of Chatsworth, but Nguyen sprained an ankle the previous day and was forced to default the final Wednesday.

Magsino and Nguyen played twice in West Valley League matches, with each winning on his home court. This time, Magsino needed only to show up on time at the Warner Center Tennis Club to claim his victory.

Magsino stayed to cheer on teammate Matt Jones, who defeated Reyniere Roxas of Carson, 6-2, 6-1, in the third-place match.

“Jason called me up [Tuesday] night and told me he wouldn’t be able to play,” said Magsino, who did not lose a set en route to the final. “I’m very disappointed. I actually wanted to earn this. I was looking forward to playing him. But at least I got a chance to see Matt [Jones] play.”

Nguyen sprained his right ankle while playing a match at the Quiksilver/Roxy Junior Nationals on Tuesday in Costa Mesa. Jones traveled to the Quiksilver tournament with Nguyen.

“I drove back with him and he showed his ankle and it was swollen like a balloon,” said Jones, who advanced to the fourth round of the Quiksilver before being eliminated. “It was all black and blue and blown up big time. I even had to help him to his car. He told me he was going up for an overhead and landed on it wrong.”

Jones defeated Roxas 6-4, in a round-robin set during the City team semifinals. He won more decisively this time, out-hitting the Colts’ No. 1 player from the baseline.

Jones, seeded seventh, lost to Nguyen in the semifinals Monday. He finished third last year, losing to Ricky Rollins of Palisades before rebounding to beat Le George Mauldin of Dorsey for third.

“I consider this [tournament] as important as a USTA tournament. I try my hardest to win every match I play,” Jones said. “I’ve lost to the two No. 1 seeds the last two years, so maybe next year will be my turn. Hopefully, I can play James in the final. That would be fun.”

In the doubles final, second-seeded Dmitri Ketchens and Geoffrey Grey of Dorsey upset top-seeded Alex Leb and Matt Berman of Palisades, 6-3, 6-3.

Soheil Safii and Peter Shirley of Palisades beat Anthony Bacho and Ron Esquerra of Carson for third place, 7-5, 2-6, 6-4.