Cerda Leads Desert to a Dominating Day

Juan Cerda of Desert defeated teammate Rodrigo Grilli to win the singles title, then joined Grilli to win the doubles title at the community college men’s tennis state championships Saturday at the Balboa Bay Racquet Club in Newport Beach.

After winning the first set, 6-4, in the singles final, Cerda fell to Grilli, 2-6, before winning the third set, 6-3.

Cerda and Grilli joined forces in doubles and posted a 7-5 first-set victory over Carlos Palencia and Mario Aldretti, also of Desert.

After the final shot in the first set, Aldretti punched his racquet strings in frustration, injured his hand and was forced to retire, giving Cerda and Grilli the victory.

In the singles semifinals, Cerda beat teammate Chris Hagen, 6-3, 6-2, and Grilli defeated Palencia, 6-4, 6-3. In their doubles semifinal, Grilli and Cerda beat Rodrigo Godoy and Taiki Hori of Foothill, 6-2, 7-6.