Lin Outduels Nelson; Canyon Wins

Someday, maybe when they are competitors on the professional tennis tour, Tracy Lin and Lindsey Nelson might look back on their first high school duel and share a laugh. But Lin’s 7-6 victory over Nelson that decided and ended sixth-ranked Canyon’s 10-8 Century League girls’ tennis victory over host Villa Park was no laughing matter to either player.

Tuesday’s match between the two highly touted and undefeated freshmen was tense and full of gamesmanship, glares and bickering over line calls. The post-match handshake was firm but strained, and the post-game comments were biting.

“I didn’t really care whether our team was winning or losing the match,” Lin said. “This was personal. I really wanted to beat her.”

Nelson, who had not lost to Lin in four previous matches, felt the same way.

“I didn’t expect to lose to her,” Nelson said. “I’ll be a little better prepared next time and I will win. She’ll have her time in the spotlight this time. But next time, it’s my turn.”

Nelson and Lin are less than a year apart in age, but they had been traveling in different circles for most of their junior tennis careers. Nelson is ranked No. 1 in the Southern California 16s and Lin is No. 1 in the 14s. Nelson won their first three meetings easily, but Lin extended Nelson to three sets in August at the Quiksilver high school tournament.

“We haven’t played each other that much,” Lin said. “But in my mind, she’s my main rival. She had been ahead of me, but I’ve proved we’re getting pretty close.”

The set was close throughout as both players had trouble holding serve. Lin took a 4-2 lead by hammering away to Nelson’s backhand and ripping forehand winners from inside the baseline. She served at 5-4 and was only two points from the set when Nelson called Lin’s first serve wide. Lin protested loudly and soon began to unravel. She immediately double-faulted and eventually lost the game.

“That ball was so in,” Lin said. “That got me upset and shaken. I had to regroup.”

Nelson held her serve, but Lin forced a tiebreaker with a sharp service game that featured a forehand volley winner and a backhand cross-court winner.

Lin kept the momentum, going up, 6-2, in the tiebreaker and winning it, 7-4, with a swinging forehand volley winner deep in the court.

Lin’s victory gave Canyon (12-3, 4-0) its first team victory over Villa Park (5-5, 3-1) since the early 1990s. But Canyon Coach Will Wilkins couldn’t get his mind off the Lin-Nelson battle, which was delayed until the last round because Lin played No. 2 singles.

“I have a feeling they won’t be playing too many more of these in high school,” Wilkins said. “They’ll be gone somewhere else. Those are two very talented girls. We’ll be hearing a lot about them in the future.”

In the Pacific Coast League:

No. 1 Corona del Mar 12, University 6--Corona del Mar (12-2, 4-0) won eight of nine doubles matches, including sweeps by the teams of Leslie Damien and Brittany Holland and Kristen Griffith and Katie Tenerelli. Megan Biorkman swept her singles matches for University.

In the Sea View League:

No. 4 Woodbridge 14, Aliso Niguel 4--Susanna Lingman and Elizabeth Exon swept all three of their matches, 6-0, for the visiting Warriors (12-4, 3-0).

In the Sunset League:

No. 9 Edison 15, Fountain Valley 3--Blair Lorenz and junior Meghan Feichter teamed up to sweep at No. 1 doubles for the Chargers (10-1, 4-0).

No. 7 Los Alamitos 9, Esperanza 9 (Los Alamitos wins on games, 76-65)--In a battle of No. 2 singles, freshman Gia Nafarrete defeated H.R. Espiritu, 6-1, in the deciding set for Los Alamitos (8-1, 3-1).