Surabi ready for state event

Jeff Tully

Shara Surabi might still think of himself as a singles player.

However, the former Burbank High and Glendale Community College

men’s tennis player is getting a reputation as an accomplished

doubles competitor.

Friday, Surabi will get a chance to show his skills as one half of

a Vaquero doubles team in the California Community College

Championships in Stockton.

Surabi and teammate Gavork Kirakosian earned a spot in the event

by playing well Saturday in the Southern California Regionals at the

Barnes Tennis Center in San Diego.

The pair defeated Jeremy Owens and Mike Redondo of Palomar

College, 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, to make it to the quarterfinals and an

automatic trip to the state competition.

“We haven’t played that much together as a doubles team,” Surabi

said of Kirakosian. “So we are still getting to know each other as

players.

“But when we both have the fire, we can play very well together.”

The pair teamed up last month to win the Western State Conference

doubles championship for the Vaqueros.

Surabi -- the Western State Conference Player of the Year -- also

took part in the singles competition in the regionals. However, he

was unable to make it out of the round of 16.

After starting the event with a bye, Surabi defeated Remy Salvador

of Pierce College, 6-1, 6-1, before losing to Hunter Jack of

Saddleback College, 7-6(3), 6-1.

“There was some very good competition in the singles,” GCC Coach

Bob McKay said. “Shara just missed making it to state.”

As far as the doubles team’s chances against the best the state

has to offer, Surabi is confident.

“If we play our best, I don’t think there are many teams that can

beat us,” he said.

“We just want to see what we will be able to do.”