Gea too much for Adamson
COSTA MESA — Alec Adamson and Kenny Gea last saw each other during the high school tennis season. In doubles action, Adamson and his Corona del Mar partner got the best of Gea and his Irvine teammate.
The two met again Wednesday and Gea pointed out that it is hard to translate doubles play into singles. He was right.
Gea is better when he is on one side of the court by himself.
In boys’ 18 singles action at the 19th annual Costa Mesa Summer Junior Classic, Gea owned Adamson in the round of 16. Gea overpowered the sixth-seeded Adamson with his forehand and serve, winning 6-2, 6-4 to advance to the quarterfinals.
“Even though he was seeded, I felt like I had the upper hand,” said Gea, a 16-year-old. “I haven’t been playing 18s for a long time. I feel like I should be one of the top contenders [in the tournament].”
Gea earned the shot to prove that he is a challenger. Up next for him will definitely be a test.
Gea faces top-seeded Julian Ruffin of Northwood on Thursday. Ruffin reached the quarters after defeating Jake Yasgoor, 3-6, 6-2, 6-2, in the morning.
Gea’s second match in the tournament started in the afternoon, later than the rest of the round of 16 matches.
The reason why he did not play in the morning was legit. Gea is in summer school and class got out past noon.
When Gea arrived at the Costa Mesa Tennis Center, finding a parking spot was not easy because of the OC Fair. His mother dropped him off, before she drove away to search for a place to park.
She made it back in time to watch her son claim the opening set. After Adamson took the first game, Gea began to dominate. He won six of the next seven games.
Adamson grew frustrated whenever Gea called one of his shots wide or long. Once, Gea told Adamson that his ball went wide and long, only to infuriate Adamson even more.
“How was it out?” Adamson questioned Gea, who stood firm on his calls, almost all correctly called.
Adamson seemed to let the calls get to him early on and it affected his game. Gea took advantage.
He was on his way to becoming the seventh player from the city of Irvine to qualify for the quarterfinals. The boys’ 18s has turned into the Irvine Summer Junior Classic.
Adamson, who will be a junior at CdM, tried his best to extend the match against one Irvine player. He went ahead, 3-2, in the second set, but Gea was constantly on the offensive, hitting balls deep with power.
“Tough going out in the second round,” said Adamson, adding that he will not concentrate on another tournament, the Canyon Crest Summer Junior Open in Riverside, where he plays in the semifinals on Saturday.
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Other matches involving locals:
Costa Mesa incoming sophomore James Zillman cruised in both of his matches in the boys’ 16 singles tournament and reached the semifinals.
The top-seeded Zillman plays Thursday at 3:30 p.m. against the winner of the quarterfinal match between Teague Hamilton and Eric Tseng.
Corona del Mar’s Henry Gordon advanced to the quarters. The third-seeded Gordon beat La Jolla’s Beau Bressler, 6-1, 6-0.
Gordon faces eighth-seeded Anthony Lee of Gardena on Thursday at 12:30 p.m.
In boys’ 14 singles action, Newport Beach’s Bjorn Hoffmann made it to the quarterfinals with a 5-7, 6-2, 6-0 win over Pacific Palisades’ Harry Cohen. Hoffmann plays Arizona’s Nathan Niemiec Thursday at 11:30 a.m.
Niemiec advanced after getting past Newport Beach’s Austin Di Giulio, 7-6, 6-1, in the round of 16.
Kalika Slevcove, a recent CdM graduate, made it to the girls’ 18 singles quarterfinals with a 6-1, 6-3 victory against Arizona’s McKenzie Majerle. Slevcove is up against Laguna Beach’s Tiffany Cheng Thursday at 9 a.m.
Newport Beach’s Caroline Beck was swept by fourth-seeded Sarah Stadfelt of Huntington Beach, 6-0, 6-0, in the round of 16.
In girls’ 14 singles, Costa Mesa’s Michelle Samson and Newport Coast’s Jenna Moustafa each lost in the round of 16.
Fifth-seeded Danielle Wilson of Newport Beach was upset in the girls’ 12 singles round of 16 by Foothill Ranch’s Rishona Lewis, 6-4, 6-1.
Costa Mesa’s Nicole Samson retired in the second set against Irvine’s Shweta Kumar in the round of 16.
In girls’ 10 singles, Corona del Mar’s Madeline Jervis withdrew from her quarterfinal match against Arizona’s Lauren Stein because of an injury.
In girls’ 14 doubles, Newport Beach’s duo of Samantha Ludes and Sabrina Sanchez moved on to the semifinals Thursday after its opponent withdrew from the quarterfinals because of an emergency.
Newport Beach’s Alexandra Barkouras and her teammate Juliet Sussman defeated Costa Mesa’s Annie LaGrandeur and Newport Beach’s Kelsey Prater, 6-1, 6-1, to get to the semis.
Newport Beach’s tandem of Paige Kenerson and Mackenzie Worsnop lost to San Clemente’s Natalie Nasongkhla and Stephanie Neilson, 6-3, 6-1, in the quarterfinals.