Glatch on a global scale

Bryce Alderton

She may not talk a lot on the court, but the way Alexa Glatch

seemingly snatches up victory after victory allows her tennis game to

make noise.

The 13-year-old from Newport Beach, coming off a singles victory

over top-seeded Tiffany Lee, 6-1, 6-4, in the United States Tennis

Association’s Interscholastics West tournament in Fresno -- a

national event for girls under-18 -- readies for Monday, when she

will fly to Europe to spend the next month, along with eight other

girls from the United States, in several under-18 international events.

“The USTA national coaches called me up and asked me if I would

like to represent the U.S.,” Glatch recalled. “I was really excited

and think it is going to be fun.”

Joining Glatch will be doubles partner Loren Hansen. Hansen and

Glatch have won the last two super national titles in the girls 14s

division and are currently ranked No. 1 in Southern California.

Glatch heads the pack in singles in the same division, where she has

won the first two super national tournaments this year.

The last super national -- the Easter Bowl in April -- saw Glatch

and Hanson not lose a set to capture the coveted crown. In singles,

Glatch sailed through the semifinals without losing a set before

battling Maggie Mello -- ranked No. 2 in singles in Southern

California -- in a three-set final, prevailing, 6-1, 5-7, 6-2.

Mello had defeated Glatch in three sets in last year’s final of

the girls 14s of the Southern California junior sectional

championships, which begin today at various sites.

“That was the biggest tournament I’ve ever won,” Glatch said about

her victory in singles at the Easter Bowl, the first time she had won

the event. “It is supposedly one of the best national tournaments in

the U.S., so that was my leading goal heading into the year.”

Glatch and Mello, a Laguna Hills resident, sometimes play practice

matches together and live only 15 minutes apart.

“I know how she plays, she likes to hit the ball hard and has a

big serve,” Glatch said. “I just tried to keep the points going and

see if she would make the error. I let it slip away in the second

set, but got it back together in the third set and won.”

Not much has slipped away from Glatch lately. She has spent the

last six years honing her game with Syd Ball, a former professional

player from Australia who has coached such standouts such as Pat

Cash.

Ball continues to stress the importance of being aggressive, which

translates into Glatch, who attends Irvine Home School, covering more

of the court.

“From the first time I went to him he has always wanted me up at

the net, volleying,” she said. “He is very positive and always

encourages me.”

“I’ve always had the view of giving her a good foundation,

teaching her a daring game, which she could play at any level if she

got good enough,” Ball said.

Glatch will get a chance to test her game again against

international competition when she travels to the Czech Republic in

August for the World Junior Cup. Glatch and two others will represent

the U.S.

“I didn’t know all this would come this summer,” Glatch said.

Spring has been quite plentiful for Glatch, who recently won the

girls 16s national open in Whittier.

She wants to become a pro and eyes a chance at gaining a wild card

entry as a junior into September’s U.S. Open in New York.

“I’m just going to keep working hard, practicing and playing a lot

of matches,” she said. “My whole game has come together the last

year.”

Ball has also noticed a surge in Glatch’s game.

“She is serving really well and that has helped out a lot,” he

said. “She is taking advantage of the short ball since not many girls

serve and volley now. She has confidence and is a very dedicated

girl.

“It is like a plateau to go on. There are steps and steps until

you get to where you are going.”

For Glatch, the possibilities seem endless.