No rest, no problem for CdM’s Damion

FOUNTAIN VALLEY ? Playing a tournament tennis match three consecutive days isn’t a tiring proposition for Jill Damion. Fun was the word she used to describe the work load. So when the Corona del Mar High junior was put in a position requiring two matches in one day, she was all smiles.

With a 6-0, 6-3 victory and a 7-6 (7-2), 6-2 win in the girls’ 18 doubles draw of the California Tennis Assn. 104th Annual Junior Sectional Championship at Los Caballeros Racquet and Sports Club, Damion advanced with partner Sara Fansler to the semifinals Saturday at 4 p.m.

There will be no rest for Damion between the completion of her doubles match Tuesday and her round of 32 girls’ 18 singles match today. Instead of relaxing or rejuvenating there will be reading and studying.

“I have to go home and study for finals,” said Damion, who was dripping with sweat.

Damion and Fansler trailed 5-4 in the first game of their quarterfinal match and staved off three set points. After a slight adjustment the two friends were able to turn the game around before cruising in the tie break.

“We just kind of tried to be more consistent and not make stupid mistakes,” Damion said. “Not hit it into the net. Just kind of think. None of us were hitting. It was more of a push match. We just tried to out-rally them and not try to hit winners.”

With Damion the aggressive player of the two, she was happy to revert to a strategy opposite of what worked in the first game.

“We figured we were doing better so we could go for more winners,” Damion said. “I like to be aggressive, but not in doubles. It’s good to play with a friend because she knows I’m gonna make mistakes.”

Damion’s focus now is on her singles match, where she will be facing a younger player in Thien Nguyen, the No. 5 seed. It’s a source of inspiration for Damion.

“I don’t like to lose to little kids,” Damion joked.

Damion is feeling better after suffering a rotator cuff tear last fall that forced her to miss all but one match of the Corona del Mar High girls’ tennis season. The Sea Kings were set to have a dominant season when Damion pulled up lame. Corona del Mar still managed to capture the Pacific Coast League title. Now Damion is looking to capture some championships of her own.

Also in the girls 18 doubles draw, Cierra Gaytan-Leach of Corona del Mar advanced to the quarterfinals with her partner Micaela Hein after a 7-5, 7-5 victory. The fifth-seeded duo trailed 5-4 in both games, but was able to mount comebacks.

“It was our first match,” the 14-year old Gaytan-Leach said. “We just needed the experience. We were a little tight.”

The two said part of the reason for losing a 4-2 lead in the second game was that they had not played together competitively in a year because Hein is 17 years old and normally plays in a different draw.

The pair quickly recovered by focusing on strategy. Hein whit the ball at the opponents’ feet forcing a weak return which Gaytan-Leach would “poach” or take advantage of with a quick powerful shot to put the point away.

“We were talking more,” Gaytan-Leach said. “We were poaching more and believing in ourselves. We communicate really well. She sets me up. After each round we’ll be less nervous and more confident.”

School and other commitments forced the pair to play their quarterfinals match Saturday at 2 p.m. against Anna Chkhikvishvili and Kaitlyn Christian. If they win they will play the semifinal match at 4 p.m. the same day.

Sixth seeded Gaytan-Leach will play in the girls 16 singles today at 12:30 p.m. against Tiffany Mai in a round of 32 match.