Commentary to excellence

NEWPORT BEACH ? If Alastair Hurry ever wants to write a self-help book, all he needs is the audio from one of his tennis matches.

If the Corona del Mar resident, who sprinkles motivational quotes for himself between points, ever gets around to the book, his boys’ 10 singles final at the 17th annual Balboa Bay Club Racquet Club Junior Tournament would make the perfect conclusion.

It featured a taste of both sides of the success spectrum: first-set domination and a comeback in the second set. The top-seeded Hurry ran away with a 6-1, 6-2 win over No. 3-seeded Will Walker Friday in the War by the Shore.

“It feels great,” Hurry said. “I hope to play more tournaments and keep winning.”

It was only Hurry’s third tournament in the 10 division, his first being the top-ranked competitor. And it left him wanting more.

“I just like the excitement of playing in tournaments and winning each round,” Hurry said.

As for the pep talks he gives himself, it is something he has been doing since he was 8 years old.

“It helps me get more motivated,” said Hurry, who has been playing tennis since he was 6. “It keeps me playing to not give up.”

He has a favorite, used only in special circumstances.

“Come on, you can do better,” Hurry said.

He pulled it out when he was down, 2-1, in the second set.

“I had to find a way to come back,” Hurry said.

He did so with a drop shot, then a lob over Walker as he charged the net, to tie the score, 30-30, in the game.

“When you’re at the net your opponent can easily put it away,” Hurry said of his lob shot. “I tried to run him around and play conservative.”

Two unforced errors from Walker allowed Hurry to tie the set, and prompted Hurry to exclaim his favorite motivational tool.

“After that, it was all me,” Hurry said.

Despite only losing two games in four sets prior to his final match, Hurry was feeling anxious.

“I was a little nervous,” he said. “I wanted to play my best and I didn’t know how he played.”

Within the tournament there were many highlights for Hurry. The 10-year old took a moment to discern his favorite. It happened in the second set of his 6-1, 6-1 semifinal victory.

“My opponent hit an approach shot,” Hurry said. “I ran with my backhand and lobbed over the net. He couldn’t get to it.”

Not one aspect sticks out in Hurry’s game, it’s more of a conglomeration of skills. He has a strong forehand and is equally adept at using his backhand. He is able to cover all corners of the court and mixes in a slicing serve.

“Sometimes [the serve] helps me get my opponents confused,” he said.

Prior to turning 11 on Oct. 1, when he will have to compete in the 12 division, Hurry would like to play in as many tournaments as possible, preferably once a week until school begins in late August. Hurry is currently ranked 41st in Southern California in the 10 division.

“I just like hitting the ball and they way it feels on the racquet,” Hurry said.

Up, 3-1, in the fifth game of the first set, Hurry was threatened for the first time. Walker jumped ahead to earn a triple-break point.

Hurry remained calm and alternated earning points on winners and unforced errors from Walker until he was a point from holding serve.

Then, as Walker came to the net, Hurry blasted a forehand past him to take a 4-1 lead.

Walker did not score a single point as Hurry broke his serve, and the lead was 5-1.

Hurry easily held serve to take the first set.

In the second set, Hurry used his lob to take advantage of Walker as he charged the net on his way to winning the first game. But Walker would win the next two, before Hurry staged his lone comeback of the tournament.dpt.22-tennis-hurry-2-CPhotoInfoTF1T6NGV20060722j2rpgcncCredit: Caption: (LA)Alastair Hurry pumps his fist after winning a game in the first set. dpt.22-tennis-hurry-3-CPhotoInfoTF1T6NEH20060722j2rph3ncCredit: PHOTOS BY MARK DUSTIN / DAILY PILOT Caption: (LA)Corona del Mar resident Alastair Hurry hits a forehand return on his way to winning boys’ 10 singles final Friday at the War by the Shore tennis tournament.