CdM All-American tennis tournament begins today

There is no official CIF State Championship tournament for girls’ tennis.

But the next best thing comes to area tennis courts beginning today.

The Corona del Mar High All-American tournament swings into action today at the Balboa Bay Club Racquet Club (host site), Costa Mesa Tennis Center, CdM and University High.

Dana Hills, Troy and CdM — the top three teams in the CIF Southern Section Division I coaches’ poll — are all in the 16-team tournament. So is four-time defending Northern California champion Monta Vista, as well as San Diego Section powerhouse Torrey Pines. So the tournament, in essence, should unofficially decide the state champion.

Ricker, whose CdM team opens the tournament today at 11 a.m. against Menlo, changed the tourney’s format to four doubles sets, followed by four singles sets. Team members can play in both singles and doubles.

CdM, the defending champ, has a tough road to a repeat. If the Sea Kings win against Menlo, they would play either No. 4-seeded Torrey Pines or Santa Margarita in the second round today at 2:30 p.m.

The title match is Saturday at 2:30 p.m. at the BBCRC.

— Matt Szabo