Lin Wins Girls’ 14 Title at Sectionals

Finally, Tracy Lin was able to relax. A point from completing a perfect season of Southern California designated tournaments, Lin showed what can happen when she lets her hair down.

The top-seeded Lin, who will be a freshman at Canyon High this fall, finished off her 6-2, 6-2 victory Sunday over sixth-seeded Camelia Todorova of San Diego at Los Caballeros Racquet Club with a big first serve up the line, a stinging approach shot to the corner and a crisp forehand volley. Lin’s girls’ 14 title is her second in a row at the Southern California Junior Sectionals. Last year, she won the girls’ 12s.

“That’s not how I usually do it,” Lin said. “But since I was up 5-2 and 40-love, I decided to hit a big first serve. It all just happened.”

Everything happened pretty quickly for Lin once she began hitting her ground strokes with more authority. Lin took a 2-0 lead to start the match, but she dropped two games in a row as Todorova became the aggressor and Lin was satisfied to simply keep the ball in play with lobs and weakly-hit ground strokes.

“Pushing isn’t my game,” she said. “When I do that, I get mad at myself.”

Lin won the next six games, lost two and then wrapped up the title by winning the final four games.

Lin will play the girls’ 14 USTA Nationals in Atlanta in August and then will move on to the girls’ 16 division.

One of her toughest competitors there figures to be Carson High’s Judith DeVera, who took care of Anne Yelsey of Corona del Mar, 6-1, 6-1, in the girls’ 16 finals. DeVera, who recently turned 14 but plays in the 16s, didn’t lose a set the entire tournament.

Corona del Mar High’s Brian Morton and Palos Verdes Peninsula’s Rylan Rizza won the boys’ 18 doubles title and Lindsey Nelson of Orange and DeVera won the girls’ 18 doubles title.