Radeva reigns atop 12s

Barry Faulkner

It wasn’t the start she planned on. But, then again, a 3-0 first-set

deficit wasn’t anything her game plan hadn’t accounted for, either.

So, Costa Mesa resident Nelly Radeva, confidence bolstered by the

best run of her young career the last three tournaments, pushed aside

any panic to overcome Bianca Modoc of Placentia, 7-5, 6-1, in the

girls 12s singles final of the 101st annual Southern California

Tennis Association junior sectional championships Sunday at Los

Caballeros Racquet and Sports Club.

The triumph extended the tournament winning streak to three for

Radeva, the No. 1 seed who is also ranked No. 1 in SCTA 12s and No. 5

in the United States Tennis Association’s national rankings. She also

won the 14s singles crown at the Ojai Valley tournament and a

national 12s title during the recent hot streak.

Already known for her consummate composure, Radeva appeared

unmoved by Modoc’s early success.

“My plan, coming in, was not to get upset,” said Radeva, who

recently completed the sixth grade at Kaiser Elementary. “I knew she

was going to hit her share of winners, because she goes for them a

lot. I just didn’t want to get frustrated.”

Like everything else Radeva has set her mind to of late, she was

eminently successful.

“I just kept thinking positively,” Radeva said. “Never once have I

been ready to give up. I just tried to be more aggressive.”

Often merely keeping the ball in play from the baseline before the

more-aggressive Modoc misfired, Radeva won four straight games.

Radeva broke Modoc to claim her first lead, the first of six

consecutive breaks by the two standouts, which eventually led to a

tiebreaker.

Modoc errors helped Radeva win the first four points of the

tiebreaker and Radeva eventually prevailed, 7-2.

“I was relieved that I won the first set,” said Radeva, who

describes her style as an aggressive baseliner.

Obviously deflated by Radeva’s comeback and tiebreak triumph,

Modoc, the No. 2 seed, accelerated her propensity for taking chances,

and missing shots, in the second set.

Relying on consistency, quickness and footwork, Radeva patrolled

the baseline with determination, countering Modoc’s strong pace and

aggressiveness with admirable efficiency.

Radeva said she hoped to wear down Modoc’s will to win, just as

she had in a recent victory in the Quicksilver/Roxy tournament this

spring.

“I was down, 3-0, in the first set, but I think I eventually got

it all working,” Radeva said. “This one went kind of like the last

time we played.”

Radeva said she prides herself on mental toughness and also was

eager to praise the positive impact Coach Rance Brown has had on her

development.

“I’ve really been picking it up and working hard,” Radeva said.

Radeva swept the third game of the second set, in which all four

points ended on Modoc errors.

Tied, 15-15, in the next game, Radeva ran down several Modoc

blasts toward both corners, before winning the point on a

demoralizing lob.

Modoc double faulted on the subsequent point, then, after a rare

Radeva misfire, surrendered the game on a forehand into the net.

Modoc rallied to win the fifth game, but Radeva punctuated

victories in the next two games with ringing forehand winners. Radeva

captured match point with a backhand winner.