Peyton returns to roots

COSTA MESA — Sometimes Ryan Peyton believes it’s a good idea to take a step back.

“You can sort of get discouraged if you play all the big players all the time,” said Peyton, who has bowed out early twice in recent national tournaments. “It’s nice to play the locals.”

Peyton returned to his tennis roots Friday morning.

He found his game at the Costa Mesa Summer Junior Classic, where it all started for Peyton at age 10. Soccer used to be his favorite sport until he delivered more winning shots on a court.

The tournament is now in its 17th year. Peyton just turned 17, and he gave himself a late birthday gift by claiming the 18-year-old boys’ singles title.

The future Corona del Mar High senior dropped down a notch in terms of competition. Pilki Min still proved to be a challenge before Peyton roared back, pulling out a 5-7, 6-2, 10-7 tiebreaker victory.

The road to the top wasn’t easy for the No. 2 seed. Returning to the Costa Mesa Tennis Center gave Peyton a boost.

He knew the surroundings, the opponents, and those watching.

Peyton’s parents pulled up chairs and followed the action on Court No. 3. Frustration set in toward the end of the opening set.

Peyton appeared as if he was playing soccer again. Instead of striking a ball, he kicked himself. The serves, the returns, the backhands, practically every shot went right to the No. 4-seeded Min.

Min pounded out winners with ease, a setback to Peyton’s morning. The match for Peyton began at a great time, just past 8:30 a.m.

Usually, Peyton rises around 7. He rose to the occasion when it mattered most to win another singles title in Costa Mesa.

After falling behind, 2-1, in the second set, Peyton won five of the next six games to force a 10-point tiebreaker. The match went into a tiebreaker instead of a third set.

Min noticed a change in Peyton and in the score.

“He started picking up his pace,” said Min, a 16-year-old from Cerritos High. “It’s just hard for me to get the ball. Right when I returned, he just ripped it back.”

Resiliency is what Peyton showed. Falling short of winning a local tournament again for the second time in two weeks wasn’t the plan.

Down, 3-1, in the tiebreaker, Min began to hit the ball long, into the net, and wide.

The last shot wasn’t as wide as the smile on Peyton’s face when the match ended.

“I haven’t had a final in a long time,” said an elated Peyton. “In the second set, I just told myself, ‘I’ve been practicing really hard and I just have to play my game.’ ”

A week ago, a cramp stopped Peyton’s bid to win the Balboa Bay Club Junior Tournament. Peyton got upset in the semifinals, missing a chance to play CdM teammate Shane Korber in the final.

Peyton got revenge. He met the same player eliminating him last week. Nothing cramped his style this time, as Peyton beat Parker Glore, 6-4, 6-3, in a semifinal at Costa Mesa Thursday.

When Peyton reached the title in Costa Mesa, the great memories from placing first as a 10-year-old returned.

“This is like one of the first tournaments I won,” said Peyton, adding he’s won the Costa Mesa tournament three times as a singles player. “It was sort of between this and soccer. I felt like tennis was like a new sport for me, and it was so fun that I wanted to see how far I could get.”

The passion to compete is still there for Peyton. He displayed it by stepping back to return to the top.

NGUYEN CAPTURES TITLE

Katelyn Nguyen, a Corona del Mar High incoming sophomore, also won a title at the Costa Mesa Tennis Center Friday.

Nguyen, the top seed in the girls’ 16-year-old singles division, defeated Jasmin Ho, 6-0, 7-6.

Nguyen, who is 15, was able to overcome the pressure being the No. 1 seed because her family supported her throughout the tournament. That also helped Nguyen beat Ho, who is from Old Bridge, N.J.

Nguyen also played with CdM teammate Elizabeth Nguyen (no relation) and reached the final of the girls’ 16 doubles division. Mayci Jones and Cassidy Spearman defeated the Nguyen duo, 6-2, 6-1.