By Phil Murphy
Content Editor, DigitalSports.com
**Check below the recaps for two video players with footage from each of the featured matches.**
Feature Match One Analysis
Drew Courtney (Robinson) def. Eric Shulman (Deep Run), (6-2, 6-2)
Two-time defending Virginia AAA state singles champion Drew Courtney cruised through the first set, breaking Central Region runner-up Eric Shulman‘s serve twice en route to a 6-2 win. But the new set bred a new swing in momentum – at first.
Shulman broke Courtney’s first serve and held a 2-0 advantage through two games. Midway through Courtney’s second service game, Shulman called a serve long for a fault. Courtney wore discord with Shulman’s call on his sleeve and almost immediately turned the tide of the match.
He went on to win the game and broke Shulman to take a 3-2 lead, up a set. Courtney peppered his dominant serve and never dropped another game for the rest of the match.
Courtney moves on to face Stonewall Jackson phenom James Davis, at 6-1, 6-0 winner over Cameron Brawley (Cox) in today’s semifinal. Courtney is seeking to become the first three-time state singles champion since Jefferson’s Richard McGee accomplished the feat in 1968-70.
After this win, and before his doubles match at 1:00 p.m., Courtney substituted his usual between-matches meal of Subway for Chevy’s. And given the methodical, two-set win he and Stephen Hardy scored over Fauquier’s doubles team, expect more of the same today.
Feature Match Two Analysis
Sidarth Balaji (Fairfax) def. Kyle Parker (Mills Godwin), (6-4, 5-7, 6-4)
The first set between Fairfax senior Sid Balaji and Godwin junior Kyle Parker featured five breaks of serve, three by Balaji. Balaji’s ability to stop the usually effective serve of Parker was not surprising – he did face two-time defending state champion Drew Courtney of Robinson four times this season and is accustomed to returning yellow, fuzzy bullets.
The pattern continued deep into the second set as Balaji earned a 5-2 advantage – up a set and two breaks – and appeared certain to score a two-set victory.
But, much like Maria Sharapova in the second round of the French Open, Balaji’s set collapsed. Parker won five consecutive games to take it, 7-5, and evened the match at a set apiece.
However, unlike the Russian bombshell, Balaji regained his composure and leaned on his conditioning to stop Parker’s momentum and keep the third set within reach. Parker, who had been forced to play his doubles match before his singles competition, began to show tired legs.
Mills Godwin held its graduation at 3:30 p.m. on Thursday in Richmond – 108 miles south of Jefferson District Park. Parker’s doubles partner, senior Kevin Calhoun, was allowed to compete in his doubles match first in order to make it to the ceremony.
The result: Parker had to deal with the excruciating heat twice in quick succession, a feat made more unfeasible by the added set against Balaji.
Balaji willed himself to 6-4 set to seal the match. He advances to the Virginia AAA semifinal against Cox’s Ian Fraser at 9 a.m. today.
Email: pmurphy@digitalsports.com
Boys’ Bracket
Singles
Sidarth Balaji (Fairfax) def. Kyle Parker (Mills Godwin), (6-4, 5-7, 6-4)
Ian Fraser (Frank W. Cox) def. Monte Tiller (Patrick Henry), (6-4, 6-2)
Drew Courtney (Robinson) def. Eric Shulman (Deep Run), (6-2, 6-2)
James Davis (Stonewall Jackson) def. Cameron Brawley (Frank W. Cox), (6-1, 6-0)
Doubles
Parker/Calhoun (Mills Godwin) def. Karr/Kostinas (Western Branch), (6-2, 6-2)
Balaji/Luu (Fairfax) def. Gianakos/Andrews (E.C. Glass), (6-2, 6-1)
Courtney/Hardy (Robinson) def. Fernades/Baisden (Fauquier), (6-4, 6-2)
Fraser/Brawley (Frank W. Cox) def. McMillan/Vitkovski (Mills Godwin), (6-2, 6-3)
Girls’ Bracket
Singles
Katie Blow (Mills Godwin) def. Lauren Palmucci (Fairfax), (7-5, 6-1)
Alex Ritter (First Colonial) def. Shanique Alabi (Osbourn Park), (6-3, 6-1)
Michelle Nguyen (South County) def. Nicole Parker (Mills Godwin), (6-2, 6-2)
Kiersten Pappas (Loudoun Valley) def. Kathleen Dawson (Ocean Lakes), (6-0, 6-2)
Doubles
Blow/Parker (Mills Godwin) def. Godbout/Oswald (Maury), (6-0, 6-1)
Palmucci/Montill (Fairfax) def. Napolitano/Anderson (Albemarle), (1-6, 6-3, 7-5)
Li/Shames (Langley) def. Alabi/Gray (Langley), (5-7, 6-0, 6-2)
Atiso/Lee (Frank W. Cox) def. Crouch/Kristofak (Mills Godwin), (7-6, 1-6, 6-3)
Highlight One
Courtney vs. Shulman (10 minutes, 3 seconds)
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