Young Nguyen learning on job

NEWPORT BEACH — Winning wasn’t always so easy for Andrew Nguyen.

You wouldn’t know it by the way he reeled off a 6-1, 6-2 victory in under 50 minutes Monday at the Balboa Bay Club Racquet Club.

“He used to lose focus quite easily and he also used to get a big lead and slowly lose momentum and lose the match,” Nguyen’s father, Luan, said. “Now we just try to work on winning two points at a time.”

Nguyen was winning plenty on Monday. He squared off against Jon Alami in a Round 32 match in the boys’ 12 singles division. Both 11-year-olds displayed respect in the 18th annual War by the Shore tournament.

The sixth-seeded Nguyen, of Newport Beach, battled efficiently under the watchful eye of his father, Luan.

Luan watched Alami closely as well.

In one game, Nguyen hit a ball in play that passed Alami. Alami called the ball in play, giving the game to Nguyen.

When the match ended, Luan kneeled to congratulate Alami for giving his all and displaying honesty.

“Had he called it in that would have gave him that game,” Nguyen said. “Just one point in one game can make a swing on the momentum. Most kids, with anything near the line, they call out. In his case he didn’t see it so he called in and that’s why he has my respect.”

Nguyen used a one-handed backhand often — a rarity for such a young player. He worked quickly, capturing the first set in about 20 minutes.

“My first serve was a little out of whack, but when I got it in it was great,” Nguyen said. “The longer a match gets, the more tiring it gets, so when you’re tired, you don’t think as well.”

Nguyen is blossoming under his father’s careful eye. For the past six years, Nguyen trained to achieve the success he currently enjoys.

Luan Nguyen noticed a lot of similarities between Alami and his son.

“I can see [Alami] is thinking because you can see how he changes different things. He tries to slice the ball to under-spin it or try to get the ball high,” Luan Nguyen said. “I like kids who think and try different things. Andrew had to go through all that to get to that level here.”

Part of Andrew’s training includes learning to stay focused. In the fifth game of the second set, Andrew was down 40-15, but propped himself back to win the game.

“At certain times when I see he’s not paying attention … it’s very critical,” Luan Nguyen said. “So if he loses focus then he isn’t doing what he’s taught.”

Andrew’s sister, Elizabeth, is also participating in the tournament. She’s seeded ninth and competes today at 12:30 p.m. against Kaiulani Boyer in a Round of 32 match in the girls’ 14 singles division.

Luan Nguyen experiences different emotions watching both of his kids play tennis.

“I’ve been through the heartaches, the losses, the crying, the frustration and temper tantrums,” he said. “ … and I’ve also seen their progression to more self-control and working out the frustration during a match, so I’m very proud of them.”

Recently, Andrew took a course at UC Irvine that dealt with mock trials with respect to law. Luan Nguyen says law and tennis are similar in that it is necessary to work under pressure in both.

Luan Nguyen utilizes tennis to prepare his children for the game of life.

“I use tennis to prepare them for life and I know that sounds cliché, but all I’m trying to do is teach them how to execute and think under pressure,” he said. “Here you can win or lose … as long as you prepare and perform under pressure you have nothing to be ashamed of.”

Andrew will continue to attempt to perform under pressure today when he faces Will Walker in a Round of 16 match at 3:30 p.m.

In other matches Monday:

Boys’ 18 singles

Round of 64: Bradley Fisher (Estancia High) def. Joseph Belden 6-1, 6-0; Dakota Pate def. Henri Chomeau (Newport Beach) 4-6; 7-6(5); 6-3; Ryan Decio def. Alireza Nazemi (Newport Beach) 6-0, 6-2.

Girls’ 18 singles

Round of 64: Ilissa Mathews def. Rachel Cox (Corona del Mar) 6-3, 6-3; Karen Ishii (Newport Beach) def. Tiffany Kao 6-2, 6-0; Alex Tachovsky def. Auriel O’Neill (Newport Beach) 6-0, 6-1.

Boys’ 16 singles

Round of 64: Pierce Stemler (Newport Beach) def. Alex Bricker 6-0, 5-0 Ret (inj), David Fink (Newport Coast) advanced; Seth Garnett def. CJ Chomeau (Newport Beach) 6-0, 6-0; Alexander Grosek (Costa Mesa) def. Greg Lacher 6-1, 6-3.

Girls’ 16 singles

Round of 64: Katina Zampas def. Azadeh Nazemi (Newport Beach) 6-0, 6-1; Elizabeth Cramer (Costa Mesa) def. Meagan Moss 6-2, 6-0; Tory Parravi def. Kelli Feeley (Newport Beach) 6-0, 6-1; Jamie Lai def. Megan Chomeau (Newport Beach) 6-4, 6-4; Danielle Kaiden (Newport Beach) def. Makay Wright 6-1, 6-1; Elizabeth Murray (CdM) def. Suzy Strutner 6-0, 6-0; Kelsey Davis (CdM) advanced; Irene Cruz def. Terra Singer (Costa Mesa) 6-2, 6-3; Megan White def. Natalie Small (Newport Beach) 6-0, 6-1; Lexy Longman (Newport Beach) def. Sophie Merl 4-6, 6-1, 6-2; Jeanne Frei (Newport Beach) advanced; Crystal Lim def. Samareh Afrasiabi (Newport Beach).

Boys’ 14 singles

Round of 64: Jensen Bryant def. Ridge Kennington (Newport Beach) 6-1, 6-2; Christian Ball (Newport Beach) def. Shawn Ainpour 6-0, 7-5; Joel Ishii (Newport Beach) def. Sean Batten 6-1, 6-1; Alexander Morrison (Newport Beach) def. Scott Pinelli (Newport Coast) 6-4, 6-3; Trevor Russell (Newport Beach) advanced. Kevin Pham def. Spenser Apramian (Newport Beach) 6-0, 6-0; Alexander Murray (CdM) def. Tracy Beblie (Costa Mesa) 6-2, 6-0; Sean Robles def. Miles Patircola (Newport Beach) 6-1, 6-2; Hutton McKenna def. Jeremy Bowinkel (CdM) 6-0, 6-0.

Girls’ 14 singles

Round of 64: Mazy Watrous (Newport Beach) def. Kirsty Mountain 6-3, 6-3; Rian Billingsley def. Nikki Waniek (Newport Beach) 6-4, 6-2; Megan Rucker (Newport Beach) def. Lela Heza 6-0, 6-3; Jessica Yi advanced; Molly Brooks def. Cynthia Waterman (Newport Beach) 7-6, 6-0; Claire Rose Jaeger def. Lauren Conway (Newport Beach) 6-1, 6-1; Kelsey Toyoda def. Katie Leonard (CdM) 6-0, 6-1.

Boys’ 12 singles

Round of 32: Garrett Rucker (Newport Beach) def. Rennie Heza 6-0, 6-0; Blaine Mengert def. Alastair Hurry (CdM) 6-3, 6-2; Dante Saleh (Newport Beach) advanced; Troy Arnold (Newport Beach, injured); Max Pham (Newport Coast) def. Andrew Torok 6-2, 6-2.

Girls’ 12 singles

Round of 32: Danielle Pham def. Alison Ishii (Newport Beach) 6-1, 6-1.

Girls’ 10 singles

Round of 32: Siena Sharf (CdM) def. Alexis Coglitore (CdM) 6-3, 4-6, 6-2.

JASON KORNFELD may be reached at (714) 966-4616 or at [email protected].