Flexible Dukes Take Advantage of Wichita

NEWPORT BEACH — Another match without Zina Garrison Jackson. Another early deficit. And another Dukes victory.

Last week, the Dukes overcame a 13-3 deficit against Idaho.

This time, the Dukes rolled over defending World TeamTennis champion Wichita, 26-16, and moved within a victory of clinching their third consecutive Western Division title before about 1,200 Sunday evening at the John Wayne Tennis Club.

The Dukes are 10-0 with four games to play. The Wichita Advantage is 4-5. Second-place Sacramento is 6-3 with five games remaining. Because the Dukes have beaten Sacramento twice, it would have the tiebreaker if the teams finished the season tied for first.

For a while, it looked as though Sacramento would gain ground on the Dukes. Larisa Neiland and Keri Phebus, Garrison Jackson’s last-minute replacement, were beaten soundly by Lori McNeil and Julie Steven, 6-2, in the night’s first set.

Phebus, a UCLA junior who went to Corona del Mar High, was understandably nervous. She had never played a WTT match and wasn’t used to the format or the level of play. She double-faulted twice in her first service game and was tentative on her ground strokes and volleys.

“It was weird,” Phebus said. “I never expected anything like that. It was so intense. I’ve gone two months with breaking my finger-nail biting habit, but they’re all gone now.”

By the time she began to get somewhat comfortable--she held her serve on her second attempt--the set was about over.

“It was so overwhelming,” she said. “I can’t say it was fun. It was torture. I was praying the whole time that the Dukes would win. I’m like, ‘Great. I’m going to be the one to break the streak.’ ”

Afterward, Phebus walked over to team owner Fred Lieberman and made sure Garrison Jackson would be returning to the lineup for Tuesday’s home match with Charlotte. Garrison Jackson had missed the last four matches while playing for the U.S. team in the Federation Cup in Germany.

“I told him, ‘I guarantee you it’ll be better next time,’ ” Phebus said. “Thank the Lord Zina will be back though.”

But even if she didn’t come back, the Dukes probably would survive. They’ve survived with Tami Whitlinger-Jones (who played three matches), Ann Grossman (who played two matches) and now Phebus.

The Dukes are able to withstand the loss of Garrison Jackson because their regulars--Neiland, Trevor Kronemann and Kelly Jones--have been so steady. Jones has been more than steady though. Sunday, he moved into first place in the men’s singles rankings with a 6-2 victory over former UCLA star Buff Farrow.

Jones has won 59 of 91 games for a .650 winning percentage. Phoenix’s Jimmy Connors is now second at .646.

Jones, however, said he is surprised by his success.

“I expect it,” said Jones, who played college tennis at Pepperdine and is considered more of a doubles specialist on the pro tour.

But Jones said he wouldn’t be playing team tennis if all he were playing was doubles.

“I wasn’t going to play unless I played singles,” he said. “I could have earned more money playing singles on the tour than playing just doubles here. This is the kind of thing I want. Pressure matches. This is great practice for me on the tour.”

It also might turn into a nice pay day if Jones can keep his winning percentage higher than Connors’ percentage. The WTT awards $20,000 to the men’s singles champion. At this rate, he also has an outside chance at male MVP, which has a $4,000 prize.

“I don’t think about statistics and all that stuff much,” he said. “I just look at each point and each game and each match.”