Sondhus Set for Tennis Showdown

Laguna Niguel brothers Raji and Shan Sondhu are one victory away from playing each other for the title of the USTA National Open boys’ 14 championships at the Anaheim Tennis Center. It’s a position they were in a few weeks ago, and one they both relish.

The two also met in the final of the Pacific Beach Junior Open in San Diego, where Raji, 14, edged 12-year-old Shan, 6-3, 5-7, 6-4, to win his first title. Both say playing in tournaments together fires them up.

“It gives us more incentive,” Raji said. “Neither of us wants to lose in an earlier round than the other.”

In fact, it’s not uncommon to see a little money exchange hands at the end of the day.

“We make bets that if, say, I advance through more rounds than him, he owes me $5,” Shan said.

Who’s ahead?

Well, Raji currently has the edge over his little brother, but Shan is catching up.

Raji is ranked 158th in the USTA boys’ 14s super national selection and 24th in Southern California. Shan, 12, is No. 3 in boys’ 12s and 30th in Southern California 14s.

If the two meet in Thursday’s final, who should be favored?

“Well, I’m on a hot streak right now,” Raji said with a smirk.

By now the two know the other’s game. Shan says Raji is a power-hitter. Raji says Shan plays with finesse. They push each other in practice every day.

“Our styles complement each other,” Raji said. “We both have very different games. I’m a streaky player and he’s very consistent. I think [Shan] is better for his age.”

“It’s improved my game, because I get to play someone older all the time,” Shan said.

Both players however, give most of the credit to their coach, Bill Korsak of Irvine, who they say drills technique and style into their games.

“Other picky kids would have gone through five or six coaches by now,” Shan said. “But I think it has really helped our game, staying with the same good coach.”

The two unseeded brothers have each defeated three seeded players to advance to today’s semifinals. Raji upset second-seeded Carsten Ball of Newport Beach in the first round and sixth-seeded Lee Singer of Las Vegas in the quarterfinals. Not to be outdone, Shan upset fourth-seeded Blake Muller-Grokenberger of Santa Barbara in the round of 16. Today, Raji plays third-seeded Gary Sacks of Calabasas, and Shan plays top-seeded Eric Chow of Sunnyvale. Playing together in doubles, they advanced to today’s semifinals to play Clancy Shields of Grand Junction, Colo., and Adam Coleman of Littleton, Colo.

THE GIRLS’ BRACKET

Top-seeded Cosmina Ciobanu of Brea defeated fifth-seeded Randi Schuler of Davis, 6-4, 6-2, to advance to today’s semifinals in the girls’ 14 tournament.

Mission Viejo’s Lauren Jones, seeded fourth, also advanced with a 6-1, 6-2 victory over Melanie Brown of Los Angeles.

Rivelis and Yorba Linda’s Clarissa Fermin advanced the semifinals in doubles with a 6-2, 6-0 victory over Bonnie Adams and Vanessa Dunlap of Newport Beach.

IN OTHER TOURNAMENTS

Corona del Mar High’s Cameron Ball was the only county player to advance past the first round of the USTA National Open boys’ 18 singles at the Laguna Niguel Racquet Club this week.

Seeded fifth, Ball advanced to Tuesday’s quarterfinals where he was defeated by fourth-seeded Sydney Jim of Sugarland, Texas. The finals are Thursday at 10:30 a.m.

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