Tuz breaks through in upset

COSTA MESA — More than five hours after a big tennis victory, Josh Tuz was still brimming with confidence.

How else can you explain his response to who he would play in a Round of 16 match today?

“I don’t care who it is, I’m taking him down,” Tuz said.

The rise of self-esteem came from his upset over the No. 4 seed, Ryan Peyton of Newport Beach, in the boys’ 16 singles division of the Costa Mesa Summer Junior Classic.

Tuz, who will be a junior at Newport Harbor High, defeated Peyton, 1-6, 6-4, 6-4, at the Costa Mesa Tennis Center. Tuz, who is originally from New Zealand and has been in the United States for a year, is supposed to play against Jimmy Fernandez of Orange today at noon at Orange Coast College.

“This is probably a breakthrough in tournament tennis for me,” Tuz said.

After beating Peyton, Tuz belted out, “Come on!” He’s hoping to shout some more today. And, he’s also planning to possess the same type of confidence.

“I went on the court knowing I could beat the guy,” Tuz said. “I had a friend who played him before and I knew about him. But I still felt I missed shots at crucial points. It was just a matter of confidence and adjusting my game play.”

Tuz gained momentum as the match went on against Peyton. But Tuz still felt there could have been improvements.

“The fact that I could beat him without playing my best, was a great feat,” Tuz said. “I had problems with nerves and not putting it together.”

Tuz continued to show confidence, even though he dropped the first set, winning just one game. He bounced back with back-to-back 6-4 game victories.

“Just staying mentally tough,” Tuz said of his mentality. “He whittled midway though the second set.”

The tournament in its 15th year continues today and ends on Friday.

Here’s how the rest of the locals fared.

In boys’ 16 singles: Troy Astorino, of Sage Hill, def. Taylor Mar, 1-6, 6-4, 6-4, and will play against Michael Griffin of Temecula today at noon at CMTC.

In boys’ 14 singles: Joel Ishii (Newport Beach) defeated Chris Vo, 6-0, 6-2, but then lost to top-seed Connor Treacy of Santa Monica, 6-0, 6-0.

Caleb Kim (N.B.) defeated Mark Wu, 6-3, 7-5, and will face Treacy today at 2:30 p.m. at CMTC in the Round of 16.

Jason Cernius (N.B.) beat Alex Manolakas, 6-4, 6-4; and will face Spencer Pekar today at 2:30 at CMTC.

Connor Cole (Corona del Mar) defeated Connor Lipscomb, 6-1, 7-5; Trevor Russell (N.B.) def. Patrick Lipscomb, 6-0, 6-2.

Ismaen Aboubakare (CdM) def. Hutton McKenna, 6-1, 6-1

Hayden Tremper (CdM) lost to Christopher Dalton, the No. 6 seed, 3-6, 6-3, 6-2

Christian Ball (NB) lost to Matthew Chung, 6-4, 7-5.

Jeremy Bowinkel, CdM, lost to Spencer Pekar, 6-0, 6-1.

In boys’ 12s: Dante Saleh (N.B.) the top seed, will play against Camden Marco today at 8:30 a.m. at CMTC.

Alastair Hurry (CdM) def. Titus Strom, 6-4, 6-2, and will play against Will Walker, today at 9:30 at CMTC

In girls’ 18s: Auriel O’Neill (N.B.) vs. Tiffany Bearwaldt, today at 10:30 a.m. at CMTC

Emily Gelbaum (N.B.) lost to Paige Polizois, 6-1 6-2.

Allie Shea (NB) vs. Ariana Mokhtari, today at 11 a.m. at CMTC

In girls’ 16s: Round of 64 — Lexy Longman (NB) lost to Melanie Abellla, 6-0,. 6-0

Elizabeth Cramer (Costa Mesa), lost to Hanadi Roman, inj.

Danielle Kaiden (NB) def. Jessica Jero, 6-3, 6-3, will play against Roman, today at 9 .a.m. at OCC

Neda Ghassemi (CdM) No. 4 seed vs. Jordyn Bounds today at 9 a.m. at OCC

Ariana Cernius, NB, def. Eleanor Call, 6-1, 6-1, will play Elizabeth Buncahan, who beat Terra Singer, CM, 6-1, 6-1, today at 9 a.m. at OCC

Samareh Afrasiabi, NB, lost to Crystal Lim, no show

Elizabeth Nguyen, NB, lost to Sabastiani Leon, 6-0, 6-1

Jeanne Frei, NB, lost to Jamie Lai, 6-0, 6-0

Francesca Nestande, NB, lost to Kala Johnson, no show

Karen Ishii, CdM High def. Jaclyn Smrecek, Sage Hill, 3-6, 7-5, 6-0 Ishii will play Johnson today at 10 a.m. at OCC

Ellie Edles (3), CM, will play Tricia Mar, a 4-6, 6-3, 6-1 winner over Lila Luna, today t 10 a.m. at OCC

Karoline Wang, NB, lost to Allison Brooks, 6-3, 6-4

Megan Chomeau, NB, lost to Katina Zampas, 6-2, 6-1

Azadeh Nazemi, NB, lost to Melissa Breisacher, 6-0, 6-1

In girls’ 14s: Round of 32 — Erica Lewis, NB vs. Michaela Barthelmass today at 11:30 a.m. at CMTC

Megan Rucker, NB, vs. Haley Moss (3), Laguna Beach, 11:30 a.m.

Danna Moustafa, NC, def. Emma Mattson, 6-2, 6-3

Jessica Yi, NC, def. Mackenzie Roddy, 6-0, 6-1 will play No. 4 seed Beth Albert of Manhattan Beach today at noon at CMTC

Lauren Conway, NB, vs. Mayo Hibi, today at 12:30 at CMTC

Mazy Watrous, NB, def. Elizabeth Naameh, 6-1, 6-4, will play No. 2 seed, Catherine Fevery, Laguna Niguel, today at 12:30 p.m. at CMTC

In girls’ 12s: Allison Ishii, NB, top seed, plays Wednesday in quarterfinals

Ataf Moustafa, NB, today vs. Bailey Sholder, at 8:30 a.m. at CMTC, Round of 16

If Ataf wins she will play Natalie Cernius (NB) in the quarterfinals.

— Steve Virgen