Rhodes paves path to final

NEWPORT BEACH ? Whenever Parker Rhodes is at the Balboa Bay Club Racquet Club, he takes time to look at the picture. Each time he stares at the 2005 version of himself and thinks about how the picture needs to change.

The picture, posted in plain view, is fine. Rhodes is tired of looking at what it represents. It was taken at last year’s War by the Shore, following his loss in the boys’ 16 singles final.

This year, after a 7-5, 6-3 victory Thursday over No. 2-seeded Omeed Ghassemi in the semifinals of the 17th annual Balboa Bay Club Racquet Club Junior Tournament, the Corona del Mar High tennis player will have the opportunity to put himself on the winning side of that picture.

“I just have to win it this year,” Rhodes said.

Despite the past success, Rhodes, the No. 15 seed, was not expected to be in this position. To win the tournament, he will have to have beaten the tournament’s top three seeds, the final obstacle being No. 1-seeded Warren Hardie, who handled Rhodes’ Sea Kings teammate Chris Damion in the other semifinal, 6-7, 6-4, 7-6.

The match is at 9:30 a.m.

“It’s going to be a good match,” Rhodes said.

It will be a contrast in styles, which is usually the case when Rhodes is on the court. Rhodes will serve and volley, though his serve is not overwhelming and comes from all angles, sometimes underhand.

“It just works,” Rhodes said.

It was his normal serve that was not working against Ghassemi, a Corona del Mar resident who plays at Mater Dei High. This prompted Rhodes to pull an underhanded version from his bag of tricks.

“He was getting my serve back,” Rhodes said. “I tried to mix it up.”

It is not just Rhodes’ serve which frustrates his opponents, it is his relaxed demeanor on the baseline as he contently lofts forehands to his opposition, lulling them into thinking they can sneak in a drop shot or come to the net for a quick winner.

Neither strategy worked as Rhodes was able to reach many of Ghassemi’s drop shots. When Ghassemi came to the net, Rhodes deftly deposited a lob near the baseline.

Ghassemi, who lives five houses away from Rhodes, knew what to expect from his opponent.

“It’s always hard playing against Parker,” Ghassemi said. “Everybody plays different and then you get to Parker and he plays like that. It’s frustrating.”

But Ghassemi will have an opportunity for revenge today. Ghassemi and teammate Ryan Agbayani, the No. 1-seeded duo, will face No. 2-seeded Rhodes and Damion in the 16 doubles final at 11:30 a.m.

Ghassemi and Agbayani defeated Newport Beach’s C.J. Chomeau and teammate Graham Witherby, 6-3, 6-3, in one semifinal, while Rhodes and Damion posted a 7-5, 4-6, 6-4 victory in the other semifinal.

Ghassemi is also looking to replace a picture that has resided at the racquet club for a year ? one of him after a loss in the 16 doubles final to Rhodes and then-partner Jason Lin from Irvine.

The girls 14 doubles final will also be a battle of teams with local players. Melissa Matsuoka, who lost in the 14 doubles final last year, advanced with teammate and fellow Newport Beach resident Elizabeth Nguyen.

After cruising into the semifinals without dropping a game, the pair stared a 4-0 second-set deficit in the face. So Nguyen and Matsuoka went conservative and both played along the baseline with one goal in mind.

“We kept saying to each other ‘Keep it in. Stay relaxed.’ ” Nguyen said.

Matsuoka added: “We only use that in emergencies.”

The plan worked as Nguyen and Matsuoka cut the lead to 5-2, before reeling off five consecutive games to close out the match.

Matsuoka and Nguyen will face Neda Ghassemi, of Corona del Mar, and Courtney Pattugalan today at 2 p.m.

Ghassemi and Pattugalan upset the No. 1 seed in the quarterfinals and advanced to the final with a 6-3, 6-1 semifinal win. It’s their first tournament together.

“We practiced really well together and we’re good friends,” Ghassemi said.

The pair has lost only seven games in four tournament sets.

“We’re just on,” Ghassemi said. “We communicated well and encouraged each other.”

No. 1-seeded Alastair Hurry of Corona del Mar advanced to the boys’ 10 singles final with a 6-1, 6-1 semifinal victory Thursday. He’ll face No. 3-seeded Will Walker today at 9:30 a.m.

Sage Hill’s Ashley Adams and Jaclyn Smrecek lost a girls’ 16 doubles semifinal, 7-5, 7-6.dpt.21-tennis-1-BPhotoInfoVO1T5I2320060721j2q7uqncCredit: MARK DUSTIN / DAILY PILOT Caption: (LA)Corona del Mar resident Omeed Ghassemi lost his boys’ 16 singles semifinal to Parker Rhodes, but will get a chance at revenge in today’s 16 doubles final.