THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, October 25, 1994 TAG: 9410250434
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C4 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY PAUL WHITE, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: VIRGINIA BEACH LENGTH: Medium: 77 lines
With a laserlike forehand and a two-fisted backhand to match, First Colonial's Mily Kannarkat is fully prepared to camp out in the backcourt and trade baseline bullets with anyone.
She just won't give opponents the satisfaction.
So in an age where ``rock 'n' roll,'' slam-bang tennis is all the rage, the Patriots' freshman star is a throwback to a time when variety and strategy counted for much more than sheer power.
``During a match, I like to analyze what's happening out there, find out what my opponents like and don't like,'' Kannarkat said. ``I try to use as much strategy as I can.''
Kannarkat's refreshing brand of tennis has been the dominant force on the South Hampton Roads girls' tennis scene this fall. She led the undefeated Patriots to the Beach District and Eastern Region team titles, and in her 20 singles matches leading up to today's regional singles final against Tallwood's Leslie Beach, Kannarkat has yet to lose a set.
``You've got to play your very best tennis to beat Mily,'' said Sara Guthrie, a two-time Southeastern District champion and a three-time loser to Kannarkat this season. ``You've also got to be a little lucky.''
A little luck wouldn't hurt Beach today, either. Her only two losses this year have come to Kannarkat, including a 6-4, 6-2 setback in the Beach District final.
That match offered a prime example of the way Kannarkat turns an opponent's weaknesses against her. Beach is one of the area's hardest hitters. But against Kannarkat, the Lions' sophomore spent most of the match chasing drop shots, flailing helplessly at pinpoint lobs and generally doing everything except what she does best - setting her feet and teeing off from the baseline.
It's the same style Kannarkat's brother, George, a junior at First Colonial, has used to win the last two Beach District boys tennis titles. And one doesn't have to look far to see where the two of them got the inspiration to develop complete games.
``I play the same way,'' said Joy Kannarkat, Mily's father and a 4.5 player.
It's been only recently, however, that Mily Kannarkat, who won't turn 14 until late November, has bought into the complete game concept. Kannarkat, who began playing at age 5, used to be known as a kid who could hit a forehand awfully hard for someone who was barely taller than the net.
``But it was inconsistent,'' said John Atiso, a teaching pro at the Virginia Beach Tennis & Country Club. ``Some days she could hit it, some days she couldn't.''
Kannarkat credits Atiso, who has been her coach the past three years, with gradually shifting her emphasis from smacking forehands to developing a more well-rounded game.
``We changed her whole philosophy,'' Atiso said.
It also helped that Kannarkat went through a growth spurt: She currently stands 5-foot-1 and weighs over 100 pounds. And using her head on the court also takes advantage of Kannarkat's intelligence. A straight-A student at First Colonial, Kannarkat said she's never gotten a B in her life.
The results have been dramatic. In addition to her success on her high school team, Kannarkat is also ranked third in the Mid-Atlantic Region in the girls 14s.
``She still has a long way to go, though,'' Atiso said. ``Our goal is to take her as far as she wants to go.''
How far that is remains to be seen, however. For while its fashionable for 13-year-olds to start dreaming about a debut on the pro tour, Kannarkat isn't looking much farther ahead than today's match.
``This year has been so much fun,'' she said. ``I'm just going to keep working, trying hard, and see what happens.'' ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by MOTOYA NAKAMURA
In 20 singles matches this year for First Colonial, Mily Kannarkat
has yet to lose a set.
by CNB