THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, July 19, 1995 TAG: 9507190554
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C4 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY ED MILLER, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: VIRGINIA BEACH LENGTH: Short : 45 lines
First Colonial High's Mily Kannarkat was looking forward to playing top-seeded Jessica Lenhoff on Tuesday at the USTA Girls 16 National Clay Court tennis championships.
``It was either going to be an upset or a good experience,'' she said.
Chalk it up to experience. Kannarkat, the Virginia Group AAA singles champion but an unseeded player in this field, was beaten by Lenhoff, 6-0, 6-0, in the third-round match Tuesday at the Virginia Beach Tennis and Country Club.
Kannarkat, 14, had not faced a seeded player in her first two matches. But she ran into a buzz saw in Lenhoff, who was the nation's top-ranked 14-year-old in 1994.
Lenhoff, from Cooper City, Fla. kept Kannarkat off balance by hitting nearly everything back at her with pace and pinpoint accuracy.
``It wasn't so much that she hits hard - she hits with a lot of topspin,'' Kannarkat said. ``It's more her consistency and placement.
``I didn't want to give her too many balls in her hitting zone because I knew she would tee off on them. I wanted to mix it up and make her move.''
It was a sound strategy, but Lenhoff covered the court well and made just a handful of unforced errors to advance to the round of 16.
``She was in a zone,'' Kannarkat said. ``I haven't played anyone better.''
Still, it was a strong showing for Kannarkat, the only local player in the field. She was playing in her first 16-and-under national event.
``I wanted to win a couple of matches, and I did,'' Kannarkat said. ``This is home and you want to do well.''
The tournament continues through Saturday. ILLUSTRATION: Photo
MORT FRYMAN/Staff
Jessica Lenhoff of Cooper City, Fla., returns the ball during her
6-0, 6-0 victory Tuesday over Mily Kannarkat of Virginia Beach in
the USTA Girls 16 National Clay Court Championships in Virginia
Beach.
by CNB