Rio Mesa’s Stunova Makes Quick Work of Pesky Rival

IRVINE — After two long days of delays, traveling and tennis, the last person Rio Mesa High’s Zuzana Stunova wanted to see across the net in Friday’s Southern Section singles final was Sanaz Ghazal of Temecula Valley.

Stunova had not lost to Ghazal in three previous meetings, but all three had been grueling, three-hour, three-set marathons.

Stunova again rose to the occasion, needing just an hour and 35 minutes to defeat second-seeded Ghazal, 6-3, 7-5, and win her second consecutive title.

“I wanted to win in two sets,” Stunova said. “That was the goal.”

Stunova, who a year ago became the first player from Ventura County to win the tournament, is the first repeat champion since Keri Phebus of Corona del Mar in 1988-89.

“It’s really exciting,” said Stunova, who has committed to the University of Washington. “It’s a nice way to end the season.”

Nice, but not easy.

Stunova woke up at 5:30 a.m. to make it to Irvine for a scheduled 9 a.m. start, but she spent five hours waiting between matches and 3 1/2 hours playing.

In the morning, she completed the third set of a 4-6, 6-1, 6-2 quarterfinal victory over Julieanne Chidley of Riverside Poly, a match that was interrupted by rained on Thursday.

Then Stunova defeated Nina Vaughan of Corona del Mar in the semifinals, 6-3, 6-4.

“We figured we’d be here all day,” Rio Mesa Coach Steve Worthington said. “But you forget about all that [waiting around] now.”

In the doubles final, third-seeded Debbie Pepkowitz and Shervin Saedinia of Calabasas lost to top-seeded Faye DeVera and Katey Becker of Villa Park, 7-6 (7-4), 6-4.

Not including the tiebreaker, the match featured 14 consecutive games in which each team broke the other’s serve.

Pepkowitz and Saedinia had a 3-0 lead in the first set, but couldn’t hold it.

“It was an odd match,” Pepkowitz said. “We came out pumped, but then had a let up. It went all different kinds of ways.”