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For three years Gaither's Brianna Williams lost in the individual state semifinals, a streak she finally ended Monday in Orlando.
Playing at Lake Brantley High, Williams cruised through a 6-0, 6-1 quarterfinal and 6-0, 6-2 semifinal - and she did it despite a runny nose, sore throat and fever.
"I guess I've gotten a little rundown the past few weeks with districts, regionals and schoolwork and now state," said Williams, who received a first-match bye with the No. 1 seed. "I also had Grad Night (at Walt Disney World on Saturday) and I couldn't miss that. If you're a senior you have to go."
Rundown or not, Gaither coach Michelle Wilson said Williams played, "terrific."
"She had a good draw and she played as well as she has all season," Wilson said. "If she was affected by her cold, she didn't show it. She was tough and focused all day."
Which turned out to be a pretty long affair. After her singles victories, Williams teamed with Annica Johansson to win a quarterfinal doubles match 6-1, 1-6, 7-6 (7-4).
"I have to say I'm pretty tired now," Williams said. "So we're going to go back to the hotel, watch a little television, then go right to sleep."
Williams plays her individual singles title match this morning at 8 at Orlando's Sanlando Park against Taravella's Marlena Hall, whom she has beaten consecutive times in other tournaments.
"Marlena and I have played against each other for a while and we always have close matches," said Williams, who is 18-0 with only one fo those matches - her first against Freedom's Laura Gioia - going three sets. "I expect another close match with her again. ...
"Of course I'd really like to win the state high school tennis title. This is my fourth year of trying so hopefully I'll finally get there."
If Williams wins the individual title, she'll face the team No. 1-player bracket winner on Wednesday for the overall state championship.
Williams and Johansson, the No. 2 seed in the individual bracket, will play a semifinal match after Williams finishes the singles championship. If Williams and Johansson win the semifinal, the doubles individual final follows this afternoon.
Williams was part of a state champion doubles team as a freshman, but said to go out a winner as a senior in singles and doubles would be "a dream come true."
Short victories, long trip for Durant's YoungDurant senior Shaun Young is well on his his way to defending last season's overall singles title. That is, if his academic accomplishments don't get in the way.
Young, who is salutatorian, drove two hours back to Tampa after his two singles matches and one doubles match so he could make it to a dinner honoring the county's top students. He must wake up at 5 a.m. to make the Class 4A individual singles championship at 8 in Altamonte Springs.
"It usually doesn't matter if I play early in the day or later," Young said. "I'm going to be tired, though."
If his performance today is anything like Monday's, Young should have no problem. The tournament's top seed, he had a bye in the first round, then breezed through his quarterfinal 6-0, 6-0.
In the semis, Young faced first-time opponent Sheharyar "Shay" Wali, younger brother of last year's 4A singles champion Alamgir Wali (Young played in 3A last year). The St. Petersburg freshman gave Young some trouble in the second set, breaking his serve three times before Young rallied. Young defeated Wali 6-2, 7-5.
Today, Young faces Andrew Mazlin of Altamonte Springs for the singles title. Mazlin has the advantage of a shorter drive to the match, but Young has played Mazlin before and beat him in three sets. Young also will pair up with Brian Walsh for the doubles semis. They defeated a team from Coral Gables 6-4, 7-5 Monday.
- EMILY NIPPS