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Failla defeats top seeds in Canadian tournaments

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Jessica Failla’s summer break from college tennis has included winning the women’s singles and women’s doubles championships at the U.S. Tennis Association’s National Open Hard Court Championships at San Diego’s Morley Field. In addition, she defeated the top seeds in two Canadian professional tournaments — the semifinals of the Encore FX Victoria International and that tournament’s championship match.

“I was playing a lot,” Failla said.

Failla, a lifelong Ramona resident, attends the University of Southern California. This year USC advanced to the second round of the National Collegiate Athletic Association tournament and Failla was the Trojans’ No. 5 singles player.

“We played pretty well overall, so it was a good feeling, and I think we’re pretty motivated for next year,” said Failla, who was a sophomore during the 2015-16 season.

USC lost to Pepperdine in the second round May 14.

“We had a tough draw,” Failla said.

The National Open Hard Court Championships took place May 30 through June 5.

“That was a great tournament. I love playing in San Diego close to home,” Failla said. “It was a really good opportunity to get a lot of matches in.”

Failla teamed with Kaitlyn Christian of Rancho Cucamonga for doubles play.

“It was great to play with her,” Failla said.

Christian is a USC graduate.

“I’ve known her from tournaments and we play a lot of the same events,” Failla said. “I asked her to play and she said yes. We played really well together.”

A 6-2, 6-0 quarterfinals victory was followed by a 6-1, 6-1 win in the semifinals. Failla and Christian then took a 6-2, 6-2 triumph in the championship match against Alexa Corcoleotes and Salma Ewing.

Ewing would also be Failla’s singles final opponent. A 6-1, 7-5 quarterfinals victory over Maya Smith advanced Failla to the semifinal against Michalle Okhremchuk, who retired from the match while trailing 3-1 in the second set after Failla had taken a 6-1 win in the first set. The final between Failla and Ewing ended as a 6-0, 6-2 match in Failla’s favor.

Failla thus won two gold balls at the San Diego tournament: one for the singles championship and one for the doubles title.

“I think it was really good for me to win both of those tournaments after the college season,” she said. “That gave me a lot of confidence and really helped in the pro tournaments I went on to play after that.”

Failla, the daughter of Katrina and Greg Failla, didn’t immediately follow the Morley Field tournament with the professional competitions. She joined her family for a vacation in Vail, Colo. Failla’s parents and Lee Merry are her coaches.

The National Collegiate Athletic Association allows college tennis players to accept up to $10,000 per school year from professional tournaments. The athletes are responsible for their own expenses at those tournaments. The June 13-19 Encore FX Victoria International tournament had total prize money of $10,000 including $980 for the runner-up.

“That was one of the best tournaments I ever had,” Failla said.

The tournament in Victoria, British Columbia, was played on an indoor court at the Panorama Recreation Center.

“That was a great experience,” Failla said.

Failla was seeded eighth in the Encore FX Victoria International tournament. She began play with a 5-7, 6-0, 7-5 victory over Bess Waldram and a 7-5, 6-4 triumph against Charlotte Petrick. Failla defeated quarterfinals opponent Ines Karmen in 6-1 and 6-2 sets.

Top-seeded Alexa Graham was Failla’s semifinal opponent. The first set was tied at six games apiece, triggering a tiebreaker to seven points with a winning margin of at least two points. Failla took a 9-7 victory in the tiebreaking game to win the first set. Graham countered with a 6-4 win in the second set. Failla advanced to the final with a 6-2 triumph in the third set.

Failla then faced Katharine Fahey in the championship match. Fahey won 6-2 and 6-1 sets for the title.

“It’s tough because I had a really good tournament,” Failla said.

Fahey, who plays for the University of Michigan, is ranked among the top 30 players in the NCAA.

“I was happy with how I did,” Failla said.

Failla then traveled to El Paso, Texas, for the June 27 through July 3 Hunt Communities 2016 Women’s Pro Tennis Classic. She faced top-seeded Kristie Ahn in the first round and lost the 5-7, 6-2, 6-3 match.

Before Failla could face a top seed in her third consecutive tournament she had to qualify for the July 11-17 National Bank Challenger tournament in Winnipeg. Failla’s fifth seed in the qualifying portion gave her a first-round bye, and her 6-4, 3-6, 6-4 victory over Lorraine Guillermo gave Failla one of the eight qualifiers’ berths in the main tournament.

The top seed in the National Bank Challenger tournament was Israeli player Julia Glushko, who was ranked 131st in the world. Failla once again had a three-set match against the tournament top seed. Failla began the first round by winning the 6-3 first set while Glushko took a 6-3 victory in the second set. Failla advanced to the second round with a 6-4 triumph in the third set.

“I played the best match I’ve ever played,” Failla said.

Francesca Di Lorenzo, who eventually won the tournament, eliminated Failla in the second-round match with a 6-2, 6-1 score.

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