Point Loma High School sophomore Keegan Smith fought through a rain-delayed three-hour match last Friday, May 22, at the local Barnes Tennis Center to defeat top-seeded Billy Rowe of Coronado and win the CIF singles tennis championship.
For his feat, Smith was also named CIF Player of the Year.
After earlier winning the Eastern League singles title, Smith was seeded below the top eight players in a cluster of the next eight, labeled “9-16.” But he proved tournament organizers wrong. Winning his first two matches, Smith found himself in the semifinals against No. 2 seed Rae Lan of Westview. Smith dispatched him in straight sets, 6-2 and 6-4.
Facing Rowe, a junior, in the finals was ironic for both players, who practice together several times a week and have become best friends.
The rain delay came in the final set after Smith had won the opening set 7-6 before dropping a 3-6 second set.
With the third set score tied 3-3, light drizzle forced a 12-minute delay, and Smith seemed energized upon returning, taking the title by a 6-4 score.
Did their friendship survive?
“It was pretty hard playing him,” Smith said two days after the match, “but he texted me that night, and today we’re playing as doubles partners in another tournament, so we’re still best friends.”
Not yet halfway through high school, Smith won his second CIF title after teaming with classmate Ivan Thamma to win the doubles championship last year.