When you are playing the Roger Federer of Washington state high school tennis, it helps to have a positive outlook.
That’s what Skyview sophomore Kent Andreasen did Saturday as he faced three-time Class 4A state singles champion Max Manthou of Kentwood.
Make that four-time state champion Max Manthou as he topped Andreasen in the 4A final 6-2, 6-3 at the Tri-City Court Club in Kennewick.
“He’s just too good and you just have to realize that,” Andreasen said. “I played well. I was more relaxed. He had more pressure going for a four-time state champion.”
Andreasen won a slug-fest of a semifinal Saturday morning to reach the title match. He outlasted Max Jiganti of Gig Harbor 6-7, 7-5, 6-3.
“Both guys were just playing perfect tennis,” Skyview coach Mark Ray said. “Kent was really attacking well.”
Andreasen said in the first set of the semifinal he was coming to the net too much and Jiganti was dictating the match.
In the second set Andreasen kept Jiganti on the baseline and broke serve at 4-4 to get the advantage.
“Kent really took his game to the next level,” Ray said.
In doubles, Mountain View’s team of Chaeran Kim and Jenna Grillo placed fifth.
They lost in the semifinal round 7-6 (3), 6-0 to eventual state champs Ali Welch and Demie Warner of Kamiakin. In the third-place match Kim and Grillo were defeated by Kentwood’s Tess Manthou and Alyssa Nagi.
Mountain View finished fifth in the girls team standings, while the Skyview boys tied for third.
