Kua’s run cut short

Trinity sophomore loses in Round of 16

Trinity Classical Academy’s Dustin Kua had already made history on Thursday by becoming the first Santa Clarita Valley boys tennis player to conquer the Round of 32 in the CIF-Southern Section boys tennis Individual Sectionals.

But in Friday’s Round of 16, the four-star player couldn’t shake off early nerves and lost two straight sets, 0-6, 5-7, against fivestar senior Ryan Cheng of San Marino High at the Seal Beach Tennis Center.

“I was obviously telling myself, try to make the balls,” Kua said, “but he was a lefty so it was tricky to play his game and it was difficult trying to rally with him.”

Cheng entered the round with an unbeaten record against four-star players, according to tennisrecruting.net.

Kua was coming off of a three-set win against a fivestar player in the Round of 32, but his loss against Cheng drops Kua to a 5-7 record against five-star players.

But in front of a big crowd and taking the center stage, Kua’s nerves kicked in early during the first set.

“I was playing in center court,” Kua said, “and a lot of people were watching, so I got kind of nervous.”

Kua shook off his nerves in the second set, motivated by trying to win at least one game off the senior, but wasn’t able to close.

“I didn’t want to lose without getting a game,” Kua said. “Once I got a game, I started getting confident, but it wasn’t enough.”

The sophomore is not only the first SCV boys player to make it through to the last 16, but also Trinity’s first and only boys tennis player. And with that, Kua is keen on using that and his age to stay motivated for next season.

“I’m really happy to make it this far, but I’m disappointed to lose today,” Kua said. “But I’m only a sophomore, and I still have two more years to do my best.”