Playing on clay? For this Oregonian, it's OK

VIRGINIA BEACH

Last week, Belinda Niu didn't like clay.

Seven matches and a USTA Girls 16s National Clay Court championship later, the 14-year-old from Oregon might change her mind.

Niu downed Floridian Nicole Melichar 6-2, 6-4 to win the title at the Virginia Beach Tennis and Country Club on Sunday morning.

"This means a lot; I wasn't expecting that much, given the tough draw I had," said the ninth seed, who is ranked 21st nationally. "I beat girls in the rounds of 32 and 16 that I had never beaten before."

Then came Saturday's semifinals, when Niu knocked out top-seeded Gabrielle De Simone, losing just two games. Against Melichar, she played patient, steady tennis, refusing to be rattled by her opponent's big serve, occasional outbursts and inspired second-set rally.

Niu dropped just six points to build a 4-0 second-set advantage when Melichar changed tactics. The 14-year-old began to serve and volley; she climbed back to 4-3, looking primed to extend the match to the afternoon and a third set.

Niu didn't let it happen.

"I knew I had gotten up 4-0 pretty fast," she said. "It was important to keep hitting deep to her and to stay positive, so I didn't get too nervous."

Niu held at love for 5-3 and had two match points - the second of which Melichar saved by blasting an approach shot in the right corner for a winner. Hesitating, Niu looked as if she might call it out, but Melichar assured her by saying, "That's way in."

Niu made good on her third match point, winning the USTA's gold ball when Melichar sailed a shot past the baseline - the kind of error that haunted her the entire match.

"I had a great week, but I was off today," said Melichar, one of 16 girls seeded 17th in the tournament. "A few shots here and there could have made the difference."

Vicki L. Friedman, (757) 477-6874, VickiL120@cox.net