NEWPORT BEACH — Without a healthy back, there was no comeback by Kalika Slevcove.
Slevcove learned it the hard way on the tennis court Wednesday. Taking care of the basics before the match stopped her early.
“I didn’t really stretch much,” Slevcove said. “It’s important to stretch.”
The future Corona del Mar High junior retired in the second set of her Round of 16 match at the 20th annual Balboa Bay Club Junior Tennis Tournament.
Slevcove said her back gave her trouble. Then the No. 12-seeded player in the girls’ 16 singles division gave up at The Tennis Club.
Make that two straight opponents taking themselves out of competition due to injuries against Annika Ringblom of Palos Verdes Estates.
After dropping the first set to Ringblom, 6-3, the problems began for Slevcove. Physically and in the score, Slevcove was hurting.
Ringblom moves on to the quarterfinals today after Slevcove’s back prevented her from continuing. Slevcove trailed, 5-1, in the second set before retiring.
“I would’ve come back,” Slevcove said, “but I couldn’t.
“It was nice to get this far in the tournament. If [the back] felt fine, then I would’ve done much better.”
Slevcove’s debut at the tournament, also known as the War by the Shore, lasted three matches. The first two went the 16-year-old’s way.
The day before, Slevcove said her back felt good. She picked up a 6-2, 6-0 victory against Aislin Elkin of Laguna Beach.
Slevcove said the match lasted 45 minutes. No one gave her a battle the first two rounds.
In the opener, Slevcove beat a high school teammate, Jessica Yi, 6-0, 6-0. The familiarity helped Slevcove easily get past Yi.
“I know how my teammates play and what their weaknesses are,” Slevcove said.
“It was a little odd playing against [a] teammate.”
The oddity returned two days later, in the form of Slevcove’s game.
With the back not at 100%, her shots lost steam. Ringblom routinely broke her serve in the second set.
The two met for the first time and Slevcove came away impressed.
“She just had really good consistency,” Slevcove said. “Her moving up from 14s to the 16s, [proves] she’s a pretty good player.”
When Slevcove is healthy, she’s just as dominant.
