Boys tennis: Stevenson’s Dai, Patriots deliver at tennis sectional

A tennis ball rocketed off the racket of an airborne Jaden Dai on Saturday morning. Struck from midcourt, it veered right and landed inside a baseline corner before another helpless opponent could even react.

Thrills.

Drops.

Sharp turns.

Pretty much the Six Flags Great America experience at the Class 2A Warren boys tennis sectional in Gurnee.

“Watching Jaden play tennis is like being on a fun rollercoaster,” Stevenson coach Izzy Balase said after the Patriots captured the 8-team sectional title with 18 points, edging Libertyville (17). “It has dips. It has thrills. When he’s on, it’s scary to witness.

“And don’t ever think you’ve hit a winner against him. That ball is coming back at you. Or past you.”

Dai, a Stevenson senior bound for Division III power Case Western Reserve, steamrolled to the singles championship Saturday, defeating Highland Park senior Max Radom 6-1, 6-0 in the title match after opening the tournament with 3 consecutive 6-0, 6-0 victories.

Unfair, almost.

The Patriots also advanced doubles teams of senior Akshay Maram/junior Nikhil Vijayakumar and sophomore Ryusei Yamada/freshman Ayden Yoo to next weekend’s Class 2A state meet at Palatine and other sites.

Libertyville’s senior-junior tandem of Chethan Nickerson and Chase Peirce claimed the sectional doubles title with a head-jerking ride of its own, defeating Maram/Vijayakumar 6-1, 1-6, 6-0 in the championship match.

Highland Park finished third with 13 points, followed by Warren (6) and Mundelein (6).

Radom attempted to pressure Dai in the singles final.

Everybody did.

“I tried to rip shots and go for winners,” Radom said. “Otherwise, he would’ve finished points in a hurry.”

Dai’s blend of foot speed, anticipation and attacking shot-making turned points into exhausting puzzles for opponents throughout the 2-day meet. During his semifinal victory Saturday morning, he launched himself into a jump forehand from the middle of the service box and blasted a winner that drew murmurs from spectators.

Dai, who placed fifth in singles at last year’s Class 2A state meet, plans to keep his approach simple next weekend.

“Stay aggressive,” he said. “End points early.”

The loudest shot of the doubles final might have belonged to Nickerson.

With Libertyville leading 4-0 in the decisive third set, the senior sprinted around his backhand side and detonated a forehand winner down the alley. The ball landed untouched near the baseline after leaving behind a sharp pop off the racket’s sweet spot.

A year after allowing a 3-0 lead to disappear in a sectional final before losing 6-3 in the third set, Nickerson and Peirce slammed the door this time.

“Today’s match came down to who’d show up in the third set,” Wildcats coach Dan Kiernan said. “Chase, when he’s in a zone, hits some amazing shots. Chethan’s steady forehand was there. That was nice to see, those two ending up sectional champs.”

“We were super loose, super confident in the third set,” Nickerson added.

Other state qualifiers included Libertyville singles player Michael Barhoum, Highland Park’s top doubles team, Jack Gordon/Jarrod Cohen, and Mundelein singles player Spencer Sauer.