Singles excellence elevates Wheaton North

The presence of a pair of outstanding singles players has thrust Wheaton North into the conversation as a contender for this year's girls tennis league title in the expanded and highly competitive DuPage Valley Conference.

Freshman Madeline Fidel and sophomore Emme Lindquist have provided consistent points at the Nos. 1 and 2 singles positions, respectively, while giving an inexperienced doubles lineup the opportunity to develop at a steady pace.

"They're both actually No. 1 singles players," said coach Eric Laird, who went into the season with questions about his doubles group. "They allow us to move everyone else to a position that is suited to their ability. And the doubles players are gaining confidence with each match."

Fidel, who came in with a national ranking earned by playing in numerous USTA tournaments, has already racked up some impressive DVC victories as a No. 1, while, Lindquist, last year's No. 1, who came in this year with a much improved forehand, has been undefeated at second singles.

"They're very close in ability and they push each other to get better at practice every day," Laird said. "Nobody else can hit with their pace and depth."

Even with the two at the top of the lineup, Laird had modest expectations for the Falcons at the start of the season, depending on the speed of development by the doubles.

"We're pretty deep at doubles," he said. "All four doubles teams are similar in ability and they've all performed better than we thought they could. At a recent victory over Wheaton Warrenville South, we won all four doubles matches. These were all JV players last year.

"I'm excited about our entire lineup. With a little more experience and some more confidence that comes with winning, I expect us to be in the mix at the end."

Ready for anything:

Hannah Swarm is ready to fill in wherever she's needed for Naperville Central.

Swarm, who qualified for state and won three matches at the state meet with graduated partner Cass Goldner, is a superior athlete and she's equally comfortable and capable of winning at either singles or at doubles and with different partners.

With former state champion Tiffany Chen holding down the No. 1 singles position, Swarm can easily move in as the second-singles player. She was third-singles conference champion as a sophomore.

Yet she's equally adept on the doubles court pairing with either Megan Furukawa or Sabrina Chou.

Recently, Swarm and Chou won the first-doubles title at the St. Charles East.

"Hannah is very athletic," said Naperville Central coach Don Bonet. "She's experienced, competitive and as a member of the varsity basketball team, she understands the team concept. And she's a natural leader. She's playing singles in the DVC and she'll play doubles at sectionals."

Bonet marvels at Swarm's consistency on the court.

"At singles she will keep the ball in play forever," he said. "I'd put my money on her if the match goes to the third set. But as far as state is concerned, she has a better chance at doubles. Hannah gives me a lot of options as a coach, because I know that wherever I put her I'm going to get a great effort."

Benet's spark:

Coco Tzakis has been the catalyst for Benet's recent success on the tennis court.

The Redwings have been undefeated in dual matches in recent weeks and, not coincidentally, that surge has coincided with Tzakis delivering impressive victories at the top of the lineup.

"Coco has really stepped up lately and she has found her game," said Benet coach Michael Hand. "She now has the confidence to play at the level I knew she would. She recently played three matches against conference teams and she won them all. Because she's a leader and a former state qualifier, her success has had a steadying effect on the team."

As a freshman and sophomore Coco played two singles behind her older sister Leah and had great success in that second spot, qualifying for state.

"As a junior, Coco had to take the reins," Hand said. "And I think it took her awhile to recognize how good she could be and then to step into that role at first-singles. Coco had a good junior season but she didn't seem to have that belief that she was the player we all thought she could be."

This year, according to the coach, Tzakis is developing the maturity that helps her deal with adversity. When she gets down, she's now able to bring herself back.

"She's always been a great baseline player," Hand said. "But now she's more determined to finish off points and she's quicker at the net than she has been. And she's not forcing things. She's much better at seeing the play develop and understanding what to do next. She's become patient enough to just let points happen."

Hand believes the entire team is responding to her level-headedness and calm leadership and that everyone has been playing at a higher level.