A year ago, Rancho Bernardo High’s Charliz Tabili placed fourth in the San Diego Section tennis championships.
Good, but not good enough.
Tabili got stronger, physically and mentally, and she’s enjoying the rewards. At the midway point in the season, she remains unbeaten.
It isn’t just unbeaten, however, it’s how she’s reached this point, including victories over defending section singles champion Samantha Cheng of Mt. Carmel and highly-rated Mackenzie Lukin of Carlsbad.
The 7-6 (7-0), 7-6 (7-5) victory over Cheng in the Point Loma Invitational was a classic.
“I’d never beaten her,” said Tabili, who figures to get at least two more matches against Cheng this season. “The difference is with a lot of off-season work on both the physical and mental part of my game, I never feel I’m out of it, I can play with a clear mind.
“Before I’d talk myself out of crucial situations, but now I’m very calm. I’m thinking every match, every practice about how I’ve improved my agility and my strength. By playing a lot of tournaments, mostly in Orange County, I’ve learned to let things come naturally.
“When I have a chance, I watch my next opponent play to see where I can find a weakness. When I get in those long matches on the court, I feel strong.”
Strong. Good word to describe Tabili.
“She hits the ball harder than any of the boys,” said Broncos coach Mike Parrinello, who rates her among the top girls’ players he’s coached since 1998 after serving as the junior varsity coach from 1990 to 1995 and the boys coach in 1996-97.
“She’s just an outgoing, fun-loving kid but her match against Samantha Cheng was special. It was like two boxers throwing haymakers — you can’t coach that. In 10 days, she played six high-quality matches.
“Charliz plays every weekend, whether it’s with us or her club (Giavara Tennis Academy in Mission Bay). But as a freshman she didn’t come out and I kept in touch with her, reminding her that she could play both club and high school if she wanted. It wouldn’t ruin her workouts.”
Tabili decided to try out for the high school team as a sophomore and now she’s glad she did.
“There is a team dynamic to high school tennis that you don’t get with club,” said the 17-year-old senior who plans to continue playing in college after graduation. “You really bond with the other players on the team, especially when you take a road trip like we did recently to Santa Barbara.
“Overall, club tennis is more competitive, so I enjoy both.”
It’s more than just savoring the experience, according to Parrinello.
“As a captain this year, we’re looking for Charliz to talk with the other players on the court,” said the coach. “She has ability to communicate with them and we’re better as a team for that. I’ll it I wondered if when her older friends graduated if she’d stay with it, and she did.
“We’re in a very tough league (Palomar League) and the playoffs have teams like Torrey Pines, Bishop’s and Canyon Crest, so it’s challenging. But she’s enjoying it.
“When I asked her how she liked being captain, she said she wasn’t just the captain, but she was the ‘social director.’ These players often have lunch together and we do things socially. You can tell she likes it.”
Tabili is enjoying the ride and her goals are what you might expect.
“I want to win the section singles championship,” she said without hesitation. “This is my last year of high school, so it’s my last chance, but after that I’d like to play in some national tournaments. You discover as you move up that everyone is different, so you learn to adjust.
“I’m more confident in all aspects of my game and while in the past I might have thought too much, now I play with confidence. Now I’m more consistent and I know there are areas where I can get better.
“My main focus is tennis, and I’m having fun.”
