Di Giulio rallies to advance to final

FOUNTAIN VALLEY — As Joseph Di Giulio fell behind in the first set, his confidence never wavered. It would have been possible that Di Giulio, a 12-year-old from Newport Beach, might give in to the pressure that comes with being the nation’s top-ranked player in the boys’ 12 singles division.

But Di Giulio never caved here. He only rose. He overcame a 3-1 deficit and defeated Gage Brymer, 6-3, 6-1, in a semifinal of the 105th Southern California Junior Sectional Championships on Sunday.

Spectators passing by Court No. 17 at Los Caballeros Racquet and Sports Club stopped to watch the tennis prodigy that is Di Giulio. Some of them shook their heads in disbelief, while others asked who he was. His name is Joseph Paul Di Giulio, a short, but aggressive tennis player who is the best in the nation.

Now he wants to make sure he’s the best at the junior sectionals. He’s one match from doing so.

Today, he’ll play against the top seed, Stefan Menichella of Santa Barbara at 11 a.m. at Los Cab. Di Giulio is unseeded, only because he hasn’t played enough Southern California tournaments.

But that hardly matters to Di Giulio.

“I just want to go out and win this tournament,” he said. “It’s good to say you won sectionals. I won it three years ago.”

During his comeback against Brymer, he showed he is capable of winning a championship again. Di Giulio was a bit slow to gain his rhythm. Brymer, ranked No. 25 in the nation, hit from deep behind the baseline, doing his best to keep Di Giulio off balance and away from the net.

But then, the nation’s No. 1 boys’ 12 division player, played up to his ranking.

Brymer scolded himself at every error as the momentum shifted to Di Giulio, who pounced on the opportunity with aggression. After trailing, 3-1, Di Giulio took the next five games to win the opening set.

“It would have been nice to be up, but I felt I could come back easily,” Di Giulio said. “I wasn’t too bothered by it.”

Di Giulio took control of the match when he attacked the net. He either dropped shots that were too far in for the deep Brymer, or he set up the boy from Irvine, hitting the ball in the opposite direction from where Brymer was running.

“I played aggressive,” Di Giulio said. “I was getting points coming in, taking balls on the rise, playing aggressively and not backing up … I just played my game.”

Di Giulio plans to do the same today when he takes on Menichella, who is ranked No. 9 in the nation. Menichella is roughly five inches taller than Di Giulio and he beat him two years ago for the boys’ 10 title in the So Cal junior sectionals.

But since then, Di Giulio has beaten Menichella three times.

“I lost to him in the sectionals [two years ago], but I feel pretty comfortable against him,” Di Giulio said. “I just have to play my game.”

STEVE VIRGEN may be reached at (714) 966-4616 or at [email protected].