LEWISTON — Sofia Mavor and George Cutone took care of business on the first day of the MPA singles tennis state tournament Friday at Bates College.
The two top seeds each won 6-0, 6-0 in the second-round — their only matches of the day after receiving first-round-byes.
Mavor of Yarmouth, the girls No. 1 seed, defeated Hattie Moss of Camden Hills, while boys No. 1 Cutone of Kennebunk defeated Paul Seah of York.
“He’s a good player,” Cutone said of Seah. “He definitely hits the ball hard, hits his spots on the court. Overall, staying consistent and not trying to overhit, and, yeah, kind of playing smart out there.”
Cutone will face Xavier Deschaine of Van Buren in the Round of 16 on Saturday at Bates.
Mavor, meanwhile, said the key to her victory was keeping her game simple.
“I stayed focused and getting my shots in, and try to keep it deep in the court and not do anything too crazy,” Mavor said.
In the Round of 16, she will face Alyssa Conley of Windham.
Mavor, a senior who has committed to play at the Air Force Academy, returned to high school tennis this season after playing in a United States Tennis Association event the previous two seasons. She won the MPA state singles championship her freshman season.
Mavor said she was anxious about being the No. 1 seed in the state singles tournament after a few years away.
“There was a little bit of natural nerves playing the matches, but I would say it’s more excitement being a part of an event like this,” Mavor said. “Being in Maine for my last year is super exciting because, during freshman year, I was kind of fresh into it. Being my last year, it’s bittersweet as well, but there’s excitement just to compete and play.”
With a few matches still being played Friday night, there hadn’t many second-round upsets as the high seeds held serve.
The lone upset on the boys side was Vivaan Chriwalla defeating No. 12 Issac Swain of Medomak Valley 6-3, 6-2.
There was a big upset on the girls side when Molly Tefft of Brunswick defeated No. 3 Haylie Peacock of Gardiner. Tefft won 6-1, 1-6, 10-6.
“It feels good, I am kind of in shock,” Tefft said.
The first set took a lot out of her.
“I think I felt really tired in the second set,” Tefft said. “I know we had to reset and act like it’s a new game.”
Tefft will take on unseeded Lucy Hart of Waynflete in the Round of 16.
Boys No. 3 Alberto Cutone of Kennebunk hopes to see his brother — George, the No. 1 seed — later in the tournament after defeating Kory Donlin of Medomak Valley 6-0, 6-0.
” I am looking forward to winning another match,” Alberto Cutone said. “I will see what I can do. Hopefully, I can meet my brother in the final.”
No. 11 Gabe Berman of Cape Elizabeth took out Will Guerin of Portland in the second round 6-1, 6-0. Berman will face Terry Ma of Thornton Academy in the Round of 16 on Saturday.
“Terry is good at everything,” Berman said. “I don’t want to take him to the net because he’s very good at the net. I am a baseline player. I will probably keep the ball deep and try to get most of my serves in.”
No. 4 Sofia Kirtchev took out Megan Jordan of Ellsworth 6-0, 6-0. Kirtchev is playing in her second singles tournament.
Jordan gave Kirtchev some trouble in the middle of the first set.
“When she was leading me 40-0, I had to work really hard to slowly work my way back up and beat her in the (advantages),” Kirtchev said.
Kirtchev will take on unseeded Eliza Naftoly of Berwick Academy in the Round of 16.
No. 6 Becca Naftoly of Berwick Academy will face Claire Dwyer of Maranacook on Saturday morning.
Comments are not available on this story.
Send questions/comments to the editors.