Manilla falls in semis

RADFORD — On Thursday morning at Radford University, Western Albemarle High’s Joey Manilla sat on a courtside bench with his older brother, Danny, for several minutes following a 6-3, 6-0 loss to Salem’s Patrick O’Keefe in the semifinals of the Group AA singles tournament.

“I gave it my all,” Manilla said, “and my brother was telling me that that’s the definition of success – how you feel about yourself.”

O’Keefe, who went on to win the state title after a straight-sets victory in the finals over James Monroe’s Caleb Rapkins, has had Manilla’s number. Last year, as a freshman, he easily defeated Manilla in the finals of the team tournament.

On Thursday, he was steady from the baseline throughout.

“My groundstrokes were on,” O’Keefe said. “I didn’t hit my serve as well as I had wished, but overall I thought I played pretty well. I didn’t make as many unforced errors as I usually do.

“Early on, I came out hot and he wasn’t playing well, but then he got into a groove. I just tried to keep the ball in play and play my game, and it worked.”

The match wasn’t quite as lopsided as the score would indicate. Manilla held his own in many rallies, but at crucial junctures he had no answers for O’Keefe’s winners.

“All the game scores were pretty close, but when it would get to deuce or like break point, he had this big forehand,” Manilla said. “I was trying to change my game, and that’s probably not a good time to do that — semifinals of states.

“At times I think I played the best I ever played, but at times I think I played pretty awful. But good players make you play bad. He did a good job of making me play bad.”

Manilla must quickly turn his attention to the team portion of the tournament, where Western takes on Jamestown in Blacksburg today. The Warriors will be looking for their third straight title.

Manilla will play Jamestown’s Elliot Mee, whom he lost to in a tough three-setter in the state semis last season.

“It’s a challenge for the team,” Manilla said. “I know how I did [in individuals] won’t affect my performance. I owe it to my team to forget about this match — and I will. I’ve already forgotten.”

Manilla is also in the semifinals of the state doubles tournament with partner Alex Preve.

“He hits it hard and flat,” said Manilla, referring to Preve, “and I hit it hard with spin. We’re hitting different kinds of returns each time, which is a problem for [opponents].

“My strength is my backhand and his strength is his forehand…I think we complement each other well.”