Owen J. Roberts’ Nguyen tops Spring-Ford’s Damiani in PAC Singles tournament championship

April 15, 2024

When Talan Nguyen and Henry Damiani faced off on March 21 in 40-degree weather, they waged a three-hour battle.

So it was little surprise the Owen J. Roberts senior and Spring-Ford junior needed another three-setter to settle matters when they met Monday in the final of the Pioneer Athletic Conference Singles Championships.

Nguyen, the Wildcats’ No. 1, came up with the goods in the biggest moments again as he won the final, 4-6, 6-3, 6-2, for his first PAC singles title on Monday afternoon at Perkiomen Valley.

“I’m feeling great. It was such a hard battle,” Nguyen said. “I’m just really glad that I was able to keep my composure and close it out.”

Owen J. Roberts’ Talan Nguyen hits a backhand during the finals of the PAC Boys Tennis Singles Championships on April 15 at Perkiomen Valley. (Austin Hertzog – MediaNews Group)
Spring-Ford’s Henry Damiani hits a forehand during the finals of the PAC Boys Tennis Singles Championships on April 15 at Perkiomen Valley. (Austin Hertzog – MediaNews Group)

Familiarity didn’t breed contempt between Nguyen and Damiani, but it did let them know to prepare for a marathon.

“Me and Henry have a history. We always go to three sets, closest matches ever,” Nguyen said. “We’re really good friends outside of tennis. It’s always a pleasure playing with him. I was practicing yesterday and I knew that I was going to be in for a rough one if I were to make it to the finals.

“Talan’s always tough. He’s a great competitor and he’s a good kid,” Damiani said. “I know he’s not going to give up and that’s what he did. So he did it really well today.”

The experience factor resided with Nguyen: he was runner-up a year ago to Methacton’s Dylan Wen while Damiani hadn’t previously reached the quarterfinals.

“Last year was definitely a good way to get used to it,” Nguyen said. “I think sophomore year, I got into the top four. Junior year, I got into the top two. But also, senior year, I’ve got to make sure that I go out with a bang.

“Am I going to do as good as last year? I feel like I had a good season last year, and winning it this year made me really happy.”

Damiani was eliminated in the round of 16 the previous two years as the Rams’ No. 2 singles player and achieved a breakthrough this spring thanks to an increased commitment to tennis for the past year.

“I’ve worked a lot in the offseason this year so it was pretty cool to make the finals,” he said.

“I know I lost but I’m still really happy with where I am now compared to last year because I know me today would destroy me a year ago. I’m still happy about that.”

Spring-Ford’s Henry Damiani split-steps on a service return during the finals of the PAC Boys Tennis Singles Championships on April 15 at Perkiomen Valley. (Austin Hertzog – MediaNews Group)

Nguyen bested Methacton’s Akash Suresh 6-3, 6-2 in the semifinals while Damiani took down Pope John Paul II’s Aidan McCarel 6-2, 7-5. In the third-place match, Suresh defeated McCarel 6-4, 6-3.

While Nguyen prevailed in their earlier meeting, 7-5, 5-7, 7-6 (7-5), he was required to come back from a set down after Damiani brought the fight in the first set thanks to his big serve and attacking style, getting a break of serve at 4-4 and serving it out for the 6-4 opening salvo.

“I was serving really well. I had to start all the points with the advantage because I’d hit a good serve and he’d hit it short. I was keeping my ground strokes a lot deeper in the first set,” Damiani said.

“I was playing way too nervous,” Nguyen said. “After my talk with the coaches, I realized that I should just play my game and not be afraid. Even if I lost, I can go out knowing that I did my best.”

The final was played under near-perfect conditions into the second set but increasing winds became a bigger factor down the stretch. That played into Nguyen’s variety-filled game that blends consistency from the baseline with drives, slices and a willingness to grind.

Nguyen elevated his game in the second to force the decisive third set and got an early break of serve that sent him on his way to the crown.

“I saw that if I just keep calm, keep my serve in, and not try anything fancy, just keep doing what I do best,” Nguyen said. “Since I broke in the beginning of the third set, I knew that if I just keep going with it, then I’ll eventually close it.”

OJR’s Talan Nguyen

Nguyen came through a pivotal moment serving at 3-2 to win a multiple-deuce game and rolled from there.

Nguyen and Damiani now turn their attention to the formidable task of the DIstrict 1 Singles Championships, beginning Friday at Springfield YMCA.

History is not kind to PAC boys competitors at districts with the tennis excellence of the rest of southeastern Pa.

Nguyen, Damiani and the rest enter as underdogs, and that’s just fine with them.

“I go in without any pressure, and I just play my heart out,” Nguyen said. “I’m not expected to make these great feats, but I just go in, do what I do best, and it’s up to them to close it.”

PAC Singles Championships

At Perkiomen Valley

Semifinals

Talan Nguyen (OJR) def. Akash Suresh (Mt), 6-3, 6-2; Henry Damiani (SF) def. Aidan McCarel (PJP), 6-2, 7-5.

Championship

Talan Nguyen (OJR) def. Henry Damiani (SF), 4-6, 6-3, 6-2.

Third-place match

Akash Suresh (Mt) def. Aidan McCarel (PJP), 6-4, 6-3.

FIfth-place playback

Semifinals

Varun Jayaram (Mt) def. Brayden Burkhardt (Bt), 6-4, 6-1; Jack Sawicki (OJR) def. Josiah Kotright (UM), injury default

FIfth-place match