Heating up: Sarah Ford collects trophies over the summer

Sarah Ford goes for a hat trick this weekend.

The 16-year-old tennis player, who will be a junior at Central High School in the fall, has competed in two tournaments this summer.

She has won them both.

Ford attempts to keep her perfect record intact in Columbia, Mo., this weekend at an endorser tournament. Her first match is at noon Friday.

"I love to play in the tournaments," Ford said. "I get to travel with my dad and see parts of Missouri I don't normally see. And it also gives me a chance to make new friends."

Ford won her first summer tournament June 23 and 24, winning in the 18-and-under division of the Springfield Summer Fever, which was played at Cooper Tennis Complex. Ford defeated Jenelle Quesenberry of Republic in the championship match 6-3, 6-2.

"That was a good match for me," Ford said. "She had beaten me the summer before. She has a tough slice, but I think I have gotten better over the years and can handle it better now."

Ford did not lose a set in any of her matches in Springfield.

She repeated that feat in the 16-and-under division of the Lake Ozark Country Club Open earlier this month. Ford defeated Lindsey Gray of Springfield in the finals 6-1, 6-3 on July 8.

"Lindsey is a good player," Ford said. "I had played her in Springfield as well and beaten her 6-3, 7-5."

When Ford is not playing in tournaments she is working on her game with her coach, Dr. Frank Chong. She also travels to St. Louis once a week for work on her doubles game with Central partner Lindsey Pingel under the tutelage of Doug Smith at the Sunset Tennis Center.

Ford and Pingel were 22-1 in the regular season last fall with the Tigers and were district champions. They qualified for the Missouri State High School Activities Association tournament in Springfield and won their first match there before losing twice to teams from state champion St. Joseph's Academy.

Ford played No. 2 singles with Central last year but will likely move up to the No. 1 spot this year with the graduation of Dani Gross.

"I've worked hard on my game and feel that I am hitting the ball a little harder now," Ford said. "My serve is also coming along.

"We've had a lot of success the last couple of years as a team. We were undefeated when I was a freshman and lost only one match [to Parkway South] last year. We hope to go undefeated again this year."

The regular season will determine whether Ford competes in singles or doubles in the postseason although she enjoys competing alongside Pingel, who will also be a junior this year.

"We have had success," Ford said, "and we have a lot of fun together."