Haddonfield junior a different tennis standout

Taylor Ng isn't a typical tennis star.

That might be the secret to her success.

"I play tennis for fun," said Ng, a junior at Haddonfield who won the state singles title Friday.

Most state champion tennis players, especially in singles, are single-minded in their commitment and dedication to the sport. Ng is different.

She doesn't play in United States Tennis Association tournaments. She doesn't play tennis outside of high school tennis season, a short window that runs from the start of practice in late August to championship competition in late October.

"Tennis is a one-season sport for me," said Ng, who beat Linden's Joanna Zalewski by a 6-3, 1-6, 6-3 score in the NJSIAA state singles final at Mercer County Park. "I love tennis. I play playing and competing. But I have a lot of other interests."

Ng is Haddonfield's first singles tennis champion, boy or girl. She is just the third South Jersey player to win the girls' singles title since the tournament began in 1973, and the first since Holy Spirit's Jill Breslin in 1993.

Ng is 30-0 this season. She was seeded in the 5-8 bracket, below the top four seeds, in the state tournament but won six matches against some of the top players in New Jersey.

"She was in so many close matches," Haddonfield coach Jeff Holman said. "She never really showed any nerves. Taylor is a competitor. When she's on the court, she wants to win. But she keeps things in perspective."

Ng and Holman both believe the player's other interests work in her favor on the tennis court, especially in big matches.

"It takes off the pressure," Ng said. "I want to do my best, but I try not to put too much pressure on myself."

Holman said Ng has a fearless approach on the court that some players who take the sport more seriously might not possess.

"When the match is on the line, she has the courage to go for shots," Holman said. "Kids who play tennis year-round, any loss can be crushing. Taylor's not like that. She's not afraid to lose."

Ng doesn't have an overpowering forehand or backhand. Her serve is good, not great, by state-championship standards.

She's athletic and instinctive. She covers the whole court and hits a variety of shots from a variety of angles.

But her best weapon might be her unflappable mental approach. In the championship match against Zalewski, an undefeated freshman who is a veteran of the USTA tournament circuit, Ng rallied from a difficult second set to reclaim control of the match in the pressure-packed, winner-take-all third set.

Ng believes her balanced approach to life was a factor in her ability to stay cool under pressure.

She plays lacrosse for Haddonfield in the spring. She plays the piano and electric guitar. A top student, she gets involved in academic projects in the summer. She's also involved with Instant Replay, a volunteer organization that collects and redistributes used tennis equipment to underprivileged children.

She also plays tennis.