Tennis: CdM product gains royal win

Richard Dunn

On the international challenger circuit, former Corona del Mar High

tennis standout Taylor Dent captured the $50,000 men’s grass-court event

in Surbiton, Great Britain, after defeating South African Neville Godwin,

4-6, 7-6 (3), 6-2.

For Dent, who won the Powder Byrne Trophy, it was his first

challenger-level title on the Association of Tennis Professionals Tour.

The victory last week also gives Dent continued success on grass. Last

year, after winning three qualifying matches at Wimbledon, Dent took the

opening set in his first round match against Andre Agassi, before

retiring in the fourth set with an injured right knee.

Dent, who trains out of Costa Mesa Tennis Center, won the 1996 CIF

Southern Section singles championship for Coach Tim Mang’s Sea Kings.