Borisoff Singles Herself Out

AGOURA — Youth was served during the Marmonte League girls’ tennis season, and it stroked a winning return down the line.

Brooke Borisoff, a freshman at Agoura High, might have respect for her elders but she isn’t intimidated by them. She beat a string of older players on her way to winning the league’s singles championship.

“They couldn’t [intimidate me] because they have to respect my tennis,” she said.

Borisoff, 14, finished the season with a 65-5 record after losing in the third round of the Southern Section individual tournament Saturday at Agoura.

Her only losses were to players who qualified for the tournament by placing first or second in their respective leagues.

“It’s been a good first year, obviously,” she said.

Borisoff met nearly every challenge during the regular season while playing No. 1 singles for the Chargers.

Her fiercest rivalry was against Lyndsey Tadlock, a senior at Thousand Oaks.

Borisoff and Tadlock split in two dual matches before meeting in the league final Nov. 11.

Borisoff dominated, 6-3, 6-0, victory at Agoura.

“Brooke doesn’t really have a weakness in her whole game,” Agoura Coach Stu Limbert said. “Tennis is 90% mental, and she has all that. She’s very confident. She believes she can beat anyone.”.

Borisoff, ranked among the top 25 players in Southern California in the U.S. Tennis Assn. girls’ 14-and-under division, inherited her athleticism from her parents.

Her father, Brett, a 1972 graduate of Hoover High, was a national-level swimmer and water polo player. Her mother, Cindy, is a runner.

Borisoff’s sister, Lauren, a sophomore, was most valuable swimmer on the Agoura girls’ varsity team last spring.

“If I had boys, I wanted them to play sports,” Brett Borisoff said. “I had girls and found out they could be in sports, too. . . . I’m proud of both of them.”

Brett introduced Brooke to swimming first. But when she didn’t take to the water, she picked up a racket and took to the courts. She has been playing tennis since she was 9.

“I think [tennis] was her idea,” Brett said. “She always seemed like a natural athlete, but I’m kind of surprised she has reached the level she’s at this quickly.”

Borisoff has improved her skills by working with a personal coach, Craig Heinberg, for the last three years.

“He really helps me with strategy and form and [shot] placement,” she said.

Borisoff is looking forward to next season when Agoura has its entire roster back after finishing third in the league and losing in the second round of the Division III playoffs.

That includes No. 2 singles player Allison Tyson, also a freshman.

“I think we did well,” Borisoff said. “Next year we should do better.”