GIRLS' TENNIS: IN A COURT OF HER OWN HIGHLAND'S GEORGESCU IS THE TALK OF THE TENNIS SCENE.

Byline: Gideon Rubin Staff Writer

QUARTZ HILL - Though the Antelope Valley has produced many standout athletes, the High Desert region isn't exactly known as a tennis hotbed. That could change soon though.

Diana Georgescu, a Highland High freshman of Romanian descent, hit the Golden League girls' tennis scene Tuesday and the league probably won't be the same for a long time.

The 13-year-old phenom began what's expected to be a prolific prep career with a 6-0 victory over Sheena Crenshaw, Antelope Valley High's No. 1 singles player. She won all three matches against the Antelopes and is 11-1 overall.

Georgescu, who picked up the sport three years ago, trains with a Romanian Olympic tennis coach and is on the verge of a national ranking in the United States Tennis Association's 14-and-under age group.

The outlook for the rest of the league is not good, according to Crenshaw.

``She's amazing,'' Crenshaw said. ``I've never seen anyone like her around here.

``I tried to make some adjustments (during the match), but I couldn't do anything about it. Her serves were just awesome.''

The hard-hitting Georgescu's raw ability will be tested in league play when she faces more experienced players such as Lancaster's Karen Zimmerman and Jillian Jones of Quartz Hill - both seniors - in league matches Oct. 11 and 16, respectively.

Georgescu also competes outside the prep circuit. She's involved in the Northridge Matador Tournament - a regional USTA-sanctioned event which is a prerequisite for competing at the national level. She's 2-0 in the tournament, which resumes Saturday, and is in the final 16 in her age group.

``She's awesome,'' Highland coach Linda Ruiz said. ``I've been coaching for five years and I've never seen a stronger player. We're talking about someone who's a class above most high school players.''

Georgescu isn't the only Antelope Valley resident who's burst onto the national circuit. Sonya Reynolds, a senior at Quartz Hill, is nationally ranked. She does not compete on the school's team because of USTA scheduling conflicts.

Georgescu and Reynolds are not typical of the local tennis scene. The Antelope Valley has just one country club and no junior program, so both players receive instruction from outside the area.

``You normally get the players who aren't like Diana,'' Ruiz said. ``She's already been prepared. I'm not going to take credit (for her success) as her coach. Somebody else has done the work.''

Georgescu, who was born in the United States, didn't begin playing tennis until she was 10. She'd previously competed in softball, gymnastics and tap-dancing. She picked up tennis at the prodding of her parents, and indeed it took some prodding.

``At first I hated it,'' she said. ``I thought it was boring, just running around all the time and chasing a ball and hitting a ball.''

Her first formal instruction came through the Palmdale City Park and Recreation Center. Although she didn't enjoy the sport, Winfield Carter, an instructor at the center, saw her potential and soon began giving her private lessons.

Destiny also played a role in her development. At the 1999 Acura Classic in Manhattan Beach (now called the estyle.com Classic), her parents, Constantin and Constance Georgescu, introduced themselves to Romanian tennis star Ruxandra Dragomir. The Georgescus asked Dragomir whether she knew of a Romanian tennis coach who might be available to coach their daughter. Dragomir recommended they contact Claudia Neascu, a Romanian national-team coach.

The timing could not have been better. At the time, Neascu was having a falling-out with one of her players and was looking for a new student. Arrangements were made for Neascu to come to the United States on a six-month visa.

The plan, however, didn't have Diana Georgescu's blessings.

``I didn't like the idea at all,'' she said. ``In Romania, they're a lot tougher. It's not like here. You have to run and I had to play tennis six hours a day every day and three hours on Sundays. I didn't like it at all.''

Neascu arrived in the Antelope Valley in February 2000 and the intense training - which lived up to Georgescu's worst fears - combined with being told after her first lesson how awful a player she was, did little to endear the coach to her newest pupil. However, Georgescu started piling up tournament victories, and actually began liking tennis.

By the time Neascu's visa expired in the summer of 2000, Georgescu had gained enough trust and respect for her coach, as well as confidence in her own ability, to travel with Neascu to Europe, where she competed in tournaments. She returned to Europe to compete over the past summer as well.

``It all started with a simple hello,'' Constance Georgescu said.

Dragomir has become all but part of the Georgescu's family. She visits when she competes in Southern California and has taken Diana to Indian Wells, where the girl prodigy has warmed up on courts alongside the world's elite players, including Martina Hingis and the Williams sisters.

``It was so exciting,'' Georgescu said. ``I got to sit next to Hingis and we ate lunch (in the clubhouse) with all the players. It was amazing.''

Georgescu admits she feels the pressure that comes with such high expectations at such a young age, and she was concerned about whether her Highland teammates would accept her.

``I thought the other players were going to be mean to me because I'm a freshman,'' she said.

Her teammates, however, have accepted her with open arms.

``I love having her on the team,'' said Lyly Nguyen, the Bulldogs' No. 2 singles player. ``She makes us all a little better. We've kind of modeled ourselves after her. We watch her play and we practice like that. It helps us too.''

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Photo:

Highland freshman Diana Georgescu is only 13, but her potential on the tennis court appears unlimited.

Hans Gutknecht/Staff Photographer