Singles: Hometown Girls and Big Personalities

For Parris Todd, playing in the Select Medical Orange County Cup in San Clemente, Calif., is like playing at home.

Meanwhile, Tyson McGuffin just made himself at home.

The two highlighted singles on Thursday in San Clemente as McGuffin and Todd head into the finals Sunday.

Todd, who is from Newport Beach, Calif., about 40 miles north of San Clemente up CA-73, had plenty of family and friends in attendance and looked like she felt very comfortable with an 11-1, 11-7 undoing of No. 2 seed Catherine Parenteau.

“This is home for me. I’m excited to be here for Championship Sunday,” Todd said.

This will be the first appearance on the PPA Tour’s Championship Sunday for Todd.

“I’m excited, but the job’s not done, so I’ll be coming in hot,” she said. 

But back to McGuffin, who cruised into the quarterfinal, winning four matches and not losing a game. Continuing his roll, he did the same thing in the semis, beating Hayden Patriquin, 11-2, 11-1.

Then, McGuffin praised his opponent, complimented himself a bit, ran his hands through his hair, pumped up the crowd, and gave a shout-out to San Clemente as well as the Life Time facility. 

Talk about making yourself at home.

“The pressure was definitely on me,” said McGuffin of facing the 16 year-old Patriquin. “The guy is a total stud. But I played the big points well, and I thought I served well and all day long, I brought the goods. I’m happy to be moving on.”

McGuffin will face No. 3 seeded J.W. Johnson on Sunday, who beat James Ignatowich, the No. 10 seed, 11-9, 11-6 on his way to his spot in the final.

“He played really good,” Johnson said. “I just tried to make less mistakes.”

McGuffin is out there – he yells and carries on. He motions to the crowd and is vocal. Johnson is the opposite. He’s always quiet and no one can ever tell through his emotions whether he’s winning or losing. Sideline reporter, Hannah Johns, questioned Johnson in his semifinal interview about whether his demeanor is a conscious choice.  

“That’s the way I’ve always been,” Johnson said. “But who know, maybe it will change.”

Probably not. Johnson is doing just fine, and he looked comfortable in his semifinal win over Ignatowich, who had gotten to the semis with a pair of upsets over the No. 7 seed Federico Staksrud as well as a quarterfinal victory over Jay Devilliers, the No. 2 seed.

On the women’s side, Todd, the No. 7 seed will face top-seeded Anna Leigh Waters, who has not lost a singles match this season. Waters beat No. 4 seed Callie Smith, 11-2, 11-3.

“Today I was feeling really good,” Waters said. “This is my fave venue, and I’m excited about Championship Sunday. There are definitely bad days, but singles is my favorite event, so I think that helps because I have a lot of passion when I go out on the court.”

Check out more of the PPA action and excitement throughout the rest of the weekend with Semifinal Saturday and Championship Sunday matches being broadcast live on Tennis Channel.