Monica Li dominates her sibling rivalry, a fact her younger sister, Katie Li, readily admits.
When pressed for an explanation for why she has been unable to defeat Monica whenever the Fairview teammates hit the court, Katie will confess a mental block exists when she looks over the net and sees her older sister staring back.
The same could be said of all Colorado girls tennis programs that think about ending Cherry Creek’s lengthy reign as the class of Class 5A.
Yet if the Li sisters perform as they expect during the Class 5A state tournament, which begins today at the Gates Tennis Center, the sisters just might help Fairview end Cherry Creek’s streak of 14 consecutive state championships.
“I’m not saying we get along on the court, because we don’t,” said Monica Li, a junior and the Knights’ No. 2 singles player. “Of course we’re friends. But we also are very competitive. I still beat her. She says she can beat me, but I have a mental edge, being older.”
Although both of the sisters’ parents play tennis, the duo’s skill and competitive fire have been drawn largely from their father, Xinlin Li. A native of China, he grew up playing tennis and table tennis, and he had an opportunity to play the latter professionally, but he chose to go to college, setting a course that eventually brought him to the United States for graduate school.
He still plays tennis competitively and is scheduled to compete in a tournament this weekend. Those plans might change, however, if his daughters make deep runs into the No. 2 and No. 3 singles bracket, as they expect.
“(Monica) was always nice to me on the court, but I practice more with my dad,” said freshman Katie Li, Fairview’s No. 3 singles player. “I figure if I can get over my mental block with Monica, I’ll be able to get over it with anyone out there.
“But our dad, he always supports us and is so much better. Me and Monica, we’ve never beaten him.”
The family rivalry aside, the Li sisters will be key figures in the Knights’ quest to become the first team since Cherry Creek to win a 5A state title since 1996. The Li sisters and No. 1 player Katie Kuosman, last year’s No. 3 singles state champion, give the Knights three strong entrants in the singles brackets, and the Knights also will be a force in all four doubles fields.
“I wouldn’t say Cherry Creek is necessarily vulnerable — they are young and strong, but we’re close with them,” Fairview coach Susan Stensrud said. “My three (singles) girls, if they play well, that is the key. Monica clearly has more experience, but Katie also is a strong all-around player.”
Girls state tennis tournament
Class 5A: Gates Tennis Center, Denver
Class 4A: Pueblo City Park
Schedule (5A and 4A): Today — First-round matches begin at 9 a.m. Playback and second- round matches will start as courts become available. Friday — Semifinal matches in all brackets begin at 9 a.m. Playback matches to follow. Saturday — Championship matches, in addition to playback finals, begin at 9 a.m.
Weather note: The outlook in Pueblo is encouraging, but rain in the Denver area may create delays in the 5A tournament. Coaches and spectators are encouraged to be at each site at 9 a.m. to receive updated information. Options include a delayed start today at additional sites or playing the entire tournament Friday and Saturday. Updated information also will be available at .
