SAXONBURG— Brandon Anandan hasn't lost a tennis match all season — and doesn't plan to lose anytime soon.

The Knoch junior cruised to his WPIALClass AAsection championship Tuesday as the No. 1 seed in the tournament. The WPIALmeet is early this week.

"From everything I've heard, our section is the toughest one out there in double-A,"Knoch coach Tom Gammell said. "Do well in our section and you'll probably do well in the WPIALs.

"Brandon will probably meet the same kid in the finals again."

Anandan defeated Alex Sinu of Quaker Valley 7-5, 6-1 in the No. 1 singles section final. After drawing a first-round bye, he defeated Carter Powell of Quaker Valley 10-5 in the second round, then knocked off Matt Kaye of Sewickley Academy 6-2, 6-0, in the semifinals.

The only one in the area good enough to beat Anandan is probably Casey Watt of Pine-Richland, who won his section title in Class AAA.

Anandan and Watt play each other every day at the Lakevue Racquet Club in Valencia. Krishnan Anandan, Brandon's father, owns that facility and the Westwood indoor tennis facility in Erie.

"Casey is the best player anywhere around here,"Anandan said. "I beat him every now and them, but he beats me more often. He's a quicker player than I am, and that gives him the edge."

Watt and Anandan were teammates at Pine-Richland High School two years ago. In fact, Anandan teamed with Steve Eaglen to reach the state semifinals in doubles as a freshman that season.

Anandan played with a cast on a broken hand in that tournament. He and his partner fell by a 6-5 count in the semifinals.

When Anandan's family moved into the South Butler School District last year, Eaglen won the PIAAClass AAAdoubles crown after teaming with Watt.

In the meantime, Anandan, who is cyber-schooled, did not play high school tennis as a sophomore.

"He was eligible. He just chose not to play,"Gammell said.

Anandan said his father wouldn't drive him to the matches because the competition in Class AAwasn't worth the time.

At 6-foot-4, 220-pounds, Anandan is in a class by himself on the tennis court.

"I've been coaching high school tennis for a long time and I haven't seen anybody better,"Gammell said. "He's committed, he's talented and he can get on a court whenever he wants, all year round.

"That is going to make a difference."

Anandan received his driver's license this year, and since he can drive himself to the matches now, he joined the Knights. He's been mowing down the high school competition ever since.

"Because of my size, I can hit the ball hard,"Anandan said. "Serve and volley is my game and I like to aggressively go to the net. And I can play the baseline with anyone in high school tennis."

Anandan's family moved to Western Pennsylvania 2Z\x years ago. He was born and raised in Florida and his father owned a tennis club there as well.

Anandan began playing tennis when he was 3. He won his first tournament — an age 10-and-under event — when he was 5.

A bad shoulder hampered him in summer tournament play last year. But now Anandan is completely healthy.

And he has his sights set on bigger things in tennis.

"I wanted to play and win in high school because it looks good when applying for college,"Anandan said. "I want to play for a Division I school, but I'm not sure where. I haven't started looking yet."

When he does, a Division I suitor shouldn't be hard to find.

"The state meet is in Hershey at the end of the month,"Gammell said. "That's a trip we're likely to make."