By ROGER MOONEY
Herald Sports Writer

BRADENTON - As a musician, Chris Kwon has been to the top, playing a piano recital in front of 400 people at New York's Carnegie Hall.

As a student, he has few peers, having earned college credits for a pair of business courses he took at Johns Hopkins University when he was in the fifth grade.

"My son is very smart," said Kwon's dad, Yon.

Yes. And talented, too.

Several years ago, Kwon's teachers laid his future on the line. He could funnel his energies toward music or academics. Or, they grudgingly admitted, Kwon could also pursue his dream of becoming the top tennis player in the world.

The 14-year-old, who plays regularly with Marcel Rios at the Evert Tennis Academy in Boca Raton - where he trains five days a week - and has hit with Andre Agassi, Pete Sampras and Jim Courier, picked tennis.

"It was a decision only he could make," Yon Kwon said.

It's a decision that seems to have paid off.

While the crowd around Court 14 at the Bollettieri Sports Academy on Tuesday did not come close to the one that listened to Kwon play the piano in one of the world's most famous music halls, it was more than 30 strong. Not bad for a first-round match in the boys 16s draw of the Eddie Herr International Junior Tournament.

That Kwon, playing up an age group, lost in two sets to Canada's Stephan Timu, 6-3, 6-3, didn't seem to phase onlookers. Most were hoping to catch a glimpse of the best 14-year-old tennis player in the United States in action.

That's part of the territory with being No. 1, Kwon said.

It's a title he can't hide.

"It feels good to be No. 1, but there are a few things attached to it," Kwon said.

Like ...

"In international competition, being the highest-ranking American player, you have to not only represent yourself, but you're country," Kwon said.

Timu was a little too big and a little too fast for the 5-foot-10 Kwon, whose loss followed a busy month.

He represented the U.S. in the Pineapple Cup in Hawaii, traveled to Virginia to attend his grandmother's funeral, flew to Boston for the national indoor championships last week, flew back to his home in Boca Raton after a third-round loss Monday and drove with Yon and his mother, Jenifer, to Bradenton on Tuesday.

"I was a little tired," Kwon said, "But that's not an excuse."

Kwon reached the third round of the 14s during last year's Herr tournament, then won the doubles title with Todd Reid.

He began playing in the 16s draw after he won the junior national clay court title in July, a victory that earned him his top ranking.

"I'm preparing for the Orange Bowl (Junior Championships later this month)," Kwon said. "This gets me more prepared against stronger players. When I play 14-year-olds, it won't be so tough."

Not that it has been a problem for Kwon in the past.

He won seven of nine matches during an international tournament in France last February, then went undefeated in singles and doubles action at the Junior Davis Cup tournament four months later in El Salvador.

Kwon did all that while changing his grip and motion of his serve from one step to two.

"What's happening is just unbelievable," said Yon.

Kwon began playing tennis when he was 5, first tagging along to Yon's informal weekend games, then tugging on his father's arm at 6 a.m. Saturday mornings to get his dad out of bed so the two could play.

"He just got hooked on it," Yon said. "He'd wake me up ... and say, 'Let's go. Let's go.' I'd say, 'Chris come on. One more hour.' To me, that tells it all."

The first time Kwon met Agassi, he sheepishly asked for an autograph. Now, he compares his game to the No. 1 player in the world: solid all-around, aggressive from the baseline with strong ground strokes.

"But I've got to improve a little bit of everything," Kwon said.

Hitting with Rios and the other pros who frequent the Evert Tennis Academy gives Kwon a clear indication of where he stands.

"When I practice with them, my game's not that far off," he said. "I just need to get stronger."

Losing to Timu in the first round is all the motivation Kwon needed to get ready for the Orange Bowl.

"I need more practice," he said. "I've got to work a little harder."

Like the other 1,235 players in the Herr tournament, Kwon has big dreams.

Consider these tournaments Kwon's classroom; lessons learned in his losses and his victories will pay off in the long run.

At an age when most kids dream of learning to drive, Kwon has his sights set much further down the road. Distractions? He doesn't have time for them.

"I'd like to be the best player possible," Kwon said, "so that keeps me focused on my goal."

Roger Mooney, sports writer, can be reached at 745-7080, ext. 2112 or rmooney@bradenton.com