Tennis Roundup : Turnbull Finds Competition Too Quick in Loss to Rehe

Stephanie Rehe outquicked Wendy Turnbull Friday. Years ago, that would have been saying something, but time and a few pounds have slowed Turnbull. Still, Rehe hasn’t forgotten the Rabbit.

“When I was growing up I remember hearing about how quick Wendy was,” said Rehe, after her 6-1, 6-2 victory in the first round of the $100,000 Audi Challenge at Rancho Bernardo Inn. “I was really aware that she is fast. That’s why she was nicknamed the Rabbit.”

Rehe, 16, is ranked 13th in the world. Turnbull, 33, is ranked 15th. This was their second time Turnbull faced Rehe. Turnbull won, 6-1, 6-1, two years ago in Princeton.

“That match was real quick,” Rehe said.

So was Friday’s match, which lasted 1 hour and 3 minutes.

“I was surprised how well she moved,” Turnbull said. “She’s very agile. . . . She is one of the best players in the world.”

Rehe has been working on her volley since she lost to Melissa Gurney in the Virginia Slims final at the San Diego Beach and Tennis Club in August.

Rehe, 5-foot 11-inches, had not developed a net game under her former coach, Robert Lansdorp. Now she is coached by Olaf Merkel, who specialty is a serve-and-volley game.

“You can’t win by staying on the baseline anymore,” Turnbull said. “You have to learn a net game, and I think she’s doing that.”

Friday, Rehe came to net five times and won four points, including one on an angled cross-court winner.

Once again, Turnbull--who has had more success recently in doubles than singles--found herself at the mercy of a rising star.

“Playing someone half your age has become a way of life on the tour,” Turnbull said. “I used to laugh at Billie Jean King and Rosie Casals when they played someone half their age. Now, I’m laughing at myself.”

Friday’s second match was even more one-sided than the first.

Top-seeded Pam Shriver, who has spent more time promoting her new book “Passing Shots” than playing tennis the past week, needed only 33 minutes to beat Kathy Horvath, 6-0, 6-1.

“She didn’t miss a ball and I couldn’t hit a ball,” Horvath said. “It was a terrible day.

“I tried so hard just to watch the ball and it was just one of those days where, like, forget it. . . . I had like two good points all match. It was like comedy hour. Gosh, I really tried my hardest. But people will look at you and say, like, right.”

Tournament Schedule Today:

1 p.m.: Stephanie Rehe vs. Bonnie Gadusek, followed by Pam Shriver and Elizabeth Smylie vs. Kathy Horvath and Gadusek.

7 p.m.: Zina Garrison vs. Shriver, followed by Rehe and Wendy Turnbull vs. Garrison and Carling Bassett.