Virginia Slims of San Diego : Rehe’s Game in Tune to Beat Grossman, 6-1, 6-1

Even though music loud enough for everyone to hear was playing nearby, Ann Grossman didn’t dance.

And even though she sprayed shots all over center court and swung at and missed two service returns--enough poor playing to drive anybody a bit wacko--Grossman didn’t scream, either.

There were a couple of questionable calls by linesmen, too. Grossman didn’t argue.

Sometimes, championship finals bring out the worst in players. Or in Grossman’s case, don’t bring out anything.

Stephanie Rehe, meanwhile, brought out her best and cruised by Grossman, 6-1, 6-1, to win her first Virginia Slims of San Diego title.

Rehe, 18, lost in the San Diego final two years ago to Melissa Gurney. On that day, she didn’t have her best game.

On Sunday, she saw a young player suffer a similar fate.

Grossman, 17, carved her niche on this tournament not only by upsetting two seeded players, Robin White and Rosalyn Fairbank, but also by performing with a liveliness that challenged her opponents’ talent and tested their patience.

Against Fairbank in the semifinals Saturday, Grossman danced and wiggled while waiting to return serve. She paused between points. And she fought out loud when something happened against her. Fairbank was ruffled and Grossman went on to beat her.

“I was trying to get into (Sunday’s) match but for some reason, it just wasn’t to be,” Grossman said. “I play better when I’m feisty, but I just couldn’t get going.”

Rehe caused a lot of the problems, pounding forehands and backhands from the baseline all day long. But more than that, it seemed, Grossman simply succumbed to the pressure of her first appearance in a final.

An amateur, Grossman had tried to turn pro Saturday night. The Women’s International Tennis Assn., however, wouldn’t allow her to do it. As a result, when Sunday’s match ended, Rehe collected $17,000. Grossman accepted a check for $8,500, but she won’t be able to keep it.

“People are going to look at this match and think it was easy,” Rehe said. “But, it wasn’t easy at all. I had to attack and be aggressive all day. Otherwise, I would have been out there trading shots with her for a long, long time.”

As it was, the 14 games took 1 hour 23 minutes to play. And, all the time, the players were serenaded by disco music from a company picnic across the street.

Rehe never let her game get out of tune, however. She stayed back and rallied with Grossman for the most part, but it was usually Rehe who would go ahead and try to pin her opponent.

Rehe’s shots were deep and true most of the day. And Grossman, unexpectedly, didn’t put up much of a fight.

“She hit some great shots,” Grossman said. “I wasn’t overwhelmed by them, but I just didn’t have the energy I normally have.”

That was apparent as the games wore on. In fact, 9 of the 14 games in the match reached deuce, and Rehe won 8. Had Grossman been able to close that disparity, the match might have been different.

“I knew she was a fighter so I didn’t want to give her any chance to get into the match,” Rehe said. “I knew if I could stay on top and in control, she’d have trouble getting going.”

The only games Grossman won were the second game of the first set and the third game of the second set, both on Rehe’s serve. In seven service games, Grossman won only 17 points.

In the doubles final, the No. 4-seeded team of Patty Fendick and Jill Hetherington defeated top-seeded Betsy Nagelsen and Dinky Van Rensburg, 7-6, 6-4.