OJAI VALLEY TENNIS TOURNAMENT : Bryans Reach Semifinals, Close In on 1st Brotherly Duel

Mike and Bob Bryan could be venturing into unfamiliar territory today in the Ojai Valley tennis tournament--their first competitive match against each other.

If the Camarillo twins both win their semifinal-round matches this morning, they would face each other at 11 a.m. today at Libby Park.

Although the 12-year-olds are among the top 10 players in the nation in the United States Tennis Assn.’s boys’ 14-and-under rankings, they have never met on the court. When Bob has drawn Mike in past tournaments, they have taken turns defaulting to each other to keep the peace in the Bryan household.

But their mother and coach, Kathy Bryan, hinted Friday that the strategy might change if both players survive tough semifinal matches at 8 this morning. “They have never both made the finals of this prestigious of a tourney,” she said.

Top-seeded Mike will face Yorba Linda’s Casey Pelle and second-seeded Bob will meet San Diego’s Alejandro Hernandez.

Mike, a right-hander, overcame Justin Phillips of Rancho Santa Fe, 6-0, 6-0, Friday morning and outplayed Newport Beach’s Geoff Abrams, 6-4, 6-2, in the afternoon. Bob, a southpaw, rolled past Andrew Evans of Rancho Santa Fe, 6-1, 6-3, in the second round before hammering out a 6-2, 6-1 victory over Fullerton’s Kevin Kim in the quarterfinals.

In the quarterfinals of the girls’ 18 doubles, Lisa and Michelle Richard of Simi Valley were upset by Shannon Curren and Molly Romm of Costa Mesa, 4-6, 7-6, 7-6.

Molly White of Camarillo and Amelia White of Santa Barbara, the No. 2-seeded team in the girls’ 18 doubles, posted a 6-0, 6-2 win over Samantha Joyner and Jeanne Shobe of Costa Mesa in the quarterfinals.

Jason Munro and Paavo Salmi of Cal Lutheran recorded a 5-7, 7-6, 6-2 win over Brian Beattie and Vernon Yarnell of UC San Diego in men’s independent doubles.

Gabriella Knizek and Cathie Teobaldi of Cal State Northridge defeated Kelly Massa and Sue Woodling of Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, 4-6, 6-1, 7-5, to reach the semifinals in women’s intercollegiate doubles.