TENNIS OJAI TOURNAMENT : Youth, Hernandez Are Served In Boys’ Finals

When one first sees Alex Hernandez play tennis, one can be impressed with his assortment of shots, poise, confidence and power. Learning he is only 13 years old, one is awe-struck.

Hernandez, a seventh-grader at St. Theresa school in San Diego, played like a seasoned pro Saturday in the Ojai boys’ 14 finals, defeating Mike Bryan of Camarillo, 7-5, 6-1, in front of a rather intimidating center court crowd at Libbey Park.

But Hernandez wasn’t the only impressive local junior Saturday. Marisa Velasco of Chula Vista won the girls’ 14 division, 6-2, 6-4, over Jennifer Momii of Gardena. In the girls’ 16s, Molly Gavin of Escondido staved off a match point to beat Ania Bleszynski of Los Angeles, 6-3, 2-6, 7-6 (7-5).

Hernandez is unranked in Southern California and the United States because he is a Tijuana resident. If Hernandez were eligible for the rankings, Bryan said, “He would be the top 14-year-old in the country.”

Bryan and his twin, Bob, should know. They have been beaten by Hernandez nine of 10 times. Bob holds the only Bryan victory over Hernandez, but he was unable to win in Saturday’s semifinals, losing, 6-1, 6-4.

“This is the first time Alex has been beaten them both in the same day,” said Hernandez’s father, Alejandro Sr. “They are such tough competition. They are both so well-rounded.”

In Tijuana, Hernandez trains at Club Britania with former St. Augustine High players Ignacio Martinez, a two-time section boys’ singles champion, and Marco Zuniga. But he has received most of his formal coaching from Alejandro Sr., a former Mexican Davis Cup co-coach with Raul Ramirez.

But after seven years of coaching his son, Alejandro Sr. says he is ready to give it up. “I’m looking for a coach,” he said.

With Hernandez’s credentials, finding one shouldn’t be too hard.

Although he still has a smattering of baby fat on him, Hernandez, 5-7, has the quick feet and anticipation of a more svelte player.

He fell behind Bryan, 5-3, in the first set, but he always seemed in control.

“My intensity went down a little bit for a while,” Hernandez said. “But I didn’t get mad at myself.”

Instead, he started to pressure Bryan by coming to the net. When Bryan started hitting short balls, Hernandez began crushing overheads and forehand volleys. Bryan lost the next three games and the set.

Hernandez overpowered an outmatched Bryan in the second set.

After the match, Hernandez said he hoped his victory Saturday wouldn’t be his last at Ojai. “I hope to come back here and play this tournament in college. I want to play at Stanford or UCLA.”

Gavin, also hoping for a scholarship to UCLA someday, played what she called “the match of her life.”

After trailing Bleszynski 6-5 and 40-30 in the third set, Gavin began coming to the net and forcing the action. She won the next three points on swinging volleys and forced a tiebreaker.

Gavin, a freshman at San Pasqual, trailed, 5-4, in the tiebreaker, but she came back to win the next three points at the net.

Bleszynski, the No. 1 seed, had breezed through the tournament without losing a set. Gavin defeated Spring Valley’s Vanessa Rooks, 6-3, 6-3, in the morning semifinals.

Velasco, the No. 1 seed in the girls’ 14s, won with ease. She did not lose a set in her five matches. Earlier, she defeated San Diego’s Candice Donahoe, 6-2, 6-2, in the semifinals.

In other finals involving San Diego players, La Jolla High’s LeeAnn Rostovsky lost to top-seeded Nicole London of Rolling Hills Estates, 6-0, 6-2, in the girls’ 18s semifinals.

Jimmy Brown and Jonathon Elsberry of La Jolla High were beaten by Mark Jamali and Heath Montgomery of Santa Barbara, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4, in the boys’ interscholastic doubles final. In the boys’ 16 singles semifinals, La Jolla High’s James Conda lost a three-hour marathon to top-seeded Alex Decret of Santa Barbara, 6-4, 5-7, 7-5.

Conda led Decret, 4-2, in third set, but let it get away. Decret’s leg began cramping early in the third set and by the end of match he could barely stand.

“He started to come in and pressure me a lot,” said Conda. “I started rushing myself. I figured if he’s cramping, I should move him around. But suddenly, I couldn’t seem to hit the ball.”