Brawley Loses to Defending Champion in Ojai Final

Sean Brawley beat former Australian Open champion Roscoe Tanner in straight sets in the semifinal round and what did he get for his effort?

A spanking in the final.

Brawley, once a standout at Newbury Park High, was defeated by defending champion Pat Crow, 7-5, 6-2, in the men’s open singles final of the 95th Ojai Valley Tennis Tournament Sunday.

Brawley, 33, led early in the match--3-1 in the first set--but not for long. Crow, 28, from Long Beach, broke serve to pull even at 4-4, and did it again in Game 12 with a backhand passing shot to win the first set. It was all Crow thereafter.

“He’s a little too strong for me right now,” Brawley said. “My legs are very sore from the tournament. I served pretty well for a time, but then he got going.”

Crow served three love games and Brawley was outscored, 24-2, in five of Crow’s last six services. He broke Brawley twice again in the second set with match-point coming on a forehand pass down the line off Brawley’s serve.

Crow made some spectacular shots, as he did in 1993 when he beat San Fernando’s Desi McBride in the final. In the second set against Brawley, Crow hit a backhand winner down the line, a forehand pass, and a backhand crossing winner, to break and lead, 4-2.

After holding serve to lead, 5-2, Crow stunned Brawley with a seemingly wide return that curved and dived inside the line.

“I got that from bowling,” Crow shouted across the net. Four points later the match was over.

“He didn’t give me much pace,” said Crow, who, at 6-foot-2, 200 pounds is four inches taller and 30 pounds heavier than Brawley. “He doesn’t hit the ball as hard has what I’m used to. I sensed (he was tired) after the first few games. He had a tough match against Tanner yesterday.”