Recap | Men’s and women’s tennis compete in 120th Ojai Tennis Tournament

PUBLISHED April 25, 11:35 a.m. PV / UPDATED April 26, 10:07 p.m. PT

Men’s and women’s tennis players from Chapman practice regularly at the Anderson Tennis Center leading up to their competitions. Most recently, the teams participated in the Ojai Tennis Tournament, which ran from April 20 to 24 in Ojai, California after 2 years of cancellation. JAKE NEEDHAM, Staff Photographer

After two years of cancellation, Chapman University tennis players had the chance to participate in the 120th Ojai Tennis Tournament from April 20 to 24. Six players from Chapman men’s and women’s tennis were able to compete in the event over the weekend. 

Overall, the Panthers won five matches in the Ojai tournament, and will continue their season with a match against Cal Lutheran on April 29.

Coming into the tournament, both the men’s and women’s tennis team defeated the Whittier Poets 5-4 and 8-1, respectively. Both men’s and women’s tennis earned their first SCIAC  conference win against the Whittier Poets. The men’s team defeated the Poets 5-4, improving to an overall record of 5-10 on the season. The women’s team beat the Poets 8-1, improving to 7-8 on the season.

The Ojai Tennis Tournament first began in 1896 and is hosted each year by the Ojai Valley Tennis Club. In 2015 they started to run fundraising events during these tournaments in order to raise money for the continuation of tournaments. In addition, fundraising proceeds are used to upkeep Libbey Park and other facilities part of the club, which are utilized by youth tennis programs throughout the year.

The tournament is played by juniors, Boys California Interscholastic Federation (CIF), adults (open tournament), Pac-12 men’s and women’s teams, Division III men’s and women’s colleges and other independent colleges.

Junior mathematics major Caleb Wilkins said what stood out to him was seeing players from Southern California come together to compete in the tournament.

“I got to see some (players) who are a couple of years younger than me who I’ve known for awhile and people I’ve seen from this season and played (against) and became acquaintances with,” Wilkins said.

Wilkins said that his experience at the Ojai tournament was different compared to regular season matches throughout this season given the personal stake he had in the tournament.

“I found the expectations for me were higher,” Wilkins said. “I was the (number two) seed there, so I felt like I was expected to make the semifinals or finals. It’s a different atmosphere, so that puts different pressures on you as well.”

Many notable players have competed in this tournament like Billie Jean King and the Bryan twins.

The women’s team began tournament play at Pierpont Racquet Club in Ventura, California April 21, and the men’s team started to play at the same location with their first set of matches on April 22.