Ojai Valley Tennis Tournament Sets Sail for 95th Time

More than 100 area tennis players, and several more from high school and college teams in the region, will participate in the 95th Ojai Valley tennis tournament which starts today at various locations throughout Ojai and Ventura County.

Ojai, is considered the oldest and one of the largest tournaments in the United States sponsored by one club. Singles action starts today with 700 matches being played by 1,400 of the 1,600 total entrants in 34 divisions.

More than 25 Ojai participants have won Wimbledon titles, including Stan Smith and Billy Jean King, both five-time champions at Ojai. Jimmy Connors, Arthur Ashe, Jack Kramer and Bill Tilden also won at Ojai, which started in 1896 with 15 local players, including Ojai’s William Thacher, an NCAA doubles champion at Yale.

Wimbledon women’s champion Tracy Austin is also a former Ojai participant.

Among local participants, Ania Bleszynski of Thousand Oaks will defend her 1993 girls’ 18-and-under championship. Philip Tseng (18-and-under) and Mike and Bob Bryan (16-and-under) lead the top junior players. Former touring pro Roscoe Tanner (Westlake Village) is among the favorites in men’s open singles.