The 44th Annual Manhattan Beach Open Tennis Tournament may have had a different feel to it, but for Jim Martineau, winning the Men’s Open Division championship still took a top effort.
It was the second Open Singles title for theRancho Palos Verdesresident who said he has competed in the tournament on and off for the past 19 years. Martineau, 49, defeated defending champion Andrew Eklov 7-5, 6-3 in the finals held at Live Oak Park.
“This year the tournament was smaller, but there were two players who I beat that are very good,” Martineau said. “In the first round I beat Trent Aaron7-5, 1-6, 6-4.Trentcurrently holds an ATP world ranking in Doubles and was also world ATP ranked in singles last year. Eklov is highly ranked in Southern California Open Division and who was a Division 1 college player. He is now 25 and still has aspirations to play pro tennis. Eklov hits serves at over 140 miles per hour, faster than many top pros.”
Martineau used a double-handed racket he designed called the Diamond Racket to earn the victory. In 2009, Martineau won the 45 age division at the National Hard Court Championships and placed 4th in the same division this year. He also serves as head coach of Brian Battistone, a pro Doubles player who competed in the US Open in Doubles in 2010.
Tournament Director Jessica Vincent said that nearly 70 players competed in this year’s tournament which, unlike in years past, was not a United States Tennis Association (USTA) sanctioned event.
“We had a new format this year where each player was guaranteed at least two matches,” Vincent said. “This year we looked at the tournament as more of a recreational event with local players.”
The Men’s Doubles tournament was won by Laurence Gorley and AaronSuplizio who beat Tim Curry and Joe Franklin 6-4, 6-2.
Simon Peters defeated Thomas Hill 6-4, 6-3 to capture the Men’s Singles 40 Under title while Carter Hedrick shut out Max Brandt 6-0, 6-0 to win the Men’s Singles 40 Plus championship.
The Women’s Singles title went to Hannah Bartell who defeated Kate Buteau 6-3, 7-6 (5) in the finals. Buteau fought her way back through the loser’s bracket after falling to Bartell 6-1, 6-4 in the semifinals.
Ceci Overholser and Rebecca Chavira took top honors in the Women’s Doubles with a 5-7, 7-5, 6-4 victory over Patricia Jordan and Janine Bozeman.
