TENNIS OJAI INVITATIONAL : UCLA’s Bissell Has Memorable Day

Is Fritz Bissell a better tennis player than history major at UCLA?

Bissell, a senior from Dubuque, Iowa, defeated David Ekerot of USC to win the Pacific 10 singles title Sunday at the Ojai Invitational, then immediately flunked history.

“I’m honored to have my name on a plaque with the same names as . . . as . . . I don’t even know who’s won it,” Bissell said.

How about Gene Mako, Ted Schroeder, Alex Olmedo, Rafael Osuna, Dennis Ralston, Arthur Ashe, Stan Smith, Bob Lutz, Raul Ramirez and Tim Mayotte, to name a few?

Bissell’s 6-3, 6-4 victory over Ekerot was regarded as something of an upset, even by Bissell’s coach, and not simply because Bissell occupies the fifth and last singles spot for UCLA.

Bissell, whose status on the squad was altered by the emergence of sophomore Robert Janacek and freshman Sebastien LeBlanc, is ranked No. 75. Ekerot is No 12, despite a series of injuries this year.

UCLA Coach Glenn Bassett was duly impressed. “That was inspiring,” he said.

Then there is the matter of moving up from this No. 5 singles spot. UCLA plays at Pepperdine on Friday in its last match before the NCAA tournament, and Bissell made Bassett take notice with his play Sunday.

“He promoted himself,” Bassett said. “Where, I don’t know.”

Playing a steady return game and attacking on occasion, Bissell scored a key break in the first set when Ekerot’s serve deserted him, which Bissell considered a gift.

So too was the net cord Bissell hit on match point when the ball skipped over Ekerot’s racket and landed safely inside the baseline.

“I’m pretty excited about it,” said Bissell, who earned enough points to be an All-American in singles and doubles in 1991.

“Being Coach Bassett’s last year, it’s special for us,” he said. “I hope that because of what we’ve done here, everyone will be inspired (in the NCAA tournament).”

In the Pac-10 women’s singles final, Arizona junior Alix Creek successfully defended her title, then began plotting a new course of action with potential for being far more lucrative, namely, turning pro.

“I’m looking forward to making a lot of money,” Creek said. “I won’t lie. Some people say they’re just happy for the experience. But not me.”

Creek cashed in a series of forehands to ring up a 6-0, 6-2 victory over California freshman Pam Nelson and repeat her singles title of last year when she wasn’t exactly the favorite.

“In fact, I basically came out of nowhere,” said Creek, who spent five years at the Bollettieri Academy and was ranked No. 2 in the nation in the 16 age group in 1988. She is No. 5 in the Volvo college rankings.

“I started believing in myself,” she said. “Now I’m thinking maybe I can win a big tournament, be a contender for the (NCAA) title. And I’m looking forward to turning pro. If I’m average, fine, I can handle it, but if I’m a success, that would be great.”