Ojai’s all-time winningest player Lester Cook celebrated his birthday on Thursday with two wins in the opening rounds of the Men’s Open Singles at the 114th Ojai Tennis Tournament. The six-time Ojai winner and No. 5 seeded Cook was watched by Redfoo at the Ojai Valley Inn as he beat Alessandro Ventre 7-5, 2-6, 6-1 to advance to Friday’s quarterfinals.
Earlier in the day, Cook beat Nikolas Ramadan 6-1, 6-1. The top five-seeded players also moved on to the quarters, including former UCLA Bruins and the top two seeded player: No. 1 Dennis Novikov, No. 2 Haythem Abid.
Former Washington All-American Kyle McMorrow, No. 3, beat Brett Van Linge 6-3, 6-1.
The quarterfinals will be contested today, with the women’s event also taking place.
SECOND ROUND
(2) Haythem Abid d. Nicholas Crystal 4-6, 6-4, 6-3
(5) Lester Cook d. Alessandro Ventre 7-5, 2-6, 6-1
(3) Kyle McMorrow d. Brett Van Linge 6-3, 6-1
Johannes de Villiers d. (5) Joel Kielbowicz 7-6(1), 7-6(4)
(5) Julio Peralta d. Cecil Mamiit 6-3, 6-3
(4) Connor Farren d. Calle Hansen 6-3, 2-6, 7-5
(5) Thomas Shubert d. Robert Yim 4-6, 7-5, 1-1Ret (inj)
(1) Dennis Novikov d. Brian Battistone 6-4, 3-6, 6-2
FIRST ROUND
(2) Haythem Abid d. Justyn Thomas 6-2, 6-0
Nicholas Crystal d. Till Guttenberger 6-3, 6-3
(5) Lester Cook d. Nikolas Ramadan 6-1, 6-1
Alessandro Ventre d. Emmanuel Mensah 2-0Ret (inj)
(3) Kyle McMorrow d. Isaiah Strode 6-7(5)1, 6-4
Brett Van Linge d. Guilherme Galvao 6-0, 6-0
(5) Joel Kielbowicz d. Devon Brown 6-0, 6-0
Johannes de Villiers d. Mbonisi Ndimande 6-3, 7-6(6)
Cecil Mamiit d. Pengxuan Jiang 6-2, 6-2
(5) Julio Peralta d. Martin Dimitrov 6-2, 6-1
Calle Hansen d. Ren Nakamura 6-1, 3-6, 6-1
(4) Connor Farren d. Alessandro Saglia 6-0, 6-0
Robert Yim d. Artiom Dimitriev 6-1, 6-2
(5) Thomas Shubert d. Ryan Storrie 6-4, 6-4
Brian Battistone d. Chris Chutikorn 6-0, 6-0
(1) Dennis Novikov d. Kent Hunter 6-0, 6-1