Wang Wins Ojai Singles Title
Lawrence Wang (SR, Orange) became the first Stag to win the Ojai Valley Division III Singles Title with a 6-4, 6-2 win over number one seed John Watts (Washington Univ. [St. L]) on Sunday afternoon. Wang, who was seeded second in the tournament and is ranked eighth in the country, capped off another strong weekend of play with a straight sets win over the nation's third ranked player.
Last weekend Wang earned his third straight SCIAC Player of the Year award while leading the Stags to their fourth consecutive SCIAC title. Wang had reached the semifinals of the Ojai Valley Tournament as a freshman and sophomore, and was forced to retire with a sprained ankle in the round of 16 as a junior. En route to his title, Wang dropped only one set - in the first round against unseeded Alan Esteraja (La Sierra Univ.) 6-2, 6-7 (4), 6-2. He then faced the highest possible seeds the rest of the way. He beat ninth seed Ilya Gendelman (UC Santa Cruz) 6-2, 6-3 in the round of 16, fifth seed Charlie Cutler (Washington Univ. [St. L]) 6-3, 6-3 in the quarterfinals, third seed Max Liberty-Point (UC Santa Cruz) 6-3, 6-4 in the semifinals, before taking top seed Watts for the title. Wang had been 0-2 against Watts coming into the final, having lost to him in the 2007 NCAA singles championships, and then in a dual match in 2008.
Wang has won ten straight singles matches dating back to April 4, and fifteen of his last sixteen. Wang's only other Ojai Valley Tournament title came in doubles, partnering Gui Schils (Sr. - Shaker Heights, OH) as freshmen in 2006.