Locals clash in tourney

Chris Yemma

When Oscar Matthews approached his son, Fabian, last week and asked

him if he wanted to partner up for this weekend’s United States

Tennis Association national father and son doubles championships,

Fabian was a bit skeptical.

“My dad’s pretty intense at times,” Fabian Matthews said. “And I

knew it would be tough because there are guys going around the

country trying to get [USTA] points and my dad plays like once every

three months.”

But it didn’t take a whole lot of convincing for the son to agree,

as it would be a fun way to spend some time together, they both

agreed.

The younger Matthews, a freshman at Corona del Mar High who placed

third in the Pacific Coast League singles tournament this spring,

teamed with his dad for the tournament, which began Friday at Newport

Beach Tennis Club.

Playing in the senior division (for fathers age 60 to 69), the

Matthews team lost in the round of 16 to the father-son combo of

Newport Beach’s Michael Carter and Florida resident Allan Carter,

6-2, 6-1, Friday, but the Matthews pair did lead in one statistical

category.

Fifty years separated Oscar Matthews, 65, and Fabian Matthews, 15,

the largest age differential among all duos competing in the

tournament.

“We were both a little nervous coming into it, but we were just

out here to have fun,” said Fabian, ranked as high as No. 2 in

Southern California in the 14s, before moving to the 16s in March.

Added Oscar, jokingly: “I think from now on I’m going to quit

playing and go into coaching.”

The fourth-seeded Carters were also competing in the tournament

mainly to have fun.

“It was a good reason for [Allan] to come out here [from Florida]

for Father’s Day,” said Michael, 29, competing in his first

tournament since he played for Penn State University.

The event, which concludes Sunday with the senior division final

at 10:30 a.m. and super senior (fathers 70 or older) at noon,

features 37 doubles teams, covering both divisions.

The Matthews were among 18 senior division pairs.

Waiting for his son to arrive from school so the two could begin

play, Oscar Matthews shed light on his tournament strategy.

“I’m just going to stand in one little corner and have [Fabian] do

all the work,” he said.

When he learned they would be playing on the main court, Oscar got

a bit more serious.

“We’ll take it one match at a time,” he said. “We have no

expectations.”

But the Carter duo put a halt to the Matthews’ plans and will face

Apple Valley’s Ramsey and Jack Gerber in the quarterfinals today at

11 a.m.

Should the Carters advance to the semis later today, they could

likely face the second-seeded duo of Bart and Devin Bowen -- 6-3, 6-1

winners in the round of 16 Friday.

Former Estancia standout Devin Bowen, 32, a Newport Beach Breaker

who currently resides in Huntington Beach, played 10 years on the

Association of Tennis Professionals tour before joining World

TeamTennis’ Breakers. He reached the doubles quarterfinals of the

U.S. Open in 2002 and 2003 with partners Massimo Bertolini and

Brandon Coupe, respectively.

The Bowen pair’s first match Friday against Brian and Jerry Wayne,

of Rancho Santa Margarita and South Carolina, respectively, served as

a preview, as they warmed up in their first set and cruised in their

second.

“We didn’t play great, but then, Devin can dominate in a match

like that,” said Bart Bowen, 59, a Costa Mesa resident. “That’s not

what I consider a fair match. I think we’re competitive, but in

doubles, anything can happen.”

San Diego County’s Joseph and Joe Zerboni, the top seed and

defending senior division champions, advanced in the round of 16

Friday, 6-4, 6-7, 6-1.

Top-seeded and four-time super senior champions Gordon and Scott

Davis, the latter of Corona del Mar, advanced to the quarters, 6-4,

6-0, while the third-seeded team of Newport Beach’s Eric Quade and

son Stanley Quade, of La Habra Heights, advanced to the quarters,

6-4, 7-6.