Stanford’s Abrams, Kim Reach Pac-10 Final

The Ojai Valley Tennis Tournament’s 100th anniversary Saturday was a celebration of its past.

It featured a dinner honoring 80 former players who have won Grand Slam titles, including the No. 2-ranked women’s player in the world, Lindsay Davenport. It also involved Stanford senior Geoff Abrams.

Abrams found himself in a familiar setting, center stage at Libbey Park, where he won his first Ojai title when he was 14. He was attempting to reach the final in the featured Pacific 10 Conference men’s singles division.

Using a strong serve and consistent power game, he upended Cardinal teammate and roommate K.J. Hippensteel, 6-2, 6-4, in the semifinals. He will meet another teammate, top-seeded Alex Kim, a 6-4, 6-1 winner over UCLA’s Julien Rojer, today at 11 a.m.

“I definitely look back on my past tournaments here with fond memories,” said Abrams, a Newport Beach native. “I’ve played here every year since ’91.

“I’m excited about it.”

Abrams said he would have preferred to meet his good friend Hippensteel in the final.

“It’s tough to play your roommate in a tournament like this,” he said. “We know each others’ games since we play three or four times a week. I’m not sure he played his best.”

Kim, meanwhile, said playing his doubles partner Abrams today wouldn’t be easy. “I’m just going to have fun with him,” he said.

UCLA freshman Sara Walker had fun in the Pac-10 women’s singles semifinals, beating Stanford’s Lauren Kalvaria, 6-4, 6-0.

Walker will play Arizona State’s Alison Bradshaw, a 6-2, 6-4 winner over Stanford’s Keiko Tokuda.