USTA Men’s 45 Hardcourt Championships : No. 3 Seed Upset in First Round at Huntington Beach

Joel Fleiss of Los Angeles upset No. 3 seed Gil Howard of Daly City, Calif., in the first round of the U.S. Tennis Assn. Men’s 45 Hardcourt Championships Monday.

Fleiss, unseeded in the tournament, used a unique, two-handed, cross-armed forehand to defeat Howard, 6-3, 7-5.

Howard was the only one of the top three seeds to compete in today’s matches at Lindborg Racquet Club in Huntington Beach. Top-seeded Len Seputo of Walnut Creek, Calif., and No. 2 Larry Dodge of Piedmont, Calif., play in today’s second round.

This is the first year for the tournament to be at the Lindborg Racquet Club. It has been at the La Jolla Beach and Tennis Club since 1948. The 1986 entrants, however, seemed pleased with the transition.

“I’ve never seen a nicer club,” said Seputo, the defending champion. “Len (Lindborg, owner of the club) cares about how all the players are treated. It’s nice to have someone responsive to the players’ needs.”

Men’s singles continue today with the first match at 9. Men’s doubles and a men’s singles consolation series also start this morning.

USC men’s tennis Coach Dick Leach will team with Ron Livingston Wednesday as the No. 1-ranked doubles team. Pancho Gonzalez and Whitney Reed are the No. 7-ranked men’s doubles team.

Matches continue throughout the week with the semifinals Saturday and finals Sunday.

Men’s 45 Hardcourt First-Round Results:

No. 16 Bob Dalton def. Dwayne George, 6-3, 6-7, 6-3. Hans Wichary def. Harry Wilson, 6-3, 6-2. Mike Rabbitt def. Dave Bradford, 6-0, 6-2. Frank Webster def. Robin Wilner by default. Joel Fleiss def. No. 3 Gil Howard, 6-3, 7-5. Fred Scott def. Allen Drazen, 6-0, 6-2. Brad Hamilton def. Ken Hamilton, 6-1, 6-2. Hank Leichtfried def. Clyde Brictson, 6-0, 6-0. Tom Dinwiddle def. No. 9 Herm Ahlers by default. Bill Richling def. Dan Coyle, 7-6, 4-6, 7-5. No. 5 Whitney Reed def. Robert Brown, 6-2, 6-1. Dick Keddy def. J.J. Moore, 5-7, 6-1, 6-3. Bill Davis def. Butch Stillman, 6-2, 6-3. Peter Mermureanu def. Richard Gross, 6-1, 6-1. No. 15 Jim Nelson def. Prem Gupta by default. Bob Deaton def. Bob Monson, 6-2, 6-0. Norman Fritz def. Jay Turner, 7-5, 7-6. Chuck Orapeza def. Ron Groves by default. Ken Stanley def. Chuck Tyus by default. Bill Cover def. Ray Mellinger, 6-2, 6-3. Ray Savon def. Mark Billing by default. No. 10 Dick Leach def. Bob Dittoe, 6-1, 6-2. Ken Lindborg def. David Steckler, 6-3, 6-3. No. 7 Les Dodson def. Gary Baker, 6-0, 6-1. Ben Serkin def. Dave Britchson, 6-2, 6-2. Jerry Anderson def. Tom White, 6-4, 3-6, 6-4. Jack Darrah def. Mike Copp, 6-2, 7-5. No. 12 Rick Fried def. Don Bly, 6-2, 4-6, 6-3. Bernie Schoop def. Bill Ulmer, 6-1, 6-2. Dick Lister def. John Smith by default. No. 4 Bob Duesler def. Craig Mandeville, 6-1, 6-1. John Sahration def. Tom Woodruff, 6-0, 6-0. Rollis Smith def. Rauno Suominen by default. King Lambert def. Ray Senter, 6-4, 6-4. Bob Jones def. Dale Van Der Landerwehr by default. Art Jenkins def. Bob Hensler, 4-6, 6-0, 6-2. Peter Mermureanu def. Richard Gross, 6-1, 6-1.