June 18, 2002
John Paul Fruttero, the ace of Cal's nationally ranked men's tennis team, continues to shine after the college season has ended.
Fruttero, who last month became the first Cal player in seven years to advance to the NCAA singles quarterfinals, has now claimed his first professional tournament title. He swept through a star-studded lineup at the USTA Futures Tournament at Sunnyvale Tennis Center last weekend in becoming the first Golden Bear player ever to win a pro tournament while still in school.
Ranked No. 10 by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association last season, Fruttero upset tournament No. 1 seed Peter Clarke (ranked No. 291 in the world) in a second-round match. He then proceeded to defeat John Doran of Ireland in the quarterfinals, Zack Fleischman in the semifinals, and Michihisa Onoda of Japan in the final. He outdistanced Onoda, 6-4, 6-7, 6-4 to claim the championship.
"This was a significant achievement for J.P.," said his Cal coach Peter Wright. "It places him in an elite group of college players who have won a professional event. He's playing some outstanding tennis right now."
East Bay tennis fans will get another opportunity to see Fruttero in action this week, as Cal hosts another USTA Futures Tournament on campus on the Hellman Tennis Courts. The tournament kicks off Tuesday, with Fruttero slated to play his opening match Wednesday afternoon.
