Teaching Pro Tennis Tournament : Chwalek Scrapes His Way to Final : Unseeded Costa Mesa Player to Meet Top-Seeded Fedderly

Mike Chwalek of Costa Mesa has spent the last three days spinning, sprinting and sprawling his way into the final of the Reebok Teaching Pro tennis tournament at the Lindborg Racquet Club in Huntington Beach.

Wednesday, it was his 6-3, 6-0 second-round victory over Stefan Rakete of West Germany.

Thursday, it was a 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 quarterfinal victory over Eric Quade of Irvine, the tournament’s third-seeded player.

And Friday, Chwalek overcame semifinal opponent Mike Lemon of Beverly Hills, 6-4, 6-3.

None of the victories was easy for him. In fact, if you had to choose the hardest-working player in the tournament, judged solely by the scars and scrapes on his knees, it would be Chwalek.

At the beginning of the tournament, Chwalek, 30, was probably the least heeded of the unseeded. He has been known to win a few small, local tournaments, but other than that, his reputation in larger tournaments had been something of a crash-and-burn.

That may improve today when he plays in the final, which begins at 11 a.m. The winner will advance to Newport, R.I., for the Reebok Teaching Pro Nationals from Sept. 16 to 19.

It would be the biggest accomplishment of Chwalek’s tennis career, but it will take an upset of No. 1-seeded Mike Fedderly, 27, of Newport Beach.

Unlike Chwalek, Fedderly flew through his semifinal match, beating Charlie Fischer of Huntington Beach, 6-1, 6-0.

The only time this week that Chwalek has won as easily was in his first-round victory Tuesday over Paul Morrow of Malibu. Morrow didn’t show up.

But there are far greater differences between Chwalek and Fedderly.

Fedderly, 6-feet 2-inches and 170 pounds, has the lean look of which tennis players dream. His frame guides and glides his smooth baseline game.

By contrast, Chwalek, 5-10 and 185, has shoulders of a shotputter or weightlifter, maybe, but not the typical tennis player. Chwalek said he has leg-pressed more than 600 pounds.

On court, Chwalek’s bulk turns to power. And despite his size, he seems to snap back and forth across the court in an instant.

Against Lemon, who relied on strong passing shots and an even stronger but sometimes inconsistent serve, Chwalek slid backward, sideways and every which way in pursuit of shots that looked like winners.

During the first set point, Chwalek and Lemon were positioned only a few feet from the net as they exchanged several tight volleys until Lemon decided to lob to Chwalek’s left corner. Chwalek, his back to the net and falling, grabbed it and sent it back over Lemon’s shoulder for the point.

Fedderly, however, seldom uses such dramatics. His is a finesse game, enhanced with a flicking forehand creating dangerous topspin.

The players met in tournaments twice before, both last year, at the Huntington Beach Open and the Laguna Beach Teaching Pro Open. Fedderly defeated Chwalek, each time winning in straight sets, though Chwalek said he had been hampered by a groin injury.

“He’s been playing a lot better this week than I’ve seen him before,” Fedderly said. “He’s very quick and aggressive. But I’ll stay with my game and we’ll see.”

Said Chwalek: “Mike’s a baseliner and has a decent volley. He’s very steady and has good passing shots. I’m much more aggressive. But I’ll play my game. It’s the only way I win.”

Tennis Notes

In a 35-and-over division semifinal Friday, Wick Phillips, 40, of Claremont defeated Whitney Reed, 55, of West Los Angeles, 6-3, 6-4. Phillips will play Gene Malin of West Hills in today’s final at 9:30 a.m. Malin defeated Alvin Gardner of Playa del Rey, 6-2, 6-1. Today’s finals are open to the public, with tickets available for $5 and $10 at the door. Admission includes the tennis finals, U.S. Amateur Boxing Federation-sanctioned boxing matches and a sports equipment raffle. The Lindborg Racquet Club is located at 18162 Gothard St., Huntington Beach.