Photo by Rob Varela

Lester Cook reacts after missing a shot during the Men's Open final against Cecil Mamiit. Cook lost in two sets.

Three years removed from his last championship triumph at The Ojai Valley Tennis Tournament, Cecil Mamiit celebrated his personal rejuvenation on Court No. 1 at Libbey Park.

Since winning the Men's Open division title in 2005, Mamiit has weathered knee surgery, extensive time off and, of course, his 31st birthday.

On his return to The Ojai, Mamiit reigned in top form Sunday.

The fourth-seeded Mamiit staved off a gutty challenge from No. 2-seeded Lester Cook to post a 6-1, 7-6 (7-5) victory in the championship match of the Men's Open. It marked the third tournament crown for Mamiit at The Ojai, including the Boys' 14 title as a youngster.

This one might have been the most special.

"This is my rejuvenation," he said. "I brought a new knee and a new attitude. Now I can't wait to see what happens."

Mamiit, who lives in Los Angeles and once played for USC, said the victory could be a springboard for future success as a professional on the ATP Tour.

"I really feel like we played top tennis today, but, really, anyone of the ranked players from 300 to 1 can make great shots," he said. "What you need is the opportunity, and this kind of shows me the possibilities as I look to the next phase of my career."

Mamiit relied on the centerpiece of his game to take down Lester, and that is the increased mobility he finds with a left knee now healed from cartilage surgery.

"I'm able to attack more, be more aggressive," he said. "The last time I was here, I had to grind through the tournament. This week, I was able to stay on the attack, and that makes a big difference."

He rolled to the win in the opening set, then found the degree-of-difficulty heightened as Cook, originally from Calabasas and now a resident of Marina Del Rey, elevated his game.

Mamiit, protecting his lone service break in the second set, led 5-4 with a chance to serve out the victory. Instead, Cook won a key point with a lob and closed out the break by pressuring the net.

After both players held serve to tie the set at 6-6, the decision hinged on the tiebreaker.

Mamiit trailed, 5-4, before finding a higher gear.

He followed his serve with a winning volley to pull even at 5-5. After struggling with his first serve throughout the second set, he unleashed an ace to go up 6-5.

Mamitt then cinched the win with a service return winner.

"I always felt good about my chances," he said. "I didn't feel like anything went wrong in the second set, it was just some high-level tennis. When I held my own serve to force the tiebreak, I really felt good about my chances."

In a Women's Open final that was as much survival course as it was tennis match, 17-year-old Pamela Montez went three hours in the sweltering heat to rally for a 4-6, 6-4, 6-3 victory over top-seeded Maureen Diaz.

"The toughest part was the mental challenge," said Montez. "If you won a point, you knew you'd have to win a lot more points to win the match."

Montez, from La Quinta, earned the title and the $1,500 first-place check by defeating the No. 1, No. 2 and No. 3 seeds. It marked her second consecutive championship at The Ojai after winning the girls' 18 division a year ago.

The illustrious list of past champions in the Women's Open at the Ojai include Billie Jean King (twice) and Tracy Austin.