CHESHIRE

Trumbull's Scott Denenberg added a little extra to his game on Monday afternoon against Ben Alexander of Ridgefield in winning the CIAC State Open singles tennis title.

Along with his solid repertoire of slashing forehands, firm backhands and booming serves, Denenberg threw in a behind-the-legs shot while racing back to the baseline and a racquet launch after returning another shot.

It all added up to a straight set, 6-0, 6-3, victory over an opponent that he knows very well.

"There were no secrets here today,"said Denenberg, ranked 11th in New England's 18-and-under division. "Ben and I have been friends for a time. We both play together at the Trumbull Indoor Racquet Club."

Friends or not, Denenberg, in winning his first open title and doing it as a junior, had few deficiencies in his game. Other than a few double faults on serves in the first set, he was almost flawless.

"He doesn't give you much," said Alexander, a senior, who's headed for Tufts University in Massachusetts in the fall. "When his serve was working, he was difficult to deal with. Once he got the momentum, it really became a struggle for me."

Alexander had a hectic day, even before he got to the Cheshire Academy courts. He finished classes, then took an English final.

"Then I roared off to here and before I knew it, I was down a set, 6-0," he said.

Denenberg's tennis season is only beginning. He has a full summer schedule of New England and national qualifying tournaments.

"It will be nice going into that season knowing that I've got this win behind me," he said.

The Fairfield Prep doubles team of freshman Tom Curran and junior August Vorvis lost to Cheshire's brother combination of Brian and Scott Matthews in straight sets, 6-4, 6-2.

The State Open doubles title capped off an outstanding season for the Rams.

"We tried to keep the ball in play against them," said Curran, who also has an outstanding singles game. "But, they made more shots than we were able to. That was the difference."

Vorvis, a junior, was teamed with his younger partner earlier in the season.

"We've been able to complement each other,"he said. "We're still working on it. Today, we ran into a tough pair. We played well, but not as well as they did."