TENNIS: TOURNEY WENT FROM BAD TO WORSE FOR AREA PLAYERS.

Byline: Jim Inghram Daily News Staff Writer

The second round of the U.S. Tennis Association Men's 45 Hardcourt championships at Westlake Tennis and Swim Club on Tuesday was one to forget for area players. Only two of six survived.

Wednesday's Round of 32 was worse.

Fifth-seeded Andrew Stanley and ninth-seeded Tom Wire, both of Westlake Village and the two locals remaining from Tuesday's play, fell to unseeded players.

It took three hours and 20 minutes in 90-plus degree temperatures for Stanley to drop his match against Ron Rocero of Stockton, 1-6, 6-4, 7-6 (9-7). Rocero used his quickness and took advantage of the court's slower-than-usual surface to dispose of the big-hitting Stanley.

The courts at the club were recently resurfaced and balls bit harder on the gritty new concrete. It didn't favor either Stanley or Wire.

Rocero's speed, however, seemed especially suited for the slower surface.

``I usually lose the first set to see what my opponent is doing,'' Rocero said. ``Then I change my game to go against their weakness. Against (Stanley), I made sure I served to his backhand and then I would come to the net use some dinks and drop shots.''

The 6-foot-4 and 220-pound Stanley had trouble using his power game against Rocero, who was able to run most everything down.

In the final point of the second set, Stanley had Rocero at the net, the baseline, the right side, the left side and back to the baseline before the left-handed Rocero drove a forehand winner past Stanley.

It gave Rocero a 6-4 set victory and tied the match at one set each.

The players failed to break service in the third set and were forced to go to a tie breaker, where Rocero finally prevailed. He captured the tie breaker 9-7.

``I wear people out,'' Rocero said. ``I try to stay in shape. That way, in the third set, I can put players away.''

Said Stanley: ``I played terrible, and you can't win when you play that way.''

Wire, who advanced to the semifinals last year, was having little trouble in his match with Canoga Park's Steve Lott racing to a 5-2 lead in the first set. Wire, however, turned an ankle and, in doing so, turned the match in Lott's favor.

Lott won the next five points to capture the first set 7-5. He then won the second set 6-3.

``It wasn't good,'' Wire said about the ankle sprain. ``I never got back to hitting ground strokes and I couldn't set properly. I was favoring the foot.''

Wire was given an ankle brace to stabilize the joint, but the wrapping that secured the brace was digging into the skin on the upper part of Wire's foot causing further discomfort.

``It made a difference for me,'' Wire said. ``But he played his regular game, which was to move me around. My game is to get to the net and put the ball away. I couldn't do it and he was able to take advantage.''

Said Lott: ``The courts are slow and that favors my game. He likes to rush the net so I tried to be steady and consistent with my play and keep the ball long. I noticed he slowed down after he hurt his ankle, but I still have to play my game and not worry about what my opponent is doing.''

If Stanley and Wire had been able to capture their matches, it would have set up an intriguing matchup in today's round of 16 in which the home court players would have faced each other.

Now it will be Lott against Rocero today at 11 a.m. The quarterfinals are set for Friday at 11 a.m. The semifinals are Saturday and the finals are Sunday both are set to begin at 11 a.m.