This, tennis fans, is what dominance looks like: 86-1.

That’s the record Gabrielle Gatewood has amassed in three years of high school tennis in the central San Joaquin Valley.

Gatewood lost in the Central Section championship match to Denise Ellison of Stockdale as a freshman in 2006. She hasn’t been beaten since, and in November won her second straight section singles championship in convincing fashion against Bakersfield Christian’s Lyndsay Cooke.

That victory, 6-0, 6-3, came just two hours after Gatewood beat Cooke’s younger sister Chelby 6-1, 6-2, in the semifinals — earning Gatewood The Bee’s Player of the Year award for the second straight year.

Gatewood’s combination of power and precision, highlighted by a lethal backhand, is complemented by a relentless mind-set that doesn’t allow opponents to gain a foothold. That might be the biggest difference in Gatewood’s game since she melted down after a strong first set in losing that 2006 final 1-6, 7-6 (1), 6-0.

As a sophomore she reversed the feat, losing the first set to Lyndsay Cooke before prevailing 0-6, 7-6, 6-1.

Gatewood left no doubt this fall, finishing a 32-0 season and then marvelling at how well she had played: “I played amazing. It’s the best I’ve played in months. It was unbelievable.”

She also led Redwood to the section Division II title, 7-2 over Garces.

Redwood coach Rosemarie Lewis has seen Gatewood win dozens of matches, but still marveled at her dismantling of the Cooke sisters on Nov. 15.

“She punished them with hard shots and just took control,” Lewis said. “Her mental game is so tough, her confidence is so high, she doesn’t let anything get in way. She’s so focused.

“She’s always had the skill. Now she’s putting together the whole package.”

The reporter can be reached at krobison@fresnobee.com or (559) 441-6279.