Action Heats Up At USTA Challenger
November 29, 2000 | Men's Tennis
Nov. 29, 2000
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Rogier Wassen of the Netherlands pulled off a significant upset in this the second and final day of first-round singles action at the $50,000 USTA Challenger event hosted by the University of Illinois at the Atkins Tennis Center. Wassen eliminated the No. 83 player in the world, top-seeded American Paul Goldstein, in straight sets, 6-2, 7-5.
In other first-round action, France's Anthony Dupuis defeated former Illini Cary Franklin of the U.S., 6-3, 6-2, and in an all-American match, fourth-seeded Cecil Mamiit of Los Angeles, the No. 108 player in the world, beat Brandon Hawk, 7-5, 6-4. Finally, Italian Laurence Tieleman surivived a close encounter with Russian Dimitri Vlassov, winning 7-6 (6), 7-5.
Four second-round singles matches were also contested Wednesday. All three Americans who were competing advanced. Unseeded Taylor Dent beat third-seeded Christian Vinck (No. 103) of Germany handily, 6-1, 6-2, No. 121 Michael Russell, also unseeded, eliminated the No. 8 seed, Ronald Agenor of Haiti, who was ranked No. 135, and unseeded Eric Taino defeated the tournament's No. 6 seed Sebastian Lareau (No. 115), 6-4, 7-6 (3). In the other second-round match, Neville Godwin of South Africa, the seventh seed, took three sets to dispatch German Michael Kohlmann, 6-7 (1), 6-2, 6-0.
The Challenger will move into its Thursday slate without any players having University of Illinois ties. With Franklin eliminated in singles, UI freshmen Phil Stolt and Brian Wilson, playing in the evening's last match, were the last hope for the Orange and Blue. But they ran into a buzz saw in the persons of second-seeded Americans Jim Thomas and Brandon Coupe (who has been ranked as high as No. 62 in the world in doubles), they prevailed, 6-4, 6-1.
"It was a good experience for Brian and Phil to play such a strong doubles team," said UI Head Coach Craig Tiley. "They were a little overzealous and overanxious at first, and it resulted in a few errors from which they couldn't recover. But I'm very proud of their effort."
In the only other doubles match to be contested, Jeff Coetzee and Gareth Williams of South Africa, the third-seeded team, survived a close two-set duel with Italy's Tieleman and Lorenzo Manta of Switzerland, 7-6 (1), 7-6 (2).
Second-round singles action will wrap up Thursday. Mammit, at No. 4, is the highest seed remaining in the tournament, and will take on Cristiano Caratti of Italy. Additionally, the four quarterfinal doubles matches will take place, all four seeded teams remain.
"We're at the point now in the tournament that the matches are at a very high level," said Tiley. "There promises to be some very entertaining tennis for those who can make it out to Atkins."
The fifth-annual Challenger continues through Sunday afternoon, when the singles and doubles finals will be held. For tickets and other tournament information, interested persons should call 217-244-6471.
