Field Narrows At USTA Challenger
December 1, 2000 | Men's Tennis
Dec. 1, 2000
Complete brackets following Friday's action
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Complete Saturday ScheduleDownload Free Acrobat Reader
Half of the stage for Sunday's USTA Challenger championship matches at the Atkins Tennis Center has been set. The American duo of Taylor Dent and Mardy Fish will tangle with Noam Behr of Israel and Michael Russell of the United States for the doubles title at the fifth annual professional event, hosted by the University of Illinois.
Fish and Dent earned their spot in the championship match this evening with a 7-6 (5), 6-3 victory over Jim Thomas and Brandon Coupe of the U.S. Thomas and Coupe is the team that eliminated the Fighting Illini pair of Phil Stolt and Brian Wilson in the opening round earlier this week. Russell and Behr claimed their berth in the final with a hard-fought 6-7 (5), 6-1, 7-5 triumph over the German team of Karsten Braasch and Michael Kohlmann in the nitecap.
In singles play, the four quarterfinal matches were contested today. On one side of the bracket, four Americans vied for two semifinal spots, and on the other side, a South African and a Frenchman each defeated players from Italy.
Anthony Dupuis of France came from behind to beat Italian Cristiano Caratti, 4-6, 6-4, 6-4, and Neville Godwin of South Africa eliminated Laurence Tieleman of Italy, 6-1, 4-6, 6-3. Dupuis and Godwin open the Saturday card at 2 p.m. On the other side of the draw, Jay Salzenstein swept fellow American Michael Russell in straight sets, 6-1, 6-4, and Dent defeated Eric Taino of the U.S. Salzenstein will face Dent in Saturday's second match.
"We saw some great tennis matches today," said University of Illinois Head Men's Tennis Coach and Tournament Director Craig Tiley. "There were several three-set matches, and that made for some exciting tennis. Taylor Dent put on a particularly strong display that was fun to watch. People who come out to Atkins this weekend will definitely see some of the world's best players and future stars."
Dent could very well be one of those future stars. He was unseeded in both the singles and doubles draws and could be playing a doubleheader on the final day of the tournament if he beats Salzenstein tomorrow.
The 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.
