Nov. 20, 2002

A couple of inches here or there, and all four juniors on the Illini Men's tennis team would have been in the second round of doubles at the Wright Financial Group USTA Challenger at the Atkins Tennis Center. Phil Stolt and partner Eric Nunez dropped a tough three set match to the Polish team of Mariusz Fyrstenberg and Lukasz Kubot.

The third-set tiebreaker hinged on a couple of let-cords that favored the Polish squad. Stolt recognizes it wasn't that far away. "Let-cords are a total bummer, because there's nothing you can do about it other than watch it go over your head. It's frustrating."

His classmates all had the day off on Wednesday, but return to the Atkins courts on Thursday. All-American doubles combo Michael Calkins and Amer Delic highlight action at 5:30, while Brian Wilson teams with U of I alum Graydon Oliver in their match with Eric Taino and Martin Verkerk.

Only three seeded players remain in the singles draw, with #3 Jeff Morrison, #5 Robby Ginepri, and #7 Cecil Mamiit all winning close three set matches on Wednesday. Ginepri says it's not uncommon for the seeds to fall early come November.

"Lots of guys get fatigued at the end of the season, their heads are mentally drained," he says. "This time of the year is when a lot of the upsets happen."

Competition continues Thursday in the main draw in both singles and doubles. Tickets are $7 per day. Student tickets are $5.

Other Notes:

• The singles final will have at least one unseeded player on Saturday. No seed remains in the bottom half of the draw.
• Dimitry Tursanov retired from his match with Kevin Kim on Wednesday with an injury to his right wrist.
• 50 more students from the Urbana School District's After School Program attended the matches on Wednesday. 50 showed up on Tuesday, and 50 more are scheduled for Thursday.

DAY THREE RESULTS:

SINGLES:

2nd Round:
Sergio Roitman (ARG) def Peter Luczak (AUS) 7-6 (2), 6-3
#3 Jeff Morrison (USA) def Emin Agaev (AZE) 6-7 (5), 7-6 (5), 6-1
Danai Udomchoke (THA) def Gabriel Trifu (ROM) 6-2, 6-4
Eric Taino (USA) Louis Vosloo (RSA) 7-6 (3), 7-5
#7 Cecil Mamiit (USA) def. Lukasz Kubot (POL) 4-6, 6-1, 6-4
#5 Robby Ginepri (USA) K.J. Hippensteel (USA) 6-7 (4), 6-2, 6-3
Kevin Kim (USA) def. Dmitry Tursunov (RUS) 7-6 (6), 5-4 ret.
Zack Fleishman (USA) def. Michael Joyce (USA) 3-6, 7-5, 6-2

DOUBLES
1st Round:
Doug Bohaboy/Brian Vahaly (USA) def. Alex Muresan/Jamal Parker 4-6, 6-2, 6-3
Mariusz Fyrstenberg/Lukasz Kubot (POL) def. Eric Nunez/Phil Stolt (USA) 7-6 (3), 3-6, 7-6 (6)
Eric Taino (USA)/Martin Verkerk (NED) def. Ignacio Hirogoyen/Sergio Roitman (ARG) 7-6 (2), 6-0

QUOTES:

Robby Ginepri on his tough match with K.J. Hippensteel: "K.J. played pretty sell starting out, we went to three sets the last time we played as well. But I was missing some routine balls that hurt me. Overall, though, I'm pretty happy with the match."

Jeff Morrison on playing early in the day: "It's alright. I've played so many places and different schedules, so it doesn't make much of a difference. You always like having people there, though."

Phil Stolt on his experience: "I still see this as a positive. I really see myself going in the right direction."

Highlighted Matches for Wednesday:
12:00- #3 Jeff Morrison vs. #7 Cecil Mamiit. Both played at Wimbledon this past year, Morrison making it to round three. Morrison is the top remaining seed.
2:30- UI Junior Brian Wilson and alum Graydon Oliver take on Eric Taino and Martin Verkerk.
5:30- UI Juniors Michael Calkins and Amer Delic in second round doubles action. No Illini team has ever made it to round three.