Jan. 17, 2006

MELBOURNE, Australia - Former University of Illinois men's tennis player and 2003 NCAA singles champion Amer Delic was a five-set winner over Italian Potito Starace, 7-5, 6-7 (3), 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 in the first round of the Australian Open. This is his second Grand Slam victory - he also won in the first round of the 2004 US Open. Delic now advances to the second round on Thursday (Wednesday night CST). Delic will face Australian Nathan Healey, a player he beat 4-6, 7-5, 7-6(12) in Feb., 2005, in the round of 32 of the Dallas Challenger.