Nov. 17, 2006

URBANA, Ill. - For the first time in Challenger history in Champaign-Urbana, a former Illini will be a part of the singles final.  Who it will be remains to be seen.  Amer Delic and Rajeev Ram both won quarterfinal matches on Thursday at the Atkins Tennis Center to advance to what will be an entertaining and explosive semifinal at noon.

 

Delic's match was a tight one, as he advanced with a 5-7, 6-0, 6-4 win over Brazilian Andre Sa.  The second set was an anomaly, as both the first and second featured both players strengths; Delic's serve, and Sa's returns.  In the deciding set, the two players traded breaks early to get to 4-4.  Delic got a break point when Sa double faulted on a deuce point in that game, and on the ensuing point, he found himself in a familiar situation.

 

"A few times he had come in and tried to kick it out to my backhand," Delic said, "so I just switched it over to a backhand grip, and said if he comes to it, I'm taking a rip.  It felt good that I read his mind, and was able to get that point, and then the match."  Sa earned a break point in the closing game, but Delic pulled out a service winner, an ace, and a ripped serve and volley that Sa could not handle to finish out the match.

 

Ram, on the other hand, had an easier match, dispatching Nikita Kryvonos, 6-4, 6-1.  While his service game was virtually untouched throughout, Ram felt his ability to attack Kryvonos' second serve was the key. 

 

"I returned great today," he said.  "It was just one of those days where I saw it well, and hit it cleanly.  Days like this are fun."  Ram picked off a couple breaks in the second set, and cruised despite a late Kryvonos injury timeout. 

 

The two members of the 2003 NCAA Championship team at the University of Illinois have faced off five times now, with Delic winning three, including a tight three setter in the first round of qualifying at the U.S. Open in August.  Either way, the victor will become the first current or former Illini to reach the Challenger final. 

 

University of Illinois Junior Kevin Anderson had his spectacular Challenger run come to a halt, as he fell in three sets to former UCLA Bruin, Zack Fleishman.  Despite a performance that Anderson himself said wasn't his best, the lanky South African had his chances.  But if he couldn't find a first serve, there was trouble.

 

"He played pretty well," Anderson said.  "I've never had somebody attack my second serve like that before.  I was constantly on the defensive."  Anderson picked up 14 ATP Tour points this week, and will jump in to the top 500 in the world when the rankings come out on Monday.

 

Michael Russell will meet Fleishman in tomorrow's second semifinal.  Former Illini Brian Wilson teamed with partner Andre Sa to reach the doubles semis. 

 

A full draw and schedule are available at www.illinoischallenger.com.  Tickets are available at the door, or by calling (217) 244-3318.  General admission seating is available for $5.  Student admission is $3. 

 

DAY SIX RESULTS

MAIN DRAW SINGLES

Quarterfinals

Michael Russell (USA) def. George Bastl (SUI) 6-4, 6-2

Rajeev Ram (USA) def. Nikita Kryvonos (USA) 6-4, 6-1

Amer Delic (USA) def. Andre Sa (BRA) 5-7, 6-0, 6-4

Zack Fleishman (USA) def Kevin Anderson (USA) 6-3, 3-6, 6-3

 

MAIN DRAW DOUBLES

Quarterfinals 

Goran Dragicevic/Mirko Pehar (USA) def. #1 Scott Lipsky/David Martin (USA) 6-4, 6-2

#4 Chris Drake/Sam Warburg (USA) def. Alex Kuznetsov/Scott Oudsema (USA) 6-2, 6-3

#2 Andre Sa (BRA)/Brian Wilson (USA) def. Ilia Bozoljac/Dusan Vemic (SRB) 6-3, 6-3

 

QUOTES

Rajeev Ram

"I returned great today.  It was just one of those days where I saw it well, and hit it cleanly.  Days like this are fun."

 

On reaching his first Champaign semi

"I was happy to come here and cap it off with a good result to what's been a mediocre year.  But I'd like to take it another couple of steps and finish it off."

 

Amer Delic on his subpar service game

"I'm definitely going to hit some buckets before I play Raj tomorrow.  Andre's got some awesome returns, and he makes you think about what you're doing before you toss that ball for your first serve.  I was focusing on it too much, actually, in the first set, instead of focusing on what I can control.

 

On dropping the first set

"It was good to come back after that first set.  I had a little hiccup there in the third set, but I'm happy I got the win.  It's matches like that when you don't play your best and you still come out on top that you remember."

 

On the break point that gave him a 5-4 lead

"A few times he had come in and tried to kick it out to my backhand, so I just switched over to a backhand grip, and said if he comes to it, I'm taking a rip.  It felt good that I read his mind, and was able to get that point, and then the match."

 

On playing Ram...again

"It'd be nice if he was in the other half of the draw.  Raj is playing well again, so I'm going to have to serve a lot better, and control what I can control, which is my serve and my rhythm."

 

Kevin Anderson

"He played pretty well.  I've never had somebody attack my second serve like that before.  I was constantly on the defensive."

 

"I played pretty well at times, but I didn't feel as quick or as sharp as I had in my other matches.  But I've realized over the last two weeks that I can compete with these guys.  I think this is really good for my career, and where I'm at."

 

On the crowd

That was great.  The guys were awesome.  I can't even describe it.  It just makes me so excited for our season to start, because that's really the next real competition for us."

 

Andre Sa

"I came back pretty well.  I thought I played well to break back to get to four all.  At deuce I double faulted; I had a couple of double faults in that game.  It's the small details like that that make the difference in this game."

 

"I had a rough three weeks up here.  I lost in the first round the last two weeks, and had two tough three set losses.  But I feel pretty good about my game.  I'm feeling OK.  I'm going to work hard in the off season to get a good start in the spring."

 

Highlighted Matches for Friday

12PM-  #5 Amer Delic vs. Rajeev Ram

2PM- Brian Wilson/Andre Sa vs. Chris Drake/Sam Warburg

3:30PM- Zack Fleishman vs. Michael Russell

6PM- Rajeev Ram/Rik De Voest vs. Goran Dragicevic/Mirko Pehar