Nov. 19, 2006
URBANA. Ill. -
With a Challenger title freshly in hand, and a top 100 ranking awaiting him in two days, Amer Delic took off his hardly-sweat drenched match shirt, and slipped on a fresh orange Nike shirt. It was a fitting touch for the celebration and ceremony that awaited on what was an Illini day during the Finals at the USTA Challenger of Champaign-Urbana.
Delic was nearly flawless in defeating Zack Fleishman in straight sets, 6-3, 6-0 at the Atkins Tennis Center. In doing so, he became the first former University of Illinois athlete to win the hometown Challenger. And he did it in dominant fashion, smashing 12 aces, and an unreal ratio of 31 winners to just five errors.
"I felt great out there," Delic said. "I actually felt bad for Zack. But I used the crowd. It wasn't like the college matches though; I kept it all inside. But it was helping my game, and I think it showed."
The win and 60 ATP Tour points that he picks up with it will move the 2003 NCAA Singles champion to 98th in the world when the new rankings come out on Monday, according to the ATP. That guarantees him entry in to the first major of the year, in Australia.
"It's just a number right now, but it's so much more," he said. "For me; for my confidence. It's great knowing that I set this goal of the top 100 for myself after the U.S. Open, to do it in the U.S., to do it in the toughest Challengers, and I was able to do it. And it couldn't have been a more perfect scenario to end it, here in Champaign." Delic also picks up a winner's check of $7,200 to take home to Jacksonville, Florida. Fleishman earns $4,240 and 42 points.
The doubles title also will stay in Illini hands. Rajeev Ram and partner Rik De Voest knocked off another former Illini, Brian Wilson and his partner Andre Sa, 6-3, 4-6, (10-7). It was an entertaining match that at one point in the second set featured three straight let cord points in Wilson's favor, and an exchange between the two men who captured the 2003 NCAA Doubles title together. Ram rolled his eyes after the last one, to which Wilson exclaimed, "I stayed in school longer, I get the benefit of the doubt!" For Ram, it was his fourth straight finals appearance in Champaign, and his second title.
""This year was great, obviously, because I also had some success with singles," he said of his semifinal run. "It's always nice to be playing on the final day, and getting a title. It has that same feeling as the first one." Ram and De Voest split the winner's check of $3,100.
For Wilson, it was a great finish to the year, as he earns $900, and enough points to push him close to the top 200 in doubles. And it gave the flashy player another chance to compete in front of his home court fans.
"I'm always intense," he said, "but it definitely means more this week. You really can't help but be more motivated, and play a little bit harder. You look up and you see your All-American poster, and more importantly the NCAA team poster, and it gives you good memories."
This was the eleventh year for the USTA Challenger of Champaign-Urbana, and Tournament Director Jim Tressler said it was another successful one.
"We had an alum win the singles title for the first time, and another alum won the doubles title, so it couldn't have ended any better," he said. "We had the best crowds we've ever had, so I think the community enjoyed it as well." A tenni-thon during the tournament with 21 local kids raised $3,011 for the Mills Breast Cancer Institute.
A complete final draw can be found at www.illinoischallenger.com.
MEDIA NOTE: Delic will jump 17 spots in the rankings to 98 on Monday. With 40 points to defend in the spring season, there is a strong possibility that he could jump further in the weeks immediately following the Australian Open.
DAY EIGHT RESULTS:
MAIN DRAW SINGLES
Final:
#5 Amer Delic (USA) def. Zack Fleishman (USA) 6-3, 6-0
MAIN DRAW DOUBLES
Final:
#3 Rik De Voest (RSA)/Rajeev Ram (USA) def. #2 Andre Sa (BRA)/Brian Wilson (USA) 6-3, 4-6. (10-7)
QUOTES
Rajeev Ram on the let cords: "They got two, we got one. But that's the way it goes in doubles now with the new scoring system. A little bit of luck can really make a difference."
On another title: "This year was great, obviously, because I also had some success with singles. It's always nice to be playing on the final day, and getting a title, so yeah, it has that same feeling as the first one."
On what's next: "Well, I'm going to have Thanksgiving this week. Then I'm going to go to Maui for a Challenger. I'm feeling good about how I'm playing right now, so I'm going to see what I can do. And then hopefully, I'll start out on a good note next year."
Brian Wilson on the match: "They played pretty good in the first set, hitting a lot of lines, and playing very crisp. I wasn't too nervous though. We had good rhythm in the second, and got our energy up."
On playing at home: "I'm always intense, but it definitely means more this week. You really can't help but be more motivated, and play a little bit harder. You look up and you see your All-American poster, and more importantly the NCAA team poster, and it gives you good memories."
Amer Delic: "It's a good feeling when you're walking out there and everybody supports you. They're a part of this as much as I am."
On his play: "I felt great out there. I actually felt bad for Zack. But I used the crowd. It wasn't like the college matches though; I kept it all inside. But it was helping my game, and I think it showed."
On a top 100 ranking: "It feels good. It's just a number right now, but it's so much more. For me, for my confidence. It's great knowing that I set this goal of the top 100 for myself after the U.S. Open, to do it in the U.S., to do it in the toughest Challengers, and I was able to do it. I stayed focused on my goal, and it couldn't have been a more perfect scenario to end it, here in Champaign."
On how the level of competition will increase: "I know the players I'm going to be facing because a lot of them are the guys who are playing in these Challengers. But it's even more motivating now. Now my goal is top 75, top 50, and on like that. But first and foremost, I have to stay healthy, that's been the key. I've been able to go out there and perform, on the track, in the gym, and on the court. Hopefully, I can just keep giving myself a chance to perform, both in practice and the match."
Zack Fleishman: "He gave me one look, at three-two, 15-30. I missed a short forehand, that was my only shot the whole match. He really stepped it up in the final. I don't think he could have played any better. His timing was on. Everything was just clicking."
Jim Tressler: "I thought it was our most successful tournament so far in our eleven years. We had an alum win the singles title for the first time, and another alum won the doubles title, so it couldn't have ended any better. We had the best crowds we've ever had, so I think the community enjoyed it as well."
