DeHeart Hoists Fourth Career Tour Title
August 8, 2007 | Men's Tennis
Aug. 8, 2007
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - After taking time off from the USTA tour due to injury, Ryler DeHeart is riding high again after claiming his fourth career title at the USTA/Ursula Beck Pro Tennis Classic in Decatur last weekend. The USA F20 Futures event has been very kind to the former Illini, who has now made back-to-back finals appearances at Ursula Beck, this time around, leaving with the crown.
The title at Decatur marks DeHeart's first singles trophy since last summer when he took home both the singles and doubles titles at the 2006 Lewis and Clark Community College Futures Tennis Tournament in Godfrey, Ill., on July 30. Almost a year to the date,
DeHeart, who has been slowed by injury over the past season, is picking up right where he left off to claim the title that eluded him last year when he advanced to the finals in Decatur.
DeHeart's run began as the top seed in the main draw, first moving past qualifier Jason Mallaiah of the United States in the opening round, who retired in the second set after dropping the opening frame, 6-2. DeHeart followed the victory with a three-set win over another qualifier in Danny Bryan (USA), 7-5, 2-6, 6-1, before moving into the semifinals with a straight-sets 6-4, 6-4 triumph over sixth-seeded Jose Statham of New Zealand.
Once in the semis, DeHeart ushered aside Peter Shultz (6-1, 6-4), who took out fourth-seeded Chris Wettengel of the USA in the second round and then current Illini Ryan Rowe in the quarterfinals (4-6, 6-4, 6-1) in a three-set thriller. In the finals, DeHeart did not let the title that slipped away from him a year ago get away this time, easily capturing his fourth tour title - second singles crown - with a 6-4, 6-3 upending of Matt Bruch of the USA.
On the year, DeHeart has made five finals, capturing a doubles title with American partner Christopher Lam at USA F9, while his other finals appearances came with current Illini Kevin Anderson in doubles at the USA F13 and Rowe at the USA F14. His singles finals came at the USA F7 event followed by his title in Decatur. So far, DeHeart has reached the semifinals in seven of his last 14 singles main draw appearances this year.
DeHeart is currently in action at the Milwaukee Challenger, Aug. 6-12, where he is set to defend his status as the No. 1 seed in the 32-man field. He will face qualifier Yuichi Ito of Japan in the opening round, who is ranked No. 1061 in the world.
With the title in Decatur, DeHeart has shot up the rankings to a career-high 367th in the world and will look to improve on that mark at the Wisconsin event this week.
Also in action this week is Rowe, joining DeHeart at the 2007 Futures of Milwaukee and will face eighth-seeded Miles Armstrong of Australia in his opening round match. Freshman Billy Heiser is taking part in the summer action as well, joining with fellow American Tim Smyczek in the doubles draw in Milwaukee, with the duo advancing into the quarterfinals with a first-round win over Porus Jetli of the USA and Sunil-Kumar of India, 6-7(3), 6-2, 6-2.
Former Illini Brian Wilson is opening play at the Levene, Gouldin and Thompson Challenger in Binghamton, N.Y., and is joined by 2003 Illini Rajeev Ram in the 32-player field. Wilson opened match play against wildcard Nikita Kryvonos of the USA, winning in straights, 6-4, 7-6(4), and awaits the winner of the top-seeded Thomas Johansson of Sweden/Scoville Jenkins of the USA match in the second round. Wilson is coming off a finals appearance at the Lexington, Ky., Challenger, where he lost to up-and-coming American star, and former University of Georgia All-American, John Isner.
Ram, seeded eighth in Milwaukee, moved past Colir Ebelthite in the opening round after a quick retirement by the Australian with Ram leading 4-1 in the first. He will now face Sam Warburg of the United States in the second round. Ram also was entered into the doubles draw as well with fellow American Bobby Reynolds as the top-seeded duo, but Reynolds had to pullout due to a shoulder injury before their fist-round match.
Still carrying the Illini Orange and Blue colors in the doubles draw is Wilson and partner Brendan Evans (USA), as the two are seeded fourth and are into the second round after a 6-3, 6-1 defeat of the United States wildcard pair of Adam Davidson and Vahid Mirzadeh.
For continued coverage of DeHeart and the rest of the Illini current and former tennis players on the ATP tour, visit fightingillini.com for future recaps, or usta.com for up-to-date results and scores.
