Oct. 9, 2008

TULSA, Okla. - Illinois sophomore Roy Kalmanovich fell in the first round of the 2008 D'Novo All-Amerian Championships singles main draw, then rebounded in the afternoon in the main draw consolation singles draw with a 6-2, 6-2 victory over Bassam Beidas of Pepperdine at the Michael D. Case Tennis Center.

"Roy did a good job this afternoon against a tough competitor in Beidas," Illinois associate head coach George Husack said. "He kept playing and overcame tough physical and mental tests to prevail."

Kalmanovich fell to Lousiana State's Michael Venus, 6-2, 6-2, in the first round of the singles main draw. He then bounced back in the main draw consolation singles draw where the Framingham, Mass., native faced the 2007 All-American Championships consolation singles winner Beidas. Kalmanovich took the first set 6-2. Beidas broke Kalmanovich in the second set, 5-2. The Illini then broke the defending consolation champion in the second set, 6-2 to take the match.

Kalmanovich will face a familiar opponent, Auburn's Alexey Tsyrenov, in the second round of the consolation draw tomorrow, Oct. 10 at 9 a.m. The two faced each other earlier in the All-American championships in the final round of qualifying doubles.

Stay tuned to fightingillini.com for continued updates on the Illini at the 2008 D'Novo Men's All-American Championship and for more information, complete draws and results, visit the official tournament website at itatennis.com.