Nov. 15, 2003
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. -The Purdue men's tennis team finished the first day of play at the Big Ten Singles Championship in Ann Arbor with no player advancing on in the main draw.
Purdue's head coach Tim Madden was frustrated by a slow start in the morning but was encouraged by the improvement that came late in the afternoon.
"The morning matches did not go so well", Madden said, "but we showed a lot of improvement as the day progressed."
This fact is shown in the play of juniors Sounak Chatterjee and Filip Koziell and 5th seed sophomore Paul Rose who all lost their first matches before coming back to win their second.
Chatterjee lost 6-3, 6-3 to Joey Atas of Ohio State then defeated Sion Wilkins of Minnesota 6-0, 6-3. Koziell lost to David Hippee of Wisconsin 7-5, 6-2 before beating David Anving of Michigan 6-4, 6-3 and Rose was defeated by Brian Hung of Michigan 6-3, 6-4 before capping a 6-3, 6-2 win over Alex Conti of Wisconsin.
The teams eldest member senior Troy Havens beat Brad Hunter of Penn State 6-3, 6-3 before being knocked off by 7th seeded Chris Wettengel of Minnesota 6-3, 6-4.
Rounding out the main draw action freshman Eric Hodgman, sophomore Colin Foster, and Junior David Robinson all received similar fates all going one and one for the day. Hodgman lost his first match 6-1, 7-5 to Cameron Marshall of Michigan State then defeated Walter Valarezo of Iowa 6-3, 6-4. Foster defeated Ryan Reid of Iowa in three sets 6-0, 4-6, 6-4, then lost 6-0, 6-3 to the six seed Dennis Mertens of Ohio State. Robinson won his first match 3-6, 7-5, 6-3 over Scott Green of Ohio State before losing to 2nd seed Andy Formanczyk of Michigan State 7-6 6-4 .
In the 7-9 draw freshman Scott Warner won 2-6, 7-5, 7-6 over Justin Hoeveler of Northwestern then lost to Peter Amundson of Wisconsin 7-6, 6-4. Freshman Jarred Leibner beat Lachezar Kasarov of Wisconsin 6-4, 6-2 then lost to Willy Lock of Northwestern 6-1, 6-2.
"No one is advancing on into the round of sixteen in the main draw tomorrow but all will be playing the in the back draw," Madden said.
For complete draws and results from the Big Ten Singles Championships, check out www.mgoblue.com.
- P -