Results - Monday August 10, 2009

First Round Under Way, Wild Card Strode Advances

The first round matches are under way at the Levine, Gouldin, and Thompson Tennis Challenger at Recreation Park in Binghamton. Wild Card entry Blake Strode advanced to the second round after his opponent Marinko Matosevic (AUS) retired, with what appeared to be a lower back injury, with Stode leading 6-2, 3-2. Strode recently turned pro after a standout college career at the University of Arkansas, where he reached the semi-finals in the 2009 NCAA Collegiate Tournament, and completed his college career with a #13 national NCAA ranking.

Blake has had some early success since turning pro. He was the winner of the Joplin Mo USA Futures Tournament this past July 20, in only his 3rd professional tournament, and a finalist in his second pro tournament, the Pennsylvania Futures on July 6th.

Strode graduated this past May from the University of Arkansas, with a double major in International Economics and Spanish, and a GPA of 3.976. He has been accepted to Harvard Law School, but has put those plans on hold while he tests the waters in the professional tennis ranks.

Strode is this year’s recipient of the ITA/Arthur Ashe Award for Leadership and Sportsmanship. He will receive this award by being honored at center court at the US Open this August 29, during the Arthur Ashe Kids Day festivities.

Tournament Notes:

Paul Capdeville in search of win- Paul Capdeville(CHI), returning champion and #2 seed, looks for his first match win since May, the last time he played a Challenger.

Best of college- Somdev Devvarman (IND, #8 seed) is first on court against Sergei Bubka(UKR):Devvarman was NCAA champ in 2007 & 2008

U of Illinois squares off- #7 seed, former NCAA doubles champ at U of Illinois, Kevin Anderson (RSA), faces qualifier Roy Kalmanovich (USA), currently a sophomore at U of Illinois. This is Kalmanovich’s first career main draw Challenger match.

Paul Annacone on court- Paul, the former coach of Tim Henman and Pete Sampras, is in Binghamton, coaching the British players as part of his relatively new post at the British Lawn Tennis Association

Denis Istomin, the #1 seed, will play the 17 year old American qualifier Ryan Harrison on Tuesday in a match that was rescheduled due to weather.