Posts tagged tennis
Andy Murray Considers Legend Ivan Lendal As Tennis Coach
Mar 29th
By Stephanie Kuzydym
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Mar 28, 2011 – Andy Murray is in a free fall, a mental meltdown. He is also in search of a coach and he’s looking toward Czech’s Ivan Lendl.
Although Murray made it to the finals of the Australian Open just two months ago, the Scot hasn’t won a set since the semifinals Down Under.
‘I’ve been practising better and training hard but on the match court I can’t get anything going,’ he said. ‘I am p***** off. I don’t want to be playing like this. There was no intensity and my movement was so poor. I don’t know exactly what it is.’
Murray had a similar slump after a loss in the 2010 Aussie Open. However, the 2011 season is looking worse. At Indian Wells, he lost to the world No. 143. On Sunday, he was knocked from the Miami Masters by the world No. 118. The matches marked back-to-back losses of players outside the top 100.
Of any tennis legend, Lendl knows how to overcome a Grand Slam defeat. Four times Lendl made lost at the finals of a Grand Slam. Then, he won eight Slam titles.
Murray has lost in three Slams. The world No. 5 has now dropped nine straight sets (four straight matches).
Tennis writers in the UK don’t think Lendl is the answer. One fan suggested therapy. Apparently, Murray tried that a few years ago and, according to the Guardian, “concluded that counting to 10 when you needed to break serve to stay in a match was not for him.”
Murray’s brother, Jamie thinks a bit of coaching could do Murray some good.
“I think he could do with some advice from the right person. He has got to four or five in the world and is good enough to go to the next level, but now he needs that something extra.
‘You have to let your guard down a bit. It has to be someone who he wants to listen to and trusts. It seems to have been hard for him to find so far in his career.”
From www.sbnation.com
German spoiler Petkovic beats tennis ace Wozniacki
Mar 28th
MIAMI (AFP) – Top seed Caroline Wozniacki’s dream of a coast-to-coast title double hit the wall Monday as as the top seed at the ATP and WTA Miami Masters was upset 7-5, 3-6, 6-3 by Germany’s colourful Andrea Petkovic.
The winner, already an internet, YouTube and Twitter personality thanks to her prodigious use of social media, performed a snippet of her jiggy “Petkorazzi” victory dance after the upset in just under two and a half hours.
Petkovic, ranked 23rd and who made a quarter-final at the Australian Open, needed an hour to win the opening set agianst Wozniacki, who claimed the Indian Wells Masters in California eight days ago and had been bidding to repeat on the East coast in Florida.
Petkovic went up 4-2 in the third set on a break and three games later was into the quarter-finals after firing her third ace of the afternoon on match point. She faced 17 break points but saved 12 of them against the world number one Dane.
Russian 16th seed Maria Sharapova also took out a leading seed as she beat Australia’s French Open finalist Samantha Stosur 6-4, 6-1.
The Australian who lost the Roland Garros final last year to Francesca Schiavone suffered with five double-faults and no aces in a contest lasting 81 minutes.
US-based Russian Sharapova refused to give Stosur an early birthday present as the Australian, who turns 27 on Wednesday, was broken five times.
“I have a good record against her, but it’s not something that you typically look at going into the match,” said Sharapova, who missed months over the past few seasons with a shoulder injury which eventually required surgery.
“I know that she’s a very tough player.
“She’s number five in the world, you can’t take that for granted going out on the court. Her serve is one of her biggest weapons. She has a great kick out there and gets more spin than anyone on tour.
“She’ll hang in there with you and she’ll be tough. She’s at her spot for a reason. She’s a grand slam finalist and does really well on clay, and many other surfaces, as well.”
Stosur’s loss left her short of her performances at the last two editions at Crandon Park, where she reached the quarter-finals.
Two-time Miami finalist Sharapova saved three of the four break points she faced as clouds gathered over the stadium prior to possible forecast rain.
Sharapova produced her best result so far this year at Indian Wells this month as she played her first semi-final since last August.
The Russian who owns three Grand Slam titles improved to 20-20 against Top five players, and broke a loss streak against the elite after going down in her last six against top players.
In another women’s result, Romanian Alexandra Dulgheru bet China’s Peng Shuai 6-3, 6-4.
On the men’s side, seventh-seeded Wimbledon finalist Tomas Berdych beat Argentine Carlos Berlocq 7-6 (10/8), 7-5. Janko Tipsarevic of Serbia beat German Philipp Petzschner 6-3, 6-3 in their third-round contest.
From au.news.yahoo.com
Tennis site may move for stadium
Mar 28th
The State Tennis Centre at Burswood has emerged as a likely venue for the new sports stadium, with the WA Government investigating how an arena could be built on the site.
Premier Colin Barnett said yesterday that the site, which is on the opposite side of Graham Farmer Freeway to his preferred venue at Belmont Racecourse, had good transport links and was on high ground, which could make construction easier.
“I don’t think the Tennis Centre has been a great success at that site,” he said. “It is not all that popular with tennis players.
“The stadium could be moved a bit closer to the Tennis Centre site but we would have to have discussions with Tennis West before anything like that was contemplated.
“We would want to make sure that tennis was looked after and if they were willing to move, we would consider it.”
The site is close to the area earmarked several years ago by the Stadium Taskforce as one of three preferred options for a stadium.
Mr Barnett said he had not ruled out Subiaco or East Perth as venues but believed the Burswood Peninsula had a lot going for it.
“The PTA (Public Transport Authority) has been looking at some of the transport issues that would surround that site,” he said.
“If Burswood was selected, then you come down to the micro-selection of exactly where on Burswood.
“The Langoulant report had a site closer to the river.
“You could look at something closer to the Tennis Centre or it could be the Tennis Centre site if tennis was willing to be relocated.”
Mr Barnett said nearby roads might have to be re-routed to accommodate a stadium.
Tennis West boss Andrew Stanbury said the organisation had frozen its capital works program, pending a Government decision.
He said Tennis West, which was 13 years into a 50-year lease with the Burswood Park Board, had identified three alternative venues but would not disclose them.
Mr Barnett has not given up hope that Belmont Park owner Perth Racing would sell the racecourse to the State Government so the land could be used for a stadium.
Perth Racing has bet its financial future on a deal with a developer to turn vacant land around the racecourse into a residential development that would be worth up to $4 billion when finished.
Perth Racing chief executive Michael Heath said yesterday that he was confident the deal with The Golden Group would be finalised on Friday, when an extended due diligence period expires.
Mr Barnett reiterated his warning that the deal came with risks.
“I believe they might be passing up the one great chance for racing to re-establish itself,” he said.
“If they go with the property development option, it is going to have a lot of risks attached to it.
“I would think commercially and from a construction, planning and environmental point of view.”
From au.news.yahoo.com
Tennis balls are not just for tennis
Mar 28th
There are a lot uses for no-longer-bouncy tennis balls, like these held by a ball runner at the 2007 U.S. Open. AMY SANCETTA — Associated Press
Some months back I wrote a column that listed various ways to get extra mileage out of old egg cartons: small-parts sorting and storage bins, holders for delicate Christmas ornaments, emergency ice cube trays, etc.
It’s all part of my let-nothing-go-to-waste-without-a-fight campaign for frugal (some would say cheap) living.
Now, thanks in large part to the staff at “This Old House,” here are some uses for those no-longer-bouncy tennis balls gathering dust in the hall closet.
The only tool you’ll need is a utility knife.
• Erase scuff marks from hardwood floors by slicing an X in a tennis ball and slipping it over the end of a broom handle. Rub the ball over scuff marks, and they’ll come right off.
• Cap the metal legs of a step-stool with old tennis balls to keep from damaging the floor; or the legs of a ladder to keep them from sinking into soft soil.
• Working equally well — though perhaps not exactly chic — would be tennis ball tips on the legs of tables and chairs.
• To prevent a padlock from freezing up in cold weather (it kept me out of the shop for three days last winter), cut a slit in a tennis ball and slip the new cover over the lock to keep it moisture-free.
• All these years I’ve been suggesting you remove broken light bulbs from their sockets with the sliced-off end of a potato, but according to “TOH” you can do it with half a tennis ball, too. Give it a try, and let me know. (Remember to turn off the power, please.)
• Don’t have a rubber mallet? You can make one by cutting that same X in a tennis ball and slipping it over the head of any ordinary hammer.
• Here’s an old favorite for the automotively challenged: Hang a tennis ball on a string from the rafter of your garage so the ball touches the windshield when your car is pulled in at the appropriate spot.
• To open a jar, cut a tennis ball in half. Use the open end to grip tight lids. Share the other half with a friend.
• Three clean tennis balls in a clothes dryer work just as well as fabric softener sheets — with no waste and no coating your lint screen with fabric softener.
• Another oldie-but-goodie: Create a trailer hitch cover by making a long slit in a tennis ball, then slide the ball over the hitch to keep it from scratching other cars (and to protect it from getting damaged itself).
• If you need a place to keep change for tollbooths, you can cut a slit in a tennis ball and stash spare coins inside. Keep the ball in your glove box so you don’t have to grope for your wallet when you’re at the tollbooth.
• Who needs a doorstop? Wedge a tennis ball between the open door and its jamb instead.
• A good way to improve your grip is by holding a tennis ball in each hand. Squeeze and release repeatedly to strengthen your hands and arms for using tools.
• To reduce pain in your calf muscles, sit in a chair or on a couch and gently roll your foot across a tennis ball.
• Finally, you always can heave a tennis ball across the yard for the dog to chase or play catch with the kids — or even play tennis.
Send your questions to: HouseWorks, P.O. Box 81609, Lincoln, NE 68501, or e-mail: houseworks@journalstar.com.
From host.madison.com
Men’s Tennis: No. 25 Notre Dame defeats USF, Dayton
Mar 28th
The No. 25 Irish made quick work of two opponents Sunday, earning back-to-back victories over No. 50 South Florida and Dayton at home.
Notre Dame downed USF by a score of 6-1 with the only loss coming at No. 1 singles, where No. 73 Lucas Jovita defeated No. 58 Casey Watt 6-2, 7-6.
“Although Casey lost at No. 1, he showed a lot of courage by electing to play after an injury last week,” Irish coach Bobby Bayliss said.
Irish sophomore Spencer Talmadge and junior Niall Fitzgerald defeated Jamal Adderley and Jovita at No. 1 doubles, 8-3.
Senior Stephen Havens and junior Casey Watt defeated Romain Deridder and Yannick Yoshizawa by the same score.
Freshman Greg Andrews and senior Tyler Davis defeated Wael Kilani and Federico Sabogal 8-4 at No. 3 doubles.
“We jumped on them at No. 1 and No. 2 doubles and really never looked back, winning both,” Bayliss said. “We made an adjustment at No. 1 when they handled our two-back formation better than we anticipated and got more aggressive and got into the net more on their serves.”
Havens defeated Kilani 7-5, 7-5 at No. 2 singles, while senior Dan Stahl defeated Adderley 7-5, 6-3 at No. 3.
Andrews won easily at No. 4 singles against Yoshizawa, dropping only one game.
“In singles I certainly did not expect the domination we got from Greg Andrews and Blas (Moros),” Bayliss said.
Moros, a sophomore, did not drop a game in his victory over Juan Carlos Acuna Gerard.
Fitzgerald was able to defeat Sabogal in the closest match of the day in three sets 6-2, 6-7, 1-0 at No. 5.
In the second match of the day the Irish easily defeated Dayton.
Senior David Anderson and Stahl topped Benton Benalcazar and Andrew Hanley 8-0 at No. 1 doubles, while senior Matt Johnson and freshman Ryan Bandy defeated Alex Crum and Robert Salcedo 8-1 at No. 2 to clinch the doubles point.
Seniors Sean Tan and Bryan Kelly beat Sean Bandy and Sam Pecyna 8-1 at No. 3 doubles.
Davis earned a win at No. 4 singles over Crum 6-2, 6-1 to give the Irish an early 2-0 lead.
Moros was next off the court defeating Benalcazar 6-1, 6-0 at No. 2 singles.
Freshman Michael Moore increased the Irish lead to 3-0 with a win at No. 5 singles,
Andrews rolled over Hanley, not dropping a game in his first appearance at the No. 1 position for the Irish.
Talmadge defeated Phillip Dresden 6-2, 6-0 to give the Irish a 6-0 lead, and Anderson defeated Pecyna 6-1, 6-2, to give the Irish the sweep.
Notre Dame will next travel to Ball State University to take on the Cardinals with first serve set for 2 p.m. in Muncie, Ind.
From www.ndsmcobserver.com
Women’s Tennis Falls to George Washington
Mar 28th
March 27, 2011
PHILADELPHIA – Facing Atlantic 10 foe George Washington at home at the SJU Tennis Complex, the Hawks’ women’s tennis team dropped a hard-fought match to the Colonials, 7-0.
Playing outdoors in cold temperatures, the Hawks dropped the opening point of the match, falling at all three doubles matches.
Sophomore Casey Robinson gave SJU its best shot at a win, going three sets at No. 1 singles, but falling 5-7, 7-5, 10-8.
Doubles
1. Krohn/ Hamling (GW) def Robinson/ Mullaney (SJU) 8-2
2. Blakeley/ Pascarella (GW) def Walsh/ Dowd (SJU) 8-0
3. Hirsh/ Lysienia (GW) def Jadeja/Procyk (SJU) 8-2
Singles
1. Blakeley (GW) def Robinson (SJU) 5-7 7-5 10-8
2. Corba (GW) def Jadeja (SJU) 6-1 6-2
3. Hamling (GW) def Mullaney (SJU) 6-1 6-1
4. Hirsh (GW) def Walsh (SJU) 6-0 6-0
5. Lysienia (GW) def Dowd (SJU) 6-1 6-2
6. Krohn (GW) def Procyk (SJU) 6-0 6-0
From www.sjuhawks.com
Tennis: Clijsters wins at Key Biscayne
Mar 28th
Kim Clijsters, of Belgium, returns to Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez, of Spain, at the Sony Ericsson Open tennis tournament in Key Biscayne, Florida. Photo by AP. Kim Clijsters earned her 500th career victory by beating Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez 6-4, 4-6, 6-3 at the Miami Open today.
Clijsters, who won the tournament in 2005 and 2010, advanced to the fourth round despite 10 double-faults and 39 unforced errors. Seeded second, Clijsters next plays No. 19 Ana Ivanovic, who won when Virginie Razzano retired trailing 2-6, 6-2, 3-0.
Reigning French Open champion Francesca Schiavone, seeded fifth, beat Lourdes Dominguez Lino 6-4, 7-6 (2). No. 9 Agnieszka Radwanska eliminated No. 24 Maria Kirilenko 7-6 (2), 6-3, and No. 15 Marion Bartoli defeated Ekaterina Makarova 6-0, 6-2.
Mardy Fish beat 17th-seeded Richard Gasquet of France 6-4, 6-3 in the third round.
Fish is ranked a career-best 15th, and if he wins two more rounds he’ll overtake longtime friend Andy Roddick as the top-ranked American in men’s tennis.
Roddick lost his opening match Saturday and is expected to drop from eighth to about 15th in the next rankings, the lowest he has been since 2002. But Fish said there’s no comparison between his accomplishments and Roddick’s.
“I don’t think it would mean that much, to be honest,” Fish said. “I certainly wouldn’t feel like the top-ranked American, considering what Andy has accomplished and what I’ve accomplished. His career has quadrupled mine, at least. I wouldn’t be the No. 1 American, really.”
Roddick is a five-time Grand Slam finalist who won the 2003 US Open and finished that year ranked No. 1. Fish’s record in major events is barely above .500, and he has made the top 20 in the year-end rankings only twice.
But at 29, Fish is in the best condition of his career. That showed against Gasquet in the midday sun on a hot afternoon.
“Playing out there today, you can obviously see why you need to be fit to win these matches,” Fish said.
Also advancing was No. 30-seeded John Isner, who won an all-American matchup against qualifier Alex Bogomolov Jr., 6-2, 7-6 (4). Bogomolov upset Roddick in the second round, giving Isner a less daunting path to the quarterfinals.
“I didn’t want to think too much about it,” Isner said. “A lot of times when a draw sort of opens up, guys tend to maybe not play as well. So I’m not looking at the draw.”
Juan Martin del Potro, gaining momentum in his comeback from a right wrist injury, earned his first win this year over a top-10 player by beating No. 4 Robin Soderling 6-3, 6-2. Del Potro, ranked 484th in February, will climb back into the top 45 after the tournament.
No. 6 David Ferrer defeated Somdev Devvarman 6-4, 6-2.
Fish lost to Gasquet twice in 2008, including in the first round at Wimbledon.
“He killed me,” Fish recalled.
But Fish has won their past two meetings – a reflection of his improved conditioning, he said. After undergoing knee surgery in September 2009, he changed his diet and lost a lot of weight.
A slimmer Fish went 40-14 in 2010, a career high for victories, and finished the year ranked 16th, another career best. Willing to play longer points now that he’s fitter, his shot selection is less risky, so he makes fewer unforced errors.
“I used to have to go for shots that I don’t have to do anymore,” he said.
Instead, it was Gasquet who made the big mistake – a double-fault on break point in the next-to-last game. Fish served out the victory at love to reach the round of 16, which matches his best showing in 10 appearances at Key Biscayne.
From www.odt.co.nz
Men’s Tennis Earns 4-3 Win At No. 17 Texas Tech
Mar 27th
March 27, 2011
#16 Baylor (12-3, 1-0) 4
#17 Texas Tech (13-6, 0-1) 3
Complete Results 
DOUBLES SINGLES F #1 #2 #3 #1 #2 #3 #4 #5 #6 
DNF 
3 
DNF 4
Singles Peers d. Escobar 6-1, 6-4 Carvalho d. Ramirez 6-3, 6-4 Garcia d. Rux 2-6, 6-3, 6-2 Matyin d. Manzini 7-6(2), 6-3 Grangeiro d. Wanderley 6-3, 6-3 Pfister d. Bley 7-6(3), 0-6, 10-6
Doubles Peers/Maytin d. Carvalho/Garcia 8-3 Ramirez/Rux def. Escobar/Manzini 4-4 ret Bley/Grangeiro d. Gonzalez/Pfister 8-3
MATCH NOTES
Baylor improves to 87-15 in Big 12 regular season play all-time and 12-3 in league play openers. In the10 seasons that BU has opened Big 12 play on the road the Bears are now 8-2. Baylor is now 91-34 on the road and 254-84 against ranked foes under Matt Knoll. This season the Bears are 7-3 against ranked opponents and 3-3 versus teams in the top-25.
MEN’S TENNIS CENTRAL
• 2011 Men’s Tennis Media Almanac
• Baylor Athletics Experience
• Sic ‘Em Blog
• Pre-Match Notes
• 2011 Men’s Tennis Quick Facts
LUBBOCK, Texas - After racing out to a 3-0 lead, the 16th-ranked Baylor men’s tennis team held on for a 4-3 win against No. 17 Texas Tech on Sunday at the McLeod Tennis Center to open Big 12 Conference play with a victory.
“We are just happy to win,” head coach Matt Knoll said. “It is tough to beat these good teams. We knew it was going to be a battle and it sure was, but we are happy to have the win.”
In the match, Baylor (12-3, 1-0) got its 10th win in its last 11 contests, while improving to 17-0 against Texas Tech (13-6, 0-1) in the Knoll era. In Big 12 regular season play, the Bears own a 15-0 mark against the Red Raiders overall and a 6-0 record in Lubbock.
For the fourth time this season, Baylor had a match decided by a single point and in such matches the Bears are now 3-1. However, Sunday’s match was the first one of the four not to come down to the last match on the court. The Bears built the 3-0 lead, but then Texas Tech got a point, before BU claimed the necessary fourth point to clinch the match. The Red Raiders won the final two matches on court.
For the 13th straight contest Baylor won the doubles point as Julian Bley and Kike Grangeiro raced past David Gonzalez and Raphael Pfister, 8-3, at No. 3 doubles. It was the fourth straight win for the BU duo to improve the tandem’s record to 13-1 in dual-match play.
The clinching win in doubles came from the seventh-ranked pair of Roberto Maytin and John Peers, who downed No. 26 Raony Carvalho and Rafael Garcia at the No. 1 position, 8-3. Maytin and Peers are now 11-2 on the season and hold a 9-4 record against nationally ranked opponents.
“The matches at No. 1 and 3 started off very competitive,” Knoll said. “I think it was two all on both courts, but we started making a few more returns and once we started doing that we got the break and that kind of turned it around for us.”
When the point was decided, the match at No. 2 doubles was tied at four games each, but the Tech duo of Gonzalo Escobar and Vitor Manzini retired shortly thereafter to give Sergio Ramirez and Jordan Rux the win. The duo is now 9-3 in dual-match play and its win gave BU a clean sweep of all the doubles matches for the eighth time this season.
The Bears carried their quick start in doubles into singles action as they won four of six first sets to grab the momentum.
Grangeiro was the first Bear to turn the opening set win into a match victory as he got past Gabriel Wanderley at the No. 5 spot, 6-3, 6-3. The 99th-ranked Grangeiro has now won nine of his last 10 starts and is 12-2 in dual-match play.
“Kike was really solid throughout in a really competitive match,” Knoll said. “He just stayed focused and got through that match very well.”
Next, the 27th-ranked Peers got Baylor within one point of the win as he beat his second straight top-20 player in 18th-ranked Escobar, 6-1, 6-4 at the No. 1 position. Escobar had gotten the better of Peers in fall tournament play on Oct. 25, but in Sunday’s match the BU senior got revenge to run his record to 12-3.
On the brink of defeat, the Red Raiders would finally get on the board as the 21st-ranked Carvalho got the better of Ramirez at No. 2 singles, 6-3, 6-4.
However, after that loss Maytin would clinch the match for Baylor with a 7-6(2), 6-3 victory against Manzini at the No. 3 spot. The 96th-ranked Maytin has won 10 of his last 11 starts and is 11-2 in dual-match play.
Baylor would lose the final two matches of the day as Garcia got past Rux at the No. 3 spot, 2-6, 6-3, 6-2, and Pfister downed Bley 7-6(3), 0-6, 10-6 at the No. 6 position.
The Bears will continue their three-match road trip with their second conference match at No. 41 Nebraska on Sat., April 2 at 3 p.m. BU is 21-0 in the Big 12 era against the Cornhuskers.
From www.baylorbears.com
KU Tennis Falls 6-1 to No, 25 Texas A&M Despite Morozova’s Big Win
Mar 27th
March 27, 2011
LAWRENCE, Kan. –
Kansas tennis’ No. 1 doubles player Ekaterina Morozova knocked off No. 18-ranked Nazari Urbina Sunday afternoon at the Jayhawk Tennis Center, but No. 25 Texas A&M prevailed in the end with a 6-1 win.
The Kansas junior defeated Urbina 6-4, 6-1 leading throughout the first-singles match, to defeat just the second nationally-ranked singles player of her career. It was the first time a KU player defeated a ranked opponent since Morozova captured a win against the 118th-ranked player from BYU March 6, 2009, and it was the first time since 2005 that a Jayhawk earned a win over a top-30 opponent. Ksenia Bukina was the last player to match that feat October 20, 2005, defeating No. 30.
The win was also her second victory over a ranked opponent in as many matches, as she combined with Dylan Windom for a doubles win over Texas’ 23rd-ranked team of Amanda Craddock and Cierra Gayton-Leach in Saturday’s match.
Morozova finished a nearly perfect weekend with an easy 8-1 defeat of Urbina and Christi Liles with Windom in No. 1 doubles before going on to down Urbina in singles.
After Morozova and Windom opened the match with a win, the Nos. 2 and 3 KU doubles teams went down, giving A&M a 1-0 lead.
In singles, KU played the Aggies tough from top to bottom, with Texas A&M only narrowly edging the Jayhawks in three matches.
Morozova started off singles play with a win, but Sara Lazarevic and Monica Pezzotti soon fell, extending the Aggie lead to 3-1.
Paulina Los and Erin Wilbert didn’t make things easy on Janelle Cuthbertson and Stephanie Davidson in the Nos. 4 and 5 contests. Los had the first set tied at 4-4, but Cuthbertson went on to win the next two games. In the second set, Los pulled out to a 4-0 lead and held off Cuthbertson for a 6-4 win that forced a decisive third set. But Los fell 6-2 in the final set, giving Cuthbert the win.
Wilbert also forced a third set after she cruised to a 6-2 win in the second, but the score was reversed in the third, as Davidson took the match 6-1, 2-6, 6-2.
Dylan Windom finished off the day for the Jayhawks against Lauren Santacroce. The freshman started off ahead with a 3-0 lead but Santacroce then went on a tear, tying the match at three and again at four before going on to overtake Windom 6-4. In the second set, Windom again went up early before Santacroce came back to tie. Windom tied Santacroce at two and at three before Santacroce put the match away by winning the next three games.
Kansas has now lost four straight going into next weekend’s Big 12 road matches. The Jayhawks moved to 6-8 on the season and 0-4 in the Big 12, while the Aggies improved to 9-4 and 3-2 in conference play.
Next up for KU is a visit to Iowa State where the Jayhawks search for their first conference win as well as their 33rd consecutive victory against the Cyclones. Kansas will face Iowa State Friday at 2:30, in Ames, Iowa.
No. 25 Texas A&M 6, Kansas 1
March 27, 2011 – Lawrence Kan.
Jayhawk Tennis Center
DOUBLES
No. 1 Morozova/Windom (KU) def. Liles/Urbina (TAMU) 8-1
No. 2 Cuthbertson/Urbina (TAMU) def. Wilbert/Lazarevic (KU) 8-2
No. 3 Davidson/Oliver (TAMU) def. Pezzotti/Los (KU) 8-2
Order of finish: 1, 3, 2
SINGLES
No. 1 Ekaterina Morozova (KU) def. #18 Nazari Urbina (TAMU) 6-4, 6-1
No. 2 Morgan Frank (TAMU) def. Monica Pezzotti (KU) 6-3, 6-1
No. 3 Christi Liles (TAMU) def. Sara Lazarevic (KU) 6-0, 6-0
No. 4 Janelle Cuthbertson (TAMU) def. Paulina Los (KU) 6-4, 4-6, 6-2
No. 5 Stephanie Davidson (TAMU) def. Erin Wlbert (KU) 6-1, 2-6, 6-2
No. 6 Lauren Santacroce (TAMU) def. Dylan Windom (KU) 6-4, 6-3
Order of finish: 1, 3, 2, 5, 4, 6
Team Records: No. 25 Texas A&M (9-4, 3-2 Big 12); Kansas (6-8, 0-4 Big 12)
From www.kuathletics.com
HS TENNIS: It’s Abington Heights and Scranton Prep favored again
Mar 27th
It’s a new spring season in the Lackawanna Tennis League, but the theme stays the same.
Abington Heights in Division I and Scranton Prep in Division II are the favorites, once again. But that doesn’t mean there is a shortage of talent as teams hit the courts this week.
Clearly, Abington Heights is the class of Division I.
Josh Palmer, last year’s Times-Tribune Player of the Year and reigning District 2 Class AAA singles champion, is back and the class of the league.
Last season he finished 16-1 overall.
“Josh has improved,” Abington Heights coach Tom Lavelle said. “He is working hard on his training in the weight room and his serve and volley. I’ve certainly seen some improvement in his game. Josh is focused and not taking anything for granted.”
In addition to Palmer, Abington Heights also returns Nathan Engh, a junior who sported a 10-0 record at No. 3 last season, and its doubles team of Michael Smertz-Mark Van Nort that reached the District 2 Class AAA quarterfinals last season.
“We have a good mix,” Lavelle said. “We have Josh and Nate coming back in the singles. They are two top performers and our doubles team is coming back. We know that we can count on them.”
Delaware Valley and Wallenpaupack are considered the top threats in the division.
Joey Hunt, who went 6-3 last season, is the leading returning player for Delaware Valley, which tied with Wallenpaupack for second place last spring.
Scranton’s Steve Sack is a returning standout in singles competition. Last season, he sported a 5-4 record in the regular season and went 1-1 in the District 2 Class AAA tournament.
Division II
Scranton Prep, while rebuilding its starting lineup, still is considered the team to beat because of its depth.
Will Cognetti, who went 4-0 in singles last season, and Walker Templeton competed as a doubles team last season as the Cavaliers finished as runner-up at the District 2 Class AA team championship. They also advanced to the District 2 Class AA doubles quarterfinals.
Jay N. Patel is also back after competing in doubles last season.
“We are young,” Scranton Prep coach Kathleen McKenna said. “Will, Walker and Jay have worked very hard. The league is going to be really good. The kids have a good work ethic and the kids are doing a lot of conditioning off the court.”
Honesdale and Valley View will challenge the young Cavaliers.
Led by the return of Cody Dirlam, who was a second-team all-star, Travis Murray, who was 3-2 last season, and foreign exchange student Jannis Riedel, who is from Germany, the Hornets have a solid lineup.
“I’m excited,” Honesdale coach Bill Gibney said. “There is a lot of experience. We are a solid team. Cody is a good player and he worked on his game and was taking some lessons. He put some time into his game and he is a great athlete. I think he will have a good season.”
Valley View will be led by Ian Betti, who went 7-1 in singles and teamed with Andy Mattise to reach the quarterfinals at the District 2 Class AA doubles championships.
Montrose has No. 1 singles player Zach Warriner returning. Last season, he went 3-5 in the regular season.
Contact the writer: jbfawcett@timesshamrock.com
From thetimes-tribune.com
