Downcast Delic Dropped in First Round by Canadian Chvojka;
Seeds Ward, Yani Advance; Big Blue Night Dream Match-up
Features Kentucky’s Quigley versus Tennessee Vol Williams
By
Jim Durham, Lexington Challenger Media Director Durham,
Lexington Challenger Media Director
Lexington,
KY (July 18) – The men’s main draw just started late Monday afternoon and
suddenly one of the most colorful players in Lexington Challenger history –
Bosnian Amer Delic (’06 runner-up) was gone in a flash. Only there was no flash
or dash in the game of the No. 8 seed, who fell to Canada’s Erik Chvojka 7-5,
7-6 (4).
Tuesday’s first Big Blue Night feature (approx. 7:20) promises to have lots of sizzle –
certainly in the stands – as Kentucky Wildcat star Eric Quigley faces
Tennessee’s top returning Vol, Rhyne Williams, the ’11 NCAA runner-up.
Chvojka (it’s Czech, pronounced VOIKA) was well aware that Delic has been battling back
up the ladder the last couple of years…and standing fairly still at No. 246.
But, he also knew the 2003 NCAA champ (Illinois) had a big game that carried him
to No. 60 in the world in ’07. “This is one of my very good wins…Delic’s still
a big name,” said the Montreal native.
“I played solid enough and I knew I had to serve well, because (Delic) has a big
one,” said Chvojka, who was especially pleased with tiebreaker service. “To get
to that next level, I need to play more tournaments of this caliber…and play
guys like Delic.”
Chvojka previously has reached two semis at the $50K level, a pair of Challengers in Canada. To do that this week, he must beat the winner of Tuesday’s second evening feature between UK’s Alex Musialek and Nicholas Monroe. Probably looming in the quarter-finals would be top-seeded James Ward of Great Britain, who finished off France’s Mathieu Rodrigues 6-2, 6-2.
In the last round of men’s qualifying, Ohio State’s Chase Buchanan defeated
doubles partner and USTA Summer Collegiate Team squad-mate Austin Krajicek of
Texas A&M 6-3, 6-2 – and was rewarded with a main draw first-rounder
against No. 2 seed Wayne Odesnik mid-afternoon Tuesday.
Devin Britton, the ’09 NCAA champ (Ole Miss), got some big-time revenge against
Jordan Cox – who beat him 16-14 in the 3rd in the ’09 Junior
Wimbledon semis. Despite the 6-2, 6-1 beating, Cox
grabbed a “lucky loser” spot in the main against No. 4 Fritz Wolmarans of South
Africa Tuesday afternoon. Blake Strode (1) and Michael McClune (4) were the
others to qualify for the main event.
In women’s qualifying, top-seeded Amanda Fink made sure Lexington patrons would
remember her this time. Tuesday, the former Southern Cal star dissected Megan
Broderick, 6-0, 6-1, but she felt for her friend who was the University of
Kentucky’s top player the past four seasons – and praised the site.
“The Boone Center is a special stadium,” Fink said. “It’s just so much more fun playing
in college town…I love the atmosphere. But, it’s not so fun playing at UK,
though, against one of their players and everyone rooting for her (she
smiled).”
Two years ago she got through qualifying and lost first round main, but what was
memorable – a shoulder injury caused her to have to serve under-hand in the
doubles. Then, she was a member of the USTA Summer Collegiate Team and
supported by the squad members who were traveling together.
After turning pro in ’09, she said, “I had a slow start coming out of college because
there I was used to winning a lot (she was 1 at USC) …but now out on tour, if
you aren’t winning tournaments, eventually you lose during the week.
“I’m trying to crack through…but you know we’re lucky to be doing this…because it’s
something a lot of (tennis fans) would like to do,” said Fink, who will
headline the final four matches of qualies all beginning at 10 a.m. Tuesday.
Fink said for her to make it to the next level, “I need to be more aggressive,
improve my net play, and make my serve a real weapon.”
In the evening features, No. 6 Michael Yani defeated Adam El Mihdawy 6-2, 6-4 and
former LSU star Michael Venus took down USTA wild card Jack Sock 7-6, 6-1.
That’s the second time in three weeks the New Zealander has eliminated Sock,
the reigning U.S. Open Junior champ, in a first round.
And, in a late night feature, UK’s Eric Quigley and Brad Cox lost to Rodrigues and
Clement Reix, both of France, 6-3, 6-4.
