Nov. 3, 2010
LEXINGTON, Ky. – University of Kentucky men’s tennis stars Brad Cox and Eric Quigley are set to play in one of the biggest tournaments of the year at the USTA/ITA National Indoor Intercollegiate Championships at the new indoor facilities at the USTA-Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing, N.Y., starting Thursday. Columbia University is serving as the tournament host.
“This is a great event,” Kentucky head coach Dennis Emery said. “With the move of the event to the US Open site in Flushing, N.Y., it has created even more excitement among the players. Eric is looking forward to building on the momentum he has generated this fall with some outstanding performance by having a great tournament here.”
Quigley, who is fresh off defending his title at the USTA/ITA Ohio Valley Regional Indoor Championships with a win over No. 1 John-Patrick Smith of Tennessee, will play in the singles main draw at the event.
“This tournament is a great chance for me to play some great competition and sharpen my skills,” said Quigley, who is ranked eighth in the Intercollegiate Tennis Association preseason singles poll. “I played OK in this event last year, but I am a more improved player this year with more experience and seasoning. I’m excited to get started and represent Kentucky well.”
The native of Pewee Valley, Ky., is the No. 2 seed in the tournament after a very impressive fall campaign so far. Quigley earned an automatic bid to the tournament with his impressive finals performance at the D’Nova/ITA All-American Championships in early October and by winning the USTA/ITA Ohio Valley Regional Indoor Championship over No. 1 John-Patrick Smith of Tennessee.
So far this fall, Quigley has three finals appearances: USTA/ITA Ohio Valley Regional Indoor Championships, D’Novo/ITA All-American Championships and Land Rover Napa Valley Tennis Classic in September. Quigley made school history at the ITA All-American Championships in Tulsa, Okla., becoming only the sixth player in school history to play in the finals of a collegiate tennis grand slam tournament. Quigley joined former UK greats Jesse Witten, Carlos Drada, Cedric Kauffmann, Greg Van Emburgh and Rich Benson as the only players in Kentucky’s rich history of tennis to play in one of the four collegiate grand slam tournaments.
Quigley’s run to the All-American championship in October was a tough one as the junior had to post five wins over a top-45 ranked player in the tournament. Quigley defeated No. 31 Neal Skupski of LSU (7-5, 6-1) in the opening round and followed that win with a victory over No. 44 Jamie Pulgar of North Carolina State (3-6, 6-3, 6-2.). In the third, Quigley took down No. 28 John Peers of Baylor (4-6, 7-6 (3), 6-1), advancing to his second consecutive quarterfinal appearance at the ITA All-American Championships, where he took down No. 13 Singh of Virginia (6-4, 6-1). Quigley sealed his ticket in the championship with a straight-sets victory over No. 45 Reid Carleton of Duke (6-4, 6-3) before losing in the finals to the No. 1-ranked freshman in collegiate tennis Alex Domijan of Virginia 4-6, 6-4, 6-3.
Quigley and Cox will play in the doubles main draw, after receiving a high preseason ranking and playing well this fall. The UK duo advanced to the doubles finals of the USTA/ITA Ohio Valley Regional Championship before falling to Austen Childs and Viktor Maksimcuk of Louisville 8-3.
Last year, Quigley and Cox had an impressive season in doubles, gathering a 16-9 dual-match record and advancing to the quarterfinals of the NCAA Doubles Championships, giving both players All-America status. Cox is the first UK player in school history to play in the NCAA Doubles Championship his first three seasons.
The event features the nation’s top men’s and women’s collegiate tennis players. The championships feature a 32-player singles field and 16-team doubles field for men and women, including champions from USTA/ITA Regional Championships held across the country during October, the USTA/ITA National Small College “Super Bowl” champions, the doubles champions and singles quarterfinalists from the D’Novo/ITA Men’s and Riviera/ITA Women’s All-American Championships, as well as at-large and wild card selections made by the ITA National Tournament Committee.
The tournament will start Thursday at 9 a.m. ET with both men’s and women’s singles and doubles action and conclude Sunday. Live scores and updated draws for the tournament will be posted on the Intercollegiate Tennis Association website. Complete draws for the tournament have not been released.
The National Indoors Championship was inaugurated in 1978 for the men and 1984 for the women and past champions and finalists include current professionals Benjamin Becker (Baylor), James Blake (Harvard), Bob and Mike Bryan (Stanford), Somdev Devvarman (Virginia), Laura Granville (Stanford), John Isner (Georgia) and Lisa Raymond (Florida). Big Ten legends and Grand Slam finalists Todd Martin (Northwestern) and MaliVai Washington (Michigan) are also among the past champions.
Thursday, Nov. 4 – 9 a.m. ET
Men’s and Women’s Doubles Round of 16
Men’s and Women’s Singles Round of 32
Friday, Nov. 5 – 9 a.m. ET
Men’s and Women’s Doubles Quarterfinals
Men’s and Women’s Singles Consolation
Men’s and Women’s Singles Quarterfinals
Men’s and Women’s Singles Consolation Quarterfinals
Saturday, Nov. 6 – 9 a.m. ET
Men’s and Women’s Doubles Semifinals
Men’s and Women’s Singles Semifinals
Men’s and Women’s Singles Consolation Semifinals
Sunday, Nov. 7 – 10 a.m. ET
Men’s and Women’s Doubles Finals
Men’s and Women’s Consolation Finals
Men’s and Women’s Singles Finals
