Posted on July 22, 2010
JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — University of Kentucky men’s tennis junior Eric Quigley fell short of a possible spot in the US Open qualifying stage, falling 6-3, 6-3 to Colin Hoover in the first round of the US Open Men’s National Playoffs at the Atlanta Athletic Club on Thursday.
Quigley fell behind early in the match, losing the first set 6-3. The two Americans held serve for the first few games of the opening set before Hoover broke the UK star and took control. In the second set, Hoover held serve to open the scoring before Quigley would quickly answer and tie the set a 1-1. Hoover would then break Quigley to go up 3-1 and take control of the set for the 6-3 win.
The UK star advanced to the national playoff by claiming the US Open National Playoff Midwest Sectional Qualifying Tournament at the Linder Family Tennis Center in Mason, Ohio. Quigley lost only 11 games in five matches on his way to the tournament title when he defeated Kyle Collette 6-2, 6-2 in the championship.
Quigley, who was recently named to the USTA Summer Collegiate team, finished with 42 wins during his sophomore season at Kentucky. The native of Pewee Valley, Ky., finished the season with All-America honors in both singles and doubles to become only the third player in school history to receive such honors as a sophomore and the first to be named a singles and doubles All-America as a sophomore. Quigley, who finished the season ranked No. 10 in singles and No. 17 in doubles with partner Brad Cox, finished the season with a 21-6 dual match record and 42-12 overall record after reaching the NCAA Singles Championship Round of 16. Quigley, who played at the No. 1 singles position all year for UK, was a vital part of the team’s success with Kentucky posting an 18-3 record in dual matches where Quigley won in singles. On top of his two All-American honors, Quigley also was named to the first team All-Southeastern Conference and Intercollegiate Tennis Association Ohio Valley Region Player to Watch.
The winner of the national playoff will receive a wild card into the 2010 US Open Qualifying Tournament, August 24-27, at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, in Flushing, N.Y., the home of the US Open.
Stay tuned to UKAthletics.com for more information about the Kentucky men’s tennis team.
