Sept. 27, 1998

MURFREESBORO, Tenn.- University of Kentucky freshman Johan Grunditz advanced to the finals in Flight One singles of the Middle Tennessee State University Fall Tennis Classic on Sunday. Grunditz received a bye into the second round and then defeated Nikola Aracic of Murray State, 6-2, 6-2, for his first win of the tournament. In the third round, Grunditz handily defeated fifth-seeded Alex Sivertsen of Louisville. It took three sets for Grunditz to beat his next opponent, Georgia Southern’s Kendall Swartz, whom he outlasted, 6-4, 5-7, 6-3, to advance to the semifinals. Grunditz then defeated Troy State’s Willie Campos, 7-6, 7-6, to earn a berth into the championship match against top-seeded Eddie Coates of Vanderbilt.

UK freshman Tomaz Smid advanced to the third round of Flight One singles before losing by default. Junior Johan Hesoun also made it to the third round, but he lost to Campos in three sets, 7-6, 4-6, 6-2.

Wildcat senior Patrick Johansson advanced to the fourth round of Flight Two singles before being ousted by No.1-seeded Stuart Rhodes of Vanderbilt. UK freshman Claude Grady advanced to the third round of Flight Two singles, but was beaten by Troy State’s Jody Kane, 6-3, 6-2.

Grady teamed with freshman Winfield Stephens to advance to the fourth round of Flight Two Doubles before losing to the Vanderbilt tandem of McGugen and Black.