May 13, 1998

LEXINGTON, Ky. – The University of Kentucky men’s tennis team signed five players for the 1998-99 season, Coach Dennis Emery announced Wednesday. Gustav Pousette who, is fourth-ranked in Sweden’s Under 18 category, will be joined at UK by his roommate from Katedral High School, Johan Gunditz. Gunditz is seventh-ranked in the same age group.

“Pousette is a solid base-liner who reminds me of David Cully from our 1992 Championship team,” Coach Emery said. “Gunditz is a talented player with a big forehand.”

Tomaz Smid of Czechoslovakia played the No. 1 singles seed for the Czechoslovakian national team at the Sunshine Cup, which is the world youth team championships. For the past four years, Smid has been a product of the Nick Bollettieri Tennis Academy in Florida. Smid’s father, a professional tennis player in the 1980s, was ranked No. 10 in the world for singles and top-ranked in doubles with partner Boris Becker.

“Tomaz has a ton of potential,” Coach Emery stated. “He has a big serve and a big game. He will be a solid singles addition and he plays a great collegiate doubles game right now.”

UK completes its recruiting class with two top Americans, Kevin Stephens and Claude Grady. Stephens is from Maple Plain, Minn. and Grady is a native of Silver Springs, Md.

The Wildcats will be hitting the courts for the first time since the SEC Championships in Auburn, Ala., when it takes on Alabama Friday in round one of the NCAA Regional Tournament. UK will serve as host to this event at the Hilary J. Boone Tennis Center. Tournament competition begins on Friday with two matches, Auburn against South Alabama and South Florida against Tennessee, starting at 1 p.m.