Aug. 2, 1999
Heat and humidity gave way to rain Sunday afternoon at the Fifth ThirdBank Tennis Championships, forcing delays while lowering Lexingtonsblisteringtemperatures.
Many players were able to get in wins before the rain fell, includingT.J. Middleton, a 7-6, 4-6, 7-5 winner over Mashiska Washington.”I couldn’t have done this yesterday,” Middleton said. “The clouds reallyhelped me hang in there.”
Middleton and Washington battled in what may have been the bestmatch ofthe day, as the two exchanged leads throughout the match. After dropping thefirst set, Washington battled back to claim the second set and take a 4-1 leadin the third. The tide than began to swing Middleton?s way, and the veteranheld on for the win.
“I haven’t played a lot of singles this year,” he said. “I had alittleletdown in the second set, I guess I just didn’t believe I could do it. Butafter I got down 4-1, things started going my way and I was able to pull itout.” The Kentucky contingent did not fare so well on Sunday, as UK women’stennis player Lauren Rookledge fell, 6-3, 6-2, to former college phenom JulieScott, and UK men’s star Johan Hesoun dropped a 7-6, 6-3 decision to PaulKilderry. UK alum Mario Rincon’s run also came to an end, as the former Catfell, 7-5, 6-2, to 1999 NCAA runner-up James Blake.
Carlos Drada and Carolina Mayorga, the last two Cats remaining the indraw, will both take the courts at 10 a.m. Monday morning. Drada will face1997 Wimbledon Junior champion Wesley Whitehouse in the stadium and Mayorgawill battle Amanda Grahame in the grandstand.
Also on Monday, the women will continue qualifying play and the menwillkick off main-draw action.
Play begins at 10 a.m. at the Boone Tennis Center. Tickets areavailable at the gate.
Fifth Third Bank Tennis Championships
Hilary J. Boone Tennis Center
Lexington, Ky.
Men’s Second Round
TJ Middleton d. Mashiska Washington 7-6 (5), 4-6, 7-5Paul Kilderry d. Johan Hesoun 7-6 (2) 6-3Louis Vosloo d. Peter Handoyo 6-3, 6-2Thomas Blake d. Wynn Criswell 6-3, 7-6 (14)James Blake d. Mario Rincon 7-5, 6-2Doug Flach d. Keith Brill 6-2, 6-3
Women’s First Round
Petra Rampre d. Wendy Fix 6-3, 6-3Shiho Hisamatsu d. Angelina Marik 1-6, 7-5, 6-4Nirupama Vaidyanathan d. Lindsay Lee 6-2, 6-2Lara Van Rooyen d. Julie Steven 6-7 (6), 6-2, 6-4Eun-Ha Kim d. Keiko Nagatomi 7-6 (1), 7-5Julie Scott d. Lauren Rookledge 6-3, 6-3Bryanne Stewart d. Sarah Taylor 5-7, 6-3, 6-4Nannie DeVilliers d. Abigail Tordoff 6-4, 4-6, 6-4Holly Parkinson d. Catalina Castano 6-2, 6-2Kylie Hunt d. Tomoe Hotta 6-2, 6-4
