Aug. 2, 1999

Jeff Morrison, the 1999 NCAA singles champion, fell in qualifyingactionat the Fifth Third Bank Tennis Championships on Saturday, dropping a 6-4, 4-6,6-4 heartbreaker to Doug Flach.

Morrison, a native of Huntington, W.Va., battled valiantly beforefalling to the veteran Flach, who acknowledged his experience aided him duringthe grueling match.

“Jeff is a really good player,” Flach said. “I hadn’t seen him play, but Ihadheard that he would be tough. We both just got an unlucky draw. I let thesecond set slip away, but my experience really helped me pull out the win.”In addition to their opponents, players also had to battle Lexington’s heatandhumidity.

“Heat was a big factor today,” Peter Handoyo, a 6-4, 7-5 winner over UK’sGustav Pousette, said. “I’m exhausted now. I’ve been training in Knoxville,but it just doesn’t compare to this. I can’t believe the humidity.”Fans and players welcomed an afternoon breeze, which helped cool UK’s BooneTennis Center.Thomas Blake, a first-round winner said,”The breeze was nice. The heatreallywasn’t that bad.”

Former UK assistant coach Michael Hegarty echoed Blake’s sentiments. “Heatwasn’t a factor. With the wind, it was quite pleasant.”Others advancing to round two include UK’s Carlos Drada, a 6-0, 6-0 winner,andJohan Hesoun, who topped former Cat Adam Malik. UK alumnus Mario Rincon alsoclaimed an opening-round win, besting Glenn Weiner, 6-4, 6-4.Action will continue on Sunday, with more men’s qualifying matches andfirst-round qualifying action on the women’s side. Among those in action willbe UK’s Carolina Mayorga and Lauren Rookledge.

Rookledge will take the courts at around 11:30 a.m., when she faces JulieScott, and Mayorga will face Amanda Grahame in the afternoon finale around 3p.m.Action begins at 10 a.m. on Sunday at the Boone Tennis Center on the UKcampus. Admission to the qualifying matches is free.

Fifth Third Bank Tennis Championships
Hilary J. Boone Tennis Center

Lexington, Ky.

Round One

Mashiska Washington d. Mark Guilbeau       6-0, 6-0TJ Middleton        d. Aaron Marchetti     6-4, 6-3Johan Hesoun        d. Adam Malik          6-7 (3), 7-5, 1-2 ret.Paul Kilderry       d. K. Ivanov-Smolensky 4-6, 6-4, 6-1Wesley Whitehouse   d. Rich Benson         6-2, 6-4Carlos Drada        d. Brian Fishback      6-0, 6-0Robert Givone       d. Mario Contardi      6-0, 6-0Jaymon Crabb        d. Jason Weir-Smith    6-1, 6-1Louis Vosloo        d. Michael Hegarty     6-3, 7-5Peter Handoyo       d. Gustav Pousette     6-4, 7-5Wynn Criswell       d. Niko Karagiannis    6-3, 6-4Thomas Blake        d. Edo Bawono          6-2, 6-4James Blake         d. Dalibor Mihajlovic  6-3, 6-1Mario Rincon        d. Glenn Weiner        6-4, 6-4Keith Brill         d. Brad Hambrick       7-5, 4-6, 7-5Doug Flach          d. Jeff Morrison       6-4, 4-6, 6-4