Oct. 7, 2003

With victories Tuesday at the ITA All-American Qualies in Chattanooga, Tenn., Kentucky juniors Evan Austin and Tigran Martirosyan each stand one victory away from advancing to the main draw of the 2003 ITA All-American event.

Austin advanced to the round of 32 in the qualifier with a 6-2, 4-6, 6-4 victory over Fresno State’s Hector Almada. Austin will face Stephen Mitchell of Alabama at 9 a.m. Wednesday for the right to advance to Thursday’s opening round of the ITA All-American main draw.

Martirosyan won his 11th consecutive match Tuesday with a 7-5, 7-6(4) decision over Duke’s Jason Zimmerman. Martirosyan will battle Florida’s Vlad Obradovic at 9 am. Wednesday.

The run for sophomore Nate Emge came to an end Tuesday, as Northwestern’s Tommy Hanus dealt Emge a 6-4, 6-4 defeat. The Evansville, Ind. native had run off five straight victories.

In doubles play, Austin and Martirosyan fell to Brandon Allan and Kai Schledorn of Middle Tennessee State, 8-6.

AGATE:

Evan Austin (UK) def. Hector Almada (Fresno State) – 6-2, 4-6, 6-4Tigran Martirosyan (UK) def. Jason Zimmerman (Duke) – 7-5, 7-6(4)Tommy Hanus (Northwestern) def. Nate Emge (UK) – 6-4, 6-4Brandon Allan-Kai Schledorn (MTSU) def. Evan Austin/Tigran Martirosyan (UK) – 8-6