Aug. 27, 2009
LEXINGTON, Ky. –
Three returning Kentucky men’s tennis players ended their summers with career-high Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) rankings after playing in a handful of tournaments during their breaks.
Junior Brad Cox leads the trio with a high singles ranking of 1,305 in the world this week after accumulating four tour points. Cox earned three points at the Ireland F1 Futures on the carpet in June after advancing to the quarterfinals in just his fourth professional tourney. The Wildcat added another tally in Decatur, Ill., where he made a run to the round of 16 at the U.S. Futures 20 hard court tournament
Sophomore Alex Musialek stands at a career-high position of 1,401 in the singles standings. Musialek earned his first point on the tour by advancing to the round of 16 in Toulon, France. The French native earned his other two points in Spain. In the Mediterranean coastal city of Denia last month, Musialek nabbed a pair of points with a quarterfinal run at the Spain Futures 25.
Classmate Eric Quigley rattled off six straight singles wins at the U.S. Futures 20 in Decatur, Ill., through both the qualifying and main draws. His quarterfinal run granted him two points to rank him at 1,585 worldwide. On the doubles side, Quigley is the only ranked Wildcat. After earning 27 points for his semifinal run at the Lexington Challenger with former Wildcat Bruno Agostinelli, Quigley is ranked at No. 1,012 in the ATP doubles world rankings.
Former UK star Witten plays for chance to advance into U.S. Open main draw Friday
Former UK All-American Jesse Witten won his second-round U.S. Open qualifying match Thursday afternoon against No. 144 Stephane Bohli of Switzerland, 3-6, 6-2, 6-0 to advance to the third and final round of qualifying in Flushing Meadows, N.Y., home of the final tennis grand slam of 2009.
Currently ranked No. 270, Witten will meet Austria’s Alexander Peya, who stands at No. 259, on Friday afternoon for the right to move into the U.S. Open main draw as a qualifier.
Before No. 270 Witten knocked off the third-ranked Swiss player in the ATP rankings, he dispatched the second-ranked Japanese man on tour. Witten dispatched Go Saeda 6-2, 6-1 in the first round of qualifying on Wednesday.
