The University of Mississippi Athletics
Men's Tennis Players Among Top 60 in Preseason Rankings
6/21/1999 | Men's Tennis
September 15, 1998
PRINCETON, N.J. - Three members of the Ole Miss men's tennis team were among the top 60 collegiate singles players in the preseason edition of the Rolex Rankings released Tuesday by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA). The first team ranking will be at the conclusion of fall competition.
The Rebels, who ended the 1998 campaign at No. 6 in the nation, are led by junior Martin Sjoqvist, who begins the year at No. 25 in the singles rankings. Sjoqvist, 1998 NCAA Championship qualifier, climbed from a final 1998 ranking of 46th to earn a top 25 ranking. A second-team All-SEC selection, Sjoqvist finished his sophomore season with a 26-19 overall record and helped guide the Rebels to the NCAA quarterfinals for the fourth consecutive year.
Junior Vikrant Chada jumped up from 71st in the final 1998 rankings to No. 44 in the preseason rankings. Chada enjoyed an outstanding year in 1998, posting a 27-12 overall record and was one of the best players in the nation at the No. 4 position. He went 13-3 at the fourth spot including a 13-match winning streak.
Sophomore Sebastien Lami enters the 1998-99 season ranked No. 60. He played No. 2 for the Rebels last year as a freshman and finished with a 25-17 overall record and a final ranking of 96th.
In doubles, Sjoqvist and freshman newcomer Martin Seline are ranked 43rd in the nation. Sjoqvist has been nationally-ranked in doubles the past two years, with former All-Americans Johan Landsberg (1997) and Sebastien DeChaunac (1998). Seline is one of the top junior players from Sweden and was the 1997 18 and under Swedish Singles Champion.
The Rebels are preparing for the T. Rowe Price National Clay Court Championships which will be held Sept. 24-27 at the Suburban Country Club in Baltimore, Md.
ITA ROLEX COLLEGIATE TENNIS RANKINGS
SINGLES - Martin Sjoqvist - #25 Vikrant Chada - #44 Sebastien Lami - #60
DOUBLES - Sjoqvist/Martin Seline - #43
