The University of Mississippi Athletics
Ole Miss
USTA Future
Rebel Netter Gard Qualifies For Futures Tournament
10/26/2004 | Men's Tennis
Oct. 26, 2004
BATON ROUGE, La. - Ole Miss men's tennis senior Catalin Gard qualified for the USTA Pro Futures tournament here, which began Tuesday. Gard, the nation's No. 1 ranked player in collegiate tennis, won two matches over the weekend to reach the main draw.
After a first-round bye, Gard, the 2004 SEC Player of the Year, defeated Alabama's No. 1 player from last season, Stephen Mitchell, 3-6, 6-4, 6-2. In the final round of qualifying, Gard downed Robbye Poole of the United States, 6-1, 6-1.
Gard, will face another qualifier, Phillip Gubenco of Canada in the main draw first round, Wednesday. He will also compete in doubles with former Rebel teammate Alex Hartman. The two are seeded No. 3 and will play a team from China in the first round.
Off to a great start this fall, Gard won the ICY Hot/ITA All-American, the year's first national championship. After the Futures tournament, Gard will go for his second national title of the year when he competes in the ITA National Intercollegiate Indoor Championships in Ann Arbor, Mich., Nov. 4-7.
