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The University of Mississippi Athletics
Ole Miss
First Guaranty Bank Wildcard Tournament
Rebel Netters Experience Success At USTA Wildcard Tournament
9/12/2004 | Men's Tennis
Sept. 12, 2004
HAMMOND, La. - The Ole Miss men's tennis team experienced success this past weekend at the USTA First Guaranty Bank Wildcard Classic, placing two in the final four with freshman Bram Ten Berge reaching the final. As a result of making the final, Berge receives a wildcard to the qualifying tournament for the USTA Challenger in Covington, La., Sept. 20-26.
Berge, who made his debut for the Rebels this weekend, was impressive in pulling out three three-setters, before dropping a straight-set (6-3, 6-1) decision to Eveghenii Corduneanu, who plays No. 1 for Louisiana-Lafayette and is ranked No. 38 in the ITA's preseason national rankings.
Berge, a native of the Netherlands, downed Dusan Tabak in the first round 6-2, 3-0, ret. In the round of 16, Berge defeated Robert Haywood 6-4, 2-6, 6-2. After splitting sets with Alberto Sottocom in the quarterfinals, Berge was decisive in the final set for a 7-6(2), 2-6, 6-0 win. In the semifinals, Berge took on Alabama's No. 1 player in 2004, Stephen Mitchell. Berge lost the first set 6-4, but rebounded to win the second 6-4. He would take a 5-1 lead in the final set when Mitchell retired due to injury.
Sophomore Eric Claesson, the tournament's top seed, advanced to the semifinals before falling to Courduneanu 6-2, ret. After a first-round bye, Claesson defeated Andy Kolker of Baltimore, Md., 6-3, 6-7(2), 2-0, ret., in the second round. In the quarterfinals, Claesson held off teammate Karim Alayli, 6-4, 3-6, 6-4.
Junior Juan Pablo Di Cesare won two matches in straight sets before bowing out to Corduneanu in the quarterfinals.
The Rebels will next compete in the Southern Intercollegiate in Athens, Ga., Sept. 24-26.
First Guaranty Bank Wildcard Classic - Hammond, La. First Round - Bram Ten Berge (OM) def. Dusan Tabak, 6-2, 3-0, ret.; Karim Alayli (OM) def. Trey J. Glorioso, 6-1, 6-2. Second round - Claesson (OM) def. Andy Kolker, 6-3, 6-7(2), 2-0, ret.; Alayli (OM) def. Laszio Leiter, 7-5, 6-3; Juan Pablo Di Cesare (OM) def. Chris Hartfield, 6-1, 6-1; Alberto Sottocom def. Fredrik Aarum (OM) 2-6, 6-3, 6-3. Quarterfinals - Claesson (OM) def. Alayli (OM) 6-4, 3-6, 6-4; Evghenii Corduneanu (ULL) def. Di Cesare (OM) 6-1, 4-1, ret.; Berge (OM) def. Sottocom, 7-6(2), 2-6, 6-0. Semifinals - Corduneanu (ULL) def. Claesson (OM) 6-2, ret.; Berge (OM) def. Stephen Mitchell 4-6, 6-4, 5-1, ret. Final - Corduneanu (ULL) def. Berge (OM) 6-3, 6-1.
