The University of Mississippi Athletics
Ole Miss
National Collegiate Tennis Classic
Rebel Netters Advance At National Collegiate Tennis Classic
1/13/2006 | Men's Tennis
Jan. 13, 2006
PALM SPRINGS, Calif. - Ole Miss men's tennis junior Eric Claesson won both his singles matches Friday, at the National Collegiate Tennis Classic, to advance to the quarterfinals at Indian Wells Tennis Garden. He and senior Juan Pablo Di Cesare also advanced to the second round of doubles.
Claesson, ranked No. 22 in the latest national rankings, downed two players from the preseason No. 1 ranked Virginia Cavaliers. In the first round, he beat freshman Nick Meros, 6-4, 6-2. Claesson followed that up with an impressive win (6-1, 6-4) over All-American Doug Stewart, who was ranked No. 6 at the beginning of the fall. After dominating the first set, Claesson fell behind 3-1 in the second, before winning five of the next six games to clinch the match.
In the quarterfinals, Claesson will face Cavalier, Rylan Rizza, who was ranked top 20 at the beginning of the fall.
"Eric is emerging as one of the top players in college tennis," assistant coach Jeff Clark said. "He played some tough matches in the first two rounds, and did a great job. He had an excellent fall, and he has picked up where he left off."
Di Cesare, who came in ranked No. 43, lost his first round match to Philipp Gruendler of defending NCAA Champion, UCLA, 6-3, 6-4. Di Cesare advanced to the second round of consolation when his first round opponent defaulted. He will face Jarrett Chirico of UVA in the second round.
In the first round of doubles, Claesson and Di Cesare cruised to an 8-2 win over Dennis Reinhardt of Pepperdine and Michael Look of UCLA.
The 27th annual NCTC has been called "the Wimbledon of College Tennis" and is the first major collegiate invitational tournament of the season, featuring several players from some of the top-ranked teams in the country.
NATIONAL COLLEGIATE TENNIS CLASSIC - Palm Springs, Calif.
SINGLES
First round - Eric Claesson (OM) def. Nick Meros (UVA) 6-4, 6-2; Philipp Gruendler (UCLA) def. Juan Pablo Di Cesare (OM) 6-3, 6-4. Second round - Claesson (OM) def. Doug Stewart (UVA) 6-1, 6-4.
DOUBLES
First round - Claesson/Di Cesare (OM) def. Dennis Reinheardt (PEPP)/Michael Look (UCLA) 8-2.
