May 10, 2003

Phillip King and Michael Yani paired for a doubles victory and then won singles matches to lead ninth-ranked and eighth-seeded Duke to a 4-0 win over High Point in the opening round of the NCAA Men's Tennis Tournament on Saturday morning at Ambler Tennis Stadium in Durham.

Winners of 14 straight matches, the Blue Devils improve to 21-5 while High Point finishes the year at 14-3.

Duke captured the doubles point with wins at the first and third positions. Ranked third nationally, the pair of King and Yani highlighted the doubles action with an 8-3 win at number one.

King, ranked 25th in the nation, kicked off singles play with a 6-3, 6-1 win over Philip Whalley at the top flight and 55th-ranked Ludovic Walter followed with his 13th consecutive win -- a straight set triumph over Chris Archer at number three. Yani then closed out the match with his 6-3, 6-3 victory over Johan Dorfh at number two.

Stephen Amritraj returned to the Duke lineup after missing the last 19 matches due to a knee injury suffered against Tennessee on February 16. He teamed with Jonathan Stokke at number three doubles against High Point.

The Blue Devils are now 19-2 on the year when winning the doubles point.

Duke advances to Sunday's second round match and will face the winner of Brown-Wake Forest at 1:30 p.m.

#9 Duke 4, High Point 0
DOUBLES
1. #3 Phillip King & Michael Yani (Duke) def. Johan Dorfh & Chris Archer, 8-3
2. #39 Ludovic Walter & Jason Zimmermann (Duke) vs. Philip Whalley & Mike Tolman, DNF
3. Stephen Amritraj & Jonathan Stokke (Duke) def. Thomas Sjoberg & Robert Lindhe, 8-4

SINGLES
1. #25 Phillip King (Duke) def. Philip Whalley, 6-3, 6-1
2. #35 Michael Yani (Duke) def. Johan Dorfh, 6-3, 6-3
3. #55 Ludovic Walter (Duke) def. Chris Archer, 6-2, 6-4
4. Jason Zimmermann (Duke) vs. Mike Tolman, DNF
5. Jonathan Stokke (Duke) vs. Thomas Sjoberg, DNF
6. Peter Shults (Duke) vs. Robert Lindhe, DNF

Order of finish: 1, 3, 2

Post Match Quotes
DUKE HEAD COACH JAY LAPIDUS: "I thought High Point was a good team. They played good doubles and were stronger than I thought they would be. I thought we played pretty well. It was very, very hot out there today and considering the conditions I thought the kids played well."

"It was a perfect first match because I felt confident we would get through it, but I was hoping we were going to be pushed in certain matches. I think this was the perfect way to begin the NCAA Tournament."

HIGH POINT HEAD COACH JERRY TERTZAGIAN: "Our kids gave a great effort against a top-flight team. It's a great experience for us to be here in the NCAAs for the first time ever against a team like Duke."

"Obviously we can't base our season on this one match. We had a tremendous season, and it's a testament to the hard work of our players"

"Overall, this was a great experience for us - to go where no High Point tennis team had before. We won our conference [the Big South] and got to face one of the best teams in the nation."

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Wake Forest Advances In NCAA Men's Tennis Tournament With 4-3 Win Over Brown

The 28th-ranked Wake Forest Demon Deacons picked up a 4-3 win over 46th-ranked Brown in the opening round of the 2003 NCAA Men's Tennis Tournament on Saturday afternoon at Ambler Tennis Stadium in Durham, N.C.

The Demon Deacons improve to 14-8 on the year while the Bears fall to 18-4.

With the match score tied at 3-3, Wake Forest's David Loewenthal upended Jamie Cerretani in three sets, 6-3, 4-6, 6-4, to lift the Demon Deacons to their first-ever NCAA Tournament win. In the final set, Loewenthal bolted out to a 4-0 advantage, but Cerretani responded with three straight games to pull within 4-3. Loewenthal then held serve twice for the victory.

Wake Forest earned the doubles point with wins at the second and third flights. David Bere then gave the Demon Deacons a 2-0 lead with a straight set win at number three singles.

After Brett Ross' win at number six extended Wake Forest's advantage to 3-0, Brown reeled off three consecutive wins to knot the match. At number four singles, Brown's Zack Pasanen needed a second set tie breaker to defeat Trent Brendon, 6-4, 7-6 (6).

Wake Forest advances to Sunday's second round match and will face Duke at 1:30 p.m.

#28 Wake Forest 4, #46 Brown 3
DOUBLES
1. Derrick Spice & Brett Ross (WF) vs. Jamie Cerretani & Chris Drake, DNF
2. Mike Murray & Trent Brendon (WF) def. Adil Shamasdin & Nick Goldberg, 8-4
3. David Loewenthal & Andrew Simpson (WF) def. Zack Pasanen & Kris Goddard, 8-5

SINGLES
1. #56 David Loewenthal (WF) def. Jamie Cerretani, 6-3, 4-6, 6-4
2. Chris Drake (B) def. Derrick Spice, 6-4, 6-4
3. David Bere (WF) def. Adil Shamasdin, 6-2, 6-1
4. Zack Pasanen (B) def. Trent Brendon, 6-4, 7-6 (6)
5. Nick Goldberg (B) def. Mike Murray, 6-4, 6-1
6. Brett Ross (WF) def. Ben Brier, 6-1, 6-4

Order of finish: 3, 6, 2, 5, 4, 1

Post Match Quotes
WAKE FOREST'S DAVID LOEWENTHAL: "I just wanted to stay out there to live another day. That's exactly what we wanted to do. Coming out for today's match, we wanted to have another day for our seniors. They are what got us to where we are."

WAKE FOREST HEAD COACH JEFF ZINN: "I knew it was going to be a tough match. We've been talking the last week about out-teamming everybody. That is what gets us through so many matches. So many guys in so many matches contribute. Today is was three guys who lost the last time we played (Brown)."