June 25, 2002

WIMBLEDON, England - Former University of Virginia standout Brian Vahaly lost to Russia's Mikhail Youzhny in his first round match at Wimbledon on Tuesday, by scores of 6-3, 1-6, 6-3, 6-2. Vahaly, the only collegiate player from 2001 competing at Wimbledon this year, is currently ranked 143rd in the world. Youzhny is ranked 58th.

Vahaly competed in Wimbledon by winning two of three qualifying matches and then being selected in a draw when a player dropped out of the tournament. He was named United States Tennis Association (USTA) Circuit Player of the Week twice earlier this year. Since turning professional last year, he has won five Futures tournaments.

Vahaly completed his outstanding collegiate career at Virginia by earning All-America honors for the third time, advancing to the finals of the NCAA Singles Championship and compiling an overall record of 40-6 during the 2000-01 season. His 40 singles victories are a UVa single-season record and he advanced further in the NCAA Singles Championship than any player in UVa history. Vahaly, who was unseeded entering the 2001 NCAA singles competition, lost to third-seeded Matias Boeker of Georgia 6-2, 6-4 in the finals. He finished the season ranked fifth in the nation in singles in the final WingspanBank.com Men's Collegiate Tennis Rankings.

The native of Atlanta, Ga., was the Atlantic Coast Conference Player of the Year and the ACC flight champion at #1 singles his last two years at Virginia and earned All-ACC honors four times. He lost just three ACC singles matches during his four years as a member of the UVa program and only one his final three seasons. He earned ACC Rookie of the Year honors in 1998.

-UVa-