July 24, 2007

RIO DE JANEIRO - Wake Forest men's tennis standout and recent graduate Todd Paul opened play at the Pan American Games singles competition with a straight set victory to advance to the round of 32.

Joining Paul with first-round victories for the USA men's team were Travis Helgeson and Stephen Bass. All three U.S. men will all face seeded opponents in the second round.

Held on the clay courts of the Marapendi Club, Paul cruised to a 6-1, 6-3 victory over Gustavo Ramirez of Paraguay and will face No. 10-seed Marcel Felder of Uruguay. The U.S. trio will attempt to add to a collection of 41 Pan Am medals won by U.S. tennis athletes since the inception of the Games.