Nott storms back at Central Regionals
Tulsa, Okla. —No. 94 and fourth seed Chris Nott earned a spot in the quarterfinals at the 2009 Wilson/ITA Central Region Championships held at the Michael D. Case Center, in Tulsa, Okla. Nott will advance with partner Dmitry Lebedev to the doubles semifinals on Sunday. The No.43 ranked Razorback duo will face the tournaments top seeded team and No. 20 Aleksey Bessonov and Oleksandr Nedovyesov of OSU.
“It is good to have Chris in both singles and doubles,” Arkansas head coach Robert Cox said. “ We have a tall task ahead of us tomorrow but Chris and Dmitry are playing really well together.”
Nott opened the day with a triumph over Francois Vanlmpe of Nebraska, 6-3, 6-4. In his next match, Nott faced the No. 14 seed Nebraska’s Calin Paar in a heated three set battle. Nott played the first beautifully, and his serve was hard to face. Paar fought back and won the second set, leveling the match at a set apiece. In an epic third set, both players did not want to give up easily but Nott overcame Paar with a powerful volley to win the match, 6-2, 2-6, 7-5. Nott will face his third Nebraska opponent No. 4 seed and No. 75 ranked David Bendheim in the quarterfinals on Sunday.
“I am proud of Chris for fighting back,” Cox said. “ Our hats are off to Nebraska. They did a great job and have an outstanding program."
Matt Hogan eased through his opening match defeating Callen Fraychineaud of Bradley, 6-2, 6-4, before losing to Oklahoma’s Ionut Beleleu, 6-2, 6-3.
Lebedev dominated Tommy McGeorge of Iowa in straight sets, 6-0, 6-1. In the second round Lebedev fell, 6-3, 6-2, to the No. 59 ranked player from Nebraska, Christopher Aumueller. In the opening round, Aumueller defeated Arkansas’ Matt Walters 6-1, 6-2.
Rising Razorback Mike Ward faced off Tulsa’s Ashley Watling in Saturday’s opening round. Ward battled hard but Watling overpowered to claim the match, 6-4, 6-2.
In the consolation rounds, senior Bradwin Williams defeated Will Vasos of Iowa, 4-6, 6-2, 10-8, andTaylor Kingdefeated ORU’s Dario Beslic, 6-2, 6-4. King returned to the court but Ken Nordheim took victory in straight sets, 6-2, 6-1. Williams battled and pulled to win the second set but could not defeat Sven Kasper of Wichita State in a third set tiebreaker, 7-5, 6-7, 10-7.
“Overall the Hogs had a good day and I am pleased with all the tennis.” Cox said, “I saw a lot of great things executed on the court. We are continuing to learn and getting better everyday.”
The Hogs had a successful day at the Wilson/ITA Central Region Championships leaving the courts on Saturday with a record of 7-4 in both singles and doubles play.
Play at the Central Region Championships is scheduled to begin with doubles at 9:30 a.m. to be followed by singles competition at 11:30a.m. Log on to www.ArkansasRazorbacks.com for complete results.
Complete Results
Singles —main draw
Chris Nott (ARK) def. Francois Vanlmpe (NEB) 6-3, 6-4
Matt Hogan (ARK) def. Callen Fraychineaud (BRAD) 6-2, 6-4
Dmitry Lebedev (ARK) def. Tommy McGeorge (Iowa) 6-0, 6-1
Christopher Aumueller (NEB) def. Matt Walters (ARK) 6-1, 6-2
Ashley Watling (Tulsa) def. Mike Ward (ARK) 6-4, 6-2
Aumuller (NEB) def. Lebedev (ARK) 6-3, 6-0
Nott (ARK) def. Calin Paar (NEB) 6-2, 2-6, 7-5
Belelue (Okla.) def. Hogan (ARK) 6-2, 6-3
Doubles
Nott/Lebedev (ARK) def. Nordheim/McArthur (SLU) 8-3
Singles-consolation
Taylor King (ARK) def. Dario Beslic (ORU) 6-2, 6-4
Bradwin Williams (ARK) def. Will Vasos (Iowa) 4-6, 6-2, 10-8
Nordheim (SLU) def. King (ARK) 6-2, 6-4
Sven Kasper (Wichita St) def. Williams (ARK) 7-5, 6-7, 10-7
