University of Tennessee Athletics
UT/USTA Challenger Brings American Pro Standouts to UT Campus
November 04, 2002 | Men's Tennis
Nov. 4, 2002
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- American ATP Tour standouts such as Michael Chang and Vincent Spadea will bring their games to the University of Tennessee's Goodfriend Indoor Tennis Center Nov. 10-17 for the third annual UT/USTA Men's Pro Challenger.
A USTA Professional Circuit event, the $50,000 Challenger will feature world-class tennis players ranked in the top-200 in the world as well as players from the Tennessee men's tennis team.
Tournament qualifying will take place Sunday, Nov. 10 and Monday, Nov. 11. The main draw begins Monday, Nov. 11 and final round competition will take place Sunday, Nov. 17.
Admission for the event is $5 per day for adults, $2 per day for youth and free to all UT students, staff and faculty with a valid ID. All spectators receive free admission to qualifying and first round singles competition Nov. 10 and 11.
Topping the list of names highlighting this year's tournament is Chang. Also a participant in last year's event, Chang was the youngest player ever to win a Grand Slam tournament when he claimed the 1989 French Open title in Roland Garros at the age of 17. He has claimed 34 career ATP singles titles and attained a career-high world ranking of No. 2 in 1996.
Another top American player slated to serve it up in Knoxville is Spadea. A native of Chicago, Spadea was a 1999 Australian Open quarterfinalist and was ranked as high as No. 19 in the world in October of that year. He has won three career ATP doubles titles and is currently No. 61 in the ATP Champions Race. Spadea fell in the third round of last year's UT/USTA Challenger to eventual champion James Blake.
Numerous other rising American stars are scheduled to compete, including Mardy Fish. Currently ranked No. 92 in the world, Fish is also a member of the 2002 U.S. Davis Cup Team. Robby Ginepri is another up-and-coming American who will be hitting the court. Ginepri has played in each of the two previous challengers, and defeated Chang in last year's event en route to the semifinal round. He is currently ranked No. 102 in the world.
Many former NCAA standouts will also join the field this year, including three former NCAA singles champions: Alex Kim, Stanford, 2000; Jeff Morrison, Florida, 1999; and Cecil Mamiit, Southern Cal, 1996. Paul Goldstein, a member of four NCAA team titles with Stanford, and an ATP Tour veteran, will also compete.
The UT/USTA Men's Pro Challenger also serves as an opportunity for current members of Tennessee's men's tennis team to test their skills against some highly-ranked professional talent. Five Vol netters will take advantage of that opportunity this year, with Mark Dietrich and Simon Rea playing out of the main draw, and three other Vols taking part in qualifying.
"The UT/USTA Pro Challenger is an invaluable component of our program here at UT," said Tennessee associate head coach Chris Mahony, who acts as tournament director for the event. "It gives our team members, who are striving to become touring professionals, the opportunity to compete against players in the top-100 in the world. The experience they gain from this tournament is an essential part of the pro philosophy that our coaching staff tries to emphasize."
The event also affords local tennis enthusiasts with a wonderful opportunity to see some of the world's best players up close and soak up some exciting matches.
"The tennis population in East Tennessee is somewhat starved of professional tennis, and I feel privileged to be in a position whereby I can organize such an event," Mahony said.
Administered by the United States Tennis Association, the USTA Professional Circuit is the gateway to the US Open and tour-level competition for aspiring tennis professionals, and a frequent battleground for established players. The 2002 circuit features more than 100 events for men and women. Prize money at USTA Professional Circuit events ranges from $10,000 to $75,000, with more than $3 million in purses this year. Players also earn valuable ATP and Sanex WTA tour ranking points.
