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Rochester's Butorac Wins Doubles Challenger |
ERIC BUTORAC WINS $150,000 LUXEMBOURG TENNIS DOUBLES CHALLENGER
Eric Butorac, 2003 Gustavus graduate from Rochester, MN, continues his climb up the world doubles tennis rankings. He and partner Chris Drake were the lowest ranked team admitted to the $150,000 Luxembourg Pro Challenger tournament that ended today. In the finals they defeated third seeded Robert Lindstedt (Sweden) and Rogier Wassen (Netherlands) 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 in a well played, come from behind victory.
Two years ago Eric won the NCAA III tennis doubles title with partner Kevin Whipple from St. Cloud, MN, now a teaching pro at the White Bear Racket Club. Eric's present partner Chris Drake also has a Minnesota connection. His father Bill Drake played #1 singles and doubles at the U. of Minnesota in the early 70's. At the same time Eric's father Tim was playing for Gustavus and winning a NAIA national doubles title.
Now the accomplishments of Eric and Chris go far beyond their fathers' records. In the quarterfinals they upset fourth seeded Ashley Fisher (Australia) and Tripp Phillips (USA) 6-1, 2-6, 7-5, winners of the previous two challenger tournaments. Next in the semi's they beat second seeded Petr Pala and Pavel Vizner (Czechoslovakia) 6-3, 6-3. This team has a high world ranking that qualifies them for direct entry into the Australian Open in January.
The Luxembourg title adds 100 ATP points to Erik's total. His world professional ranking will go from 250 to around 185 with this victory. If Erik continues his upward march into the 125 range, we may be seeing him in the draw at Wimbledon or the U.S. Open. What an outstanding accomplishment for a Division III player who was putting academics first just two years ago!
This week Eric and Chris head to Orlando, FL for another Challenger Tournament. Afterwards Eric will return to Rochester, Gustavus, and the Twin Cities for rest, holiday celebration, and training for the next professional tournament.
Mobilux Open
Luxembourg
November 21-27, 2005
Hard (Indoor) - $150,000+H
Doubles
Seeds: (cut: Butorac/Drake - 492)
1. Julian Knowle/Michael Kohlmann
2. Petr Pala/Pavel Vizner
3. Robert Lindstedt/Rogier Wassen
4. Ashley Fisher/Tripp Phillips
First Round
(1)Julian Knowle/Michael Kohlmann (AUT/GER) d. (WC)Joe Hatto/Tom Maquel (LUX) 6-1 6-2
Jan Hajek/Yeu-Tzuoo Wang (CZE/TPE) d. Alejandro Falla/Fernando Vicente (COL/ESP) 6-4 6-4
(3)Robert Lindstedt/Rogier Wassen (SWE/NED) d. Lars Burgsmuller/Razvan Sabau (GER/ROM) 6-3 6-3
(WC)Gilles Kramer/Olivier Rochus (LUX/BEL) d. Kevin Kim/Hyung-Taik Lee (USA/KOR) 6-1 5-7 7-6(1)
Eric Butorac/Chris Drake (USA) d. Tomas Cibulec/Ivo Minar (CZE) 7-6(5) 6-4
(4)Ashley Fisher/Tripp Phillips (AUS/USA) d. Marcos Baghdatis/Jean-Claude Scherrer (CYP/SUI) 6-4 7-6(2)
Lukas Dlouhy/David Skoch (CZE) d. Sasa Tuksar/Jiri Vanek (CRO/CZE) 6-4 6-2
(2)Petr Pala/Pavel Vizner (CZE) d. (WC)Gilles Muller/Mike Scheidweiler (LUX) 6-2 6-4
Quarterfinals
Jan Hajek/Yeu-Tzuoo Wang (CZE/TPE) d. (1)Julian Knowle/Michael Kohlmann (AUT/GER) 7-6(3) 2-6 7-6(4)
(3)Robert Lindstedt/Rogier Wassen (SWE/NED) d. (WC)Gilles Kramer/Olivier Rochus (LUX/BEL) 6-1 6-3
Eric Butorac/Chris Drake (USA) d. (4)Ashley Fisher/Tripp Phillips (AUS/USA) 6-1 2-6 7-5
(2)Petr Pala/Pavel Vizner (CZE) d. Lukas Dlouhy/David Skoch (CZE) 4-6 6-3 7-6(4)
Semifinals
(3)Robert Lindstedt/Rogier Wassen (SWE/NED) d. Jan Hajek/Yeu-Tzuoo Wang (CZE/TPE) 6-3 6-2
Eric Butorac/Chris Drake (USA) d. (2)Petr Pala/Pavel Vizner (CZE) 6-3 6-3
Finals
Eric Butorac/Chris Drake (USA) d. (3)Robert Lindstedt/Rogier Wassen (SWE/NED) 4-6 6-3 6-4
Singles
Seeds: (cut: Thomas Enqvist - 154)
1. Olivier Rochus
2. Jarkko Nieminen
3. Christophe Rochus
4. Marcos Baghdatis
5. Fabrice Santoro
6. Ivo Minar
7. Gilles Muller
8. Hyung-Taik Lee
First Round
(q)Tobias Clemens (GER) d. (1)(WC)Olivier Rochus (BEL) 4-6 7-5 6-4
George Bastl (SUI) d. (q)Sasa Tuksar (CRO) 6-3 6-2
Jean-Rene Lisnard (FRA) d. Kevin Kim (USA) 6-2 6-7(4) 6-3
(8)(WC)Hyung-Taik Lee (KOR) d. Kristof Vliegen (BEL) 6-2 6-1
(4)Marcos Baghdatis (CYP) d. Dick Norman (BEL) 6-2 7-5
Lukas Dlouhy (CZE) d. Potito Starace (ITA) 6-4 6-0
Igor Kunitsyn (RUS) d. (q)Alejandro Falla (COL) 6-4 6-1 [Falla replaces Justin Gimelstob]
Thomas Enqvist (SWE) d. (7)Gilles Muller (LUX) 6-4 6-1
Jiri Vanek (CZE) d. (6)Ivo Minar (CZE) 4-6 6-4 6-2
Yeu-Tzuoo Wang (TPE) d. Marc Gicquel (FRA) 6-3 4-6 6-3
Lars Burgsmuller (GER) d. Razvan Sabau (ROM) 6-3 6-3
(3)(WC)Christophe Rochus (BEL) d. Irakli Labadze (GEO) 6-2 ret.
(SE)Stefan Koubek (AUT) d. (5)Fabrice Santoro (FRA) 6-1 6-4
Rainer Schuettler (GER) d. (LL)Slimane Saoudi (ALG) 6-4 6-4
Fernando Vicente (ESP) d. Michael Berrer (GER) 6-4 6-2
(2)(WC)Jarkko Nieminen (FIN) d. (q)Jan Hajek (CZE) 6-4 6-2
Second Round
George Bastl (SUI) d. (q)Tobias Clemens (GER) 4-6 6-4 6-1
(8)(WC)Hyung-Taik Lee (KOR) d. Jean-Rene Lisnard (FRA) 6-4 6-1
Lukas Dlouhy (CZE) d. (4)Marcos Baghdatis (CYP) 6-4 6-2
Thomas Enqvist (SWE) d. Igor Kunitsyn (RUS) 7-6(1) 6-2
Jiri Vanek (CZE) d. Yeu-Tzuoo Wang (TPE) 6-3 6-3
(3)(WC)Christophe Rochus (BEL) d. Lars Burgsmuller (GER) 4-6 6-1 6-3
(SE)Stefan Koubek (AUT) d. Rainer Schuettler (GER) 0-6 6-3 7-6(6)
(2)(WC)Jarkko Nieminen (FIN) d. Fernando Vicente (ESP) 6-3 6-2
Quarterfinals
George Bastl (SUI) d. (8)(WC)Hyung-Taik Lee (KOR) 6-4 6-1
Thomas Enqvist (SWE) d. Lukas Dlouhy (CZE) 7-6(3) 7-5
(3)(WC)Christophe Rochus (BEL) d. Jiri Vanek (CZE) 6-7(4) 6-1 6-1
(2)(WC)Jarkko Nieminen (FIN) d. (SE)Stefan Koubek (AUT) 6-4 3-6 7-6(3)
Semifinals
George Bastl (SUI) d. Thomas Enqvist (SWE) 6-7(6) 6-2 7-6(3)
(3)(WC)Christophe Rochus (BEL) d. (2)(WC)Jarkko Nieminen (FIN) 6-4 3-6 7-6(5)
Finals
(3)(WC)Christophe Rochus (BEL) d. George Bastl (SUI) 6-2 3-6 6-1 |
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