University of the PACIFIC

The original field of 128 was weeded down to 32 by the end of the first day of the Wilson/ITA Northwest Mens Regional Championships. After a strong start that saw all three of the Pacific mens tennis team players competing grab wins, 17^th seeded Artem Gramma (Krivoj Roj, Ukraine) was the only Tiger to make the cut of 32.

 

Gramma is also the only seeded Pacific player at the tournament. The junior overpowered Portlands Geoff Hernadez 7-5, 6-0 to advance to the Round of 64. Fellow junior Fernando Ristow (Curitaba, Brazil) defeated Sacramento States Georg Anastopouls 6-1, 6-1 and senior Vegerd Veskimagi (Saku, Estonia) routed Alex Rosinski of the University of Washington 6-3, 6-4 to also advance.

 

Fresno States Siddartha Alapati took Gramma to a tie breaker in the first set of their match which Gramma won 7-6(3). Gramma then took the second set 6-3, to earn his spot in the round of 32.

 

He will take on the No. 9 seed, Jonathan Dahan of Cal on Saturday at 1 p.m. Gramma and Ristow also compete in doubles play beginning on Saturday. Their match against Santa Claras Mauricio Villa and Nick Buckley is set to begin at 8 a.m.

 

Fans can continue to keep up with the action at the tournaments website:

 

http://www.tennisinformation.com/tourny/5/1/9/2/9/1/4/default.asp

 

2009 Wilson/ITA Northwest Mens Regional

Berkeley, Calif.

 

Singles

Round of 128: Fernando Ristow def. Georg Anastopouls (SAC); 6-1, 6-1

Round of 128: Vegerd Veskimagi def. Alex Rosinski (UW); 6-3, 6-4

Round of 128: Artem Gramma [17] def. Geoff Hernandez (POR); 7-5, 6-0

Round of 64: Kyle McMorrow[17] (UW) def. Fernando Ristow; 6-3, 6-1

Round of 64: Thai Tru[17] (USF) def. Vegerd Veskimagi; 6-2, 6-2

Round of 64: Artem Gramma [17] def. Sidddartha Alapati (FS); 7-6(3), 6-3