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Home , Michael Chang, Michael Russell (tennis), Vic Braden

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$75,000 COMERICA BANK CHALLENGER PREVIEW USTA Pro Circuit Celebrates 30 Years

ome 5,664 miles away, USTA Pro Circuit Challenger in four King of Clay is months in Waikoloa, Hawaii. In her fi- S on his way to a shocking nal USTA Pro Circuit appearance, 15- dethronement at the hands of wily year-old Maria Sharapova reaches Swedish vet Robin Soderling in Paris. ADAM DAVIS/USTA the singles final in Pittsburgh, Pa. Michael Russell and are 2003 a world away (literally and figuratively) In the Binghamton final, 6-foot-10 glued to the action on ESPN2 at the Croatian Ivo Karlovic serves a USTA Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif. Pro Circuit record 41 aces. They’re moments away from a big 2005 match of their own — the final of the wins two of his nine L.A. Open USTA $50,000 career USTA Pro Circuit titles, after Challenger, in fact. They’d probably injuries and illness drop his ranking to be better off in the locker room going No. 210. becomes over Xs and Os, getting a massage, the youngest-ever winner in Aptos, jumpstarting their pre-match rou- Calif. tines. But it’s hard to pull yourself 2006 Sam Querrey debutes on the USTA away from the TV when the No. 1 Michael Russell player on Planet Earth is getting recently captured Pro Circuit and wins three events. schooled by an against-all-odds un- his record 20th 2007 derdog. It’s the kind of match that USTA Pro Circuit earns a top-100 gives guys like Russell, 31, and Yani, singles title. ranking by playing almost exclusively 28, hope. on the USTA Pro Circuit. Young earns For Russell, the flashbacks of his to get him today,” Russell told the 1998 a total of $54,005 — the all-time sin- Roland Garros run of ‘01 are flooding crowd after the win. , 15, wins the USTA gle season prize money record. in. That was the year he was on the These kinds of stories occur day Circuit event in Grenelefe, Fla. 2008 verge of upsetting Rafa’s royal prede- in/day out on the USTA Pro Circuit, 1999 Julie Ditty records her record 32nd cessor, Guga Kuerten, in the fourth which this year celebrates its 30th A decade after winning the French career USTA Pro Circuit title in Albu- round, when the Brazilian rallied from anniversary. And the July 11-19 Open, Michael turns heads querque, N.M. two sets down to prevail 3-6, 4-6, 7- $75,000 Comerica Bank Challenger when he enters the Safeway Chal- lenger in Aptos, Calif. Chang falls to 6(3), 6-3, 6-1 and went on to win his — founded in ‘87 and now one of WHO: Past, Present, third RG title. the USTA Pro Circuit’s longest-run- in the semis. Future ATP Pros The Singapore-born Yani got the ning events — will be yet another op- 2000 WHAT: The $75,000 Comer- best of Russell a few weeks earlier at portunity to see these stories unfold. The USTA Circuit officially becomes ica Bank Challenger a $50,000 event in Sarasota, but is the USTA Pro Circuit. Bob and Mike WHERE: Seascape Sports coming off a taxing, two-hour, 51- USTA Pro Circuit: Bryan win their 13th USTA Pro Cir- Club, Aptos minute semi and had had little time to A 30-Year Overview cuit doubles title in Aptos, Calif. WHEN: July 11-19 recover. The two have become close 2001 TICKETS: (831) 688-1993, www.seascapesportsclub.com friends, the result of weeks on the 1979 wins his third career road together. Bouncing from town USTA takes control of the World As- to town, it’s nice to have friends as soc. of Tennis Champions circuit you crisscross the country on tennis’ and forms the USTA/Penn Circuit. version of baseball’s minor leagues. 1982 The two even warm up together be- The USTA re-titles the USTA/Penn Tennis for Docs fore the match. There are no hitting Circuit the USTA Circuit, offering 35 Come Share Medicine & Tennis with your Colleagues partners here. No entourages to tournaments across the U.S. speak of. 1986 Russell jumps out early against and American Medical Tennis Association (AMTA) Yani and it’s soon clear that it’s going make their USTA Circuit debut. 2009 JULY • TENNIS INSIDE to be his day. The Texan rolls to a 1987 is holding its west coast meeting at the convincing 6-1, 6-1 win for his record , 15, ecomes the 20th USTA Pro Circuit singles title, youngest player to win a men’s event Tennis Resort, St. George, Utah pocketing $7,200 for his efforts. It on the USTA Circuit in Las Vegas. October 11-16, 2009 may not seem much compared to 1989 the payday of Soderling, who’ll pock- sweeps the singles and et 132,500 Euros (more than doubles titles in York, Pa. 12 free CME hours, 4 day tennis tournament $185,000) for his fourth-round upset 1992 of Nadal in Paris. But it makes for a Patrick Rafter claims his first-ever For more information call: Or Go to Website: pro title in nice day at work for Russell, who’ll Aptos, Calif. 1-800-326-2682 www.mdtennis.org climb to No. 166 with the victory. 1997 “Michael kicked my butt two Andre Agassi returns to the USTA

1803 Cobblestone Drive, Provo, Utah 84604 27 weeks ago, so it was good I was able Circuit after dropping to No. 141. Established 1968 A Non-profit Organization

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