Aug. 14, 2009
KALAMAZOO, Mich. – If you are going to make your mark as a junior tennis player in the U.S., there is no better place to do so than at the USTA Boys’ National Championships. Vanderbilt incoming freshman Ryan Lipman has done just that, advancing to the quarterfinals of the Boys’ 18 Singles draw in what is considered the most prestigious juniors tournament for U.S. citizens.
A Nashville native, Lipman entered the tournament as the No. 8 seed and hasn’t disappointed. After receiving a first-round bye, he has won all four of his matches to advance to the quarterfinals and is one of just eight players remaining in a draw that began with 192 players.
All four of Lipman’s wins have come in straight sets, including a 6-2, 6-2 win over 16th-seeded Frederick Saba to advance to the quarters. Lipman will face No. 3 seed Denis Kudla at 1 p.m. CT on Friday.
Whoever wins the main draw will receive a wild card into the main draw of the 2009 U.S. Open, which begins August 31.
Lipman was also seeded No. 2 in doubles and advanced to the quarterfinals before he and teammate Matthew Kandath were upended, 7-5, 7-6(6) by Sekou Bangoura and Nathan Pasha.
Fellow incoming freshman Sam Wells also competed in the singles draw in Kalamazoo.