Men's Tennis Sends Two To USTA Event
10/15/2009 12:00:00 AM | Men's Tennis
Oct. 15, 2009
WACO, Texas - Two Baylor men's tennis players will compete as amateurs in the USTA Futures Pro Circuit event this weekend at the Walnut Creek Country Club in Mansfield, Texas.
Junior Jordan Rux (Kerrville, Texas) will start play in the tournament's qualifying round on Saturday, Oct. 17, in attempt to earn one of four spots into the main draw. Although these matches do not count toward his college record, Rux is 7-1 in fall tournament play and earned the Baylor Intercollegiate singles title on Sept. 27.
"Jordan is in the process of making a leap to a new level and if he is able to play at the level he is capable, he should be able to do well," men's tennis coach Matt Knoll said. "Hopefully he can find some great guys to play and get a chance to be pushed."
The junior, who is ranked No. 27 in the ITA preseason rankings, will be looking to rebound from his first loss of the season in his last match out against No. 70 Eric Quigley of Kentucky at the ITA All-American Championships. Quigley knocked Rux out of the second round of the tournament in straight sets 6-2, 7-5.
Last year at the Mansfield Futures Tournament, Rux advanced to the second round before falling in the qualifying draw. Rux is 0-2 this season in Pro Circuit and Challenger events and holds a 3-10 lifetime record.
The Bears' other representative at the event, senior All-American Denes Lukacs (Eger, Hungary) will begin play in the 32-man main draw of the event on Tuesday, Oct. 20. Lukacs is 1-6 this year in Pro Circuit and Challenger events and has career record of 10-20.
Last year at the Mansfield Futures, Lukacs advanced out of the qualifying draw with four straight victories and then won his opening round match in main draw, before bowing out of the tournament in the second round.
"Denes hasn't played that well for the last several weeks," Knoll said. "Hopefully he can keep improving and focus on that and not worry about results right now. We feel that if he keeps working on his tennis, eventually he can get over the hump and win some matches."
Tournament draws and results can be viewed here for this week's matches.
Players Mentioned
