Poerschke Falls In ATP Challenger Semifinals
11/14/2009 12:00:00 AM | Men's Tennis
Nov. 14, 2009
GUAYAQUIL, Ecuador - Former men's tennis athlete, Lars Poerschke had a career week as he advanced all of the way to the semifinals of the V Challenger Ciudad De Guayaquil on Friday, before falling to Ecuadorian product Nicolas Lapentti.
Lapentti was the tournament's second seed and a favorite of the crowd of more than 2,500 at the match on Friday night. Poerschke, who was ranked No. 345 in the ATP singles rankings before the match struggled early and was unable to recover against Lapentti, the world's 116th-ranked player, and lost the match 6-1, 7-6(4).
"Lars was a little nervous at the beginning and got a little unlucky in the tiebreaker," men's tennis coach Matt Knoll said after talking with Poerschke after the match.
However, even with the loss Knoll says that Poerschke will move into the top 300 in the world for the first time in his career, because of the run he had leading up to the semifinals. Poerschke entered the challenger as an unseeded qualifier and quickly dispatched of three opponents in three qualifying matches.
The three-match streak placed the former Baylor standout in the main draw where he took down Carlos Salamanca 3-6, 6-3, 6-1 in round 1, Martin Alund in round two 6-3, 2-6, 6-4 and finally Rui Machado in the quarterfinals 7-6, 6-4. Those three opponents were all ranked above Poerschke with Salamanca at No. 149, Alund at No. 253 and Machado at No.118 in the ATP rankings.
"I think it was a big week for Lars," Knoll said. "He beat several big guys that are ranked higher then him and it will get his ranking inside the top 300."
For his efforts in the clay court event Poerschke will receive 29 points and $2, 510.
Poerschke will play in Cancun, Mexico next week in another challenger event main draw.
Players Mentioned
