Michigan
Big Ten Singles (Day 3)
Rubin Falls in Big Ten Singles Championship Title Match
11/17/2003 12:00:00 AM | Men's Tennis
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Junior standout Michael Rubin (Canton, Ohio/Canton Central Catholic HS) of the University of Michigan men's tennis team lost 6-4, 6-4 to Minnesota's Chris Wettengel in the main draw final of the Big Ten Singles Championships Monday afternoon (Nov. 17) at the Varsity Tennis Center. Wettengel, the No. 7 seed in the 64-player main draw, gained the early momentum and never faltered en route to the straight-set victory. Rubin, the top seed, finished the three day tournament with an impressive 5-1 record.
Wettengel got an early leg up in the match, breaking Rubin's serve to win the first game. After Wettengel went up 2-0, the two battled through a pair of deuces before Rubin won the game to cut the deficit to 2-1. The two players continued to trade games, as Wettengel entered the 10th game with a 5-4 edge. Leading 40-15, Wettengel ripped a forehand down the line and Rubin was unable to get a backhand on the ball.
Michigan's co-captain regrouped and took the first two games in the second set, but Wettengel answered with two straight wins to knot the score at 2-2. After another exchange of games, Wettengel began to wear down Rubin, winning the next two games to take a 5-3 advantage and move within one game of the title. In the final game, Rubin withstood three championship points before Wettengel blasted a cross-court winner to claim the championship.
Rubin advanced to the final after an easy 6-1, 6-1 win over Penn State's Roddy Cantey in the morning semifinal match.
The Wolverines begin their dual match season at the Varsity Tennis Center on Jan. 17, 2004, hosting Western Michigan at 10 a.m.
Following are Rubin's match-by-match results:
Main Draw
Michael Rubin (#1 seed)
First Round - d. John Stone (Indiana), 6-2, 6-2
Second Round - d. Adam Schaechterle (Northwestern), 6-0, 6-1
Third Round - d. #9-16 seed Joey Atas (Ohio State), 3-6, 6-4, 6-0
Quarterfinals - d. Christian Tempke (Northwestern), 7-6(5), 6-4
Semifinals - d. Roddy Cantey (Penn State), 6-1, 6-1
Finals - 1. #7 seed Chris Wettengel (Minnesota), 6-4, 6-4
Finished as main draw runner-up with 5-1 record
Contact: Marc Ressler (734) 763-4423
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Players Mentioned
