Cha Wins ITA Summer Regional at Kansas
7/22/2009 12:00:00 AM | Men's Tennis
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Highly touted University of Michigan freshman Chris Cha (Eureka, Mo./University of Missouri High School) made splashes in Lawrence, Kan., last weekend (July 17-19), winning the University of Kansas Regional, as part of the 2009 ITA Summer Circuit. As the top seed in the draw, Cha breezed through most of the tournament, winning in straight sets against his first three opponents on his way to the final, where he defeated fourth-seed Malcolm Harrison, 6-4, 1-6, (10-6).
One week prior (July 10-13), Cha participated in the Washington University (St. Louis) Regional, making it to the semifinals before dropping a hard-fought contest to top-seeded Vijay Paul of Vanderbilt, 7-6 (4), 6-3. Cha rebounded in doubles action, as the tandem of Cha and Akhmedov won the doubles tournament, 8-4, over Fleming/Aliber.
Fifth-seeded Michigan senior George Navas (Tampa, Fla./Tampa Preparatory School) reached the semifinals of the University of Michigan Regional before falling to eventual winner Stephen Vogl of Indiana (6-2, 6-3). Prior to being ousted in the final four, Navas defeated Matthew Tansil of Oral Roberts (6-2, 6-2) in the first round, Michael Rardon (6-3, 7-5) in the second round, Brad Noel of Western Michigan (6-4, 6-4) in the third round, and Jonathan Schroeder of Boston College (6-7, 6-1 (1-0)) in the quarterfinals. Navas and former Michigan captain Mike DePietro (2005-2009), the third-seed in the doubles tournament, were handed a tough-luck loss in the finals to the top-seeded team of Maxime Armengaud/Vogl, 9-7.
Navas also participated in the Western Michigan Regional (July 11-14), along with junior Chris Madden (Lotus, Calif./Ponderosa). Navas made it to the semifinals, but lost to third-seeded Santiago Gruter, 6-3, 7-5 (3). Madden was the fourth seed and lost in the quarterfinals to the fifth-seed Armengaud , 7-6 (4), 3-6, (10-3).
Evan King (Chicago, Ill./Laurel Springs College Prep), another heralded freshman, reached the quarterfinals of Wimbledon junior doubles last month with partner Denis Kudla before being defeated by the duo of Pierre-Hughes Herbert (France) and Kevin Kraweitz (Germany), 7-5, 7-6 (7-2). King will join Cha at the USTA Boys' National Championships at Kalamazoo College in Kalamazoo, Mich., beginning Aug. 7.
The ITA collegiate summer circuit is made up of seven regional circuits (East, Southeast, Midwest, Central, Mountain, Southwest and West) and six of the seven regions consist of four consecutive open tournaments played during the month of July. The circuit allows college and junior players the opportunity to compete in organized events virtually year round. Over 22,000 men and women have competed in circuit events since it began in 1993.
Champions of the National Collegiate Championships tournament receive wild cards into the main draws of the D'Nova/ITA Men's and Riviera/ITA Women's All-American Championships. Runner-up finishers receive a wild card into qualifying. Doubles partners must be from the same school in order to receive a wild card.
The latest news on this year's ITA Collegiate Summer Circuit can be found on the official ITA website,www.itatennis.com.
Contact: Brad Rudner (734) 763-4423
