Reynolds Continues Surge in NCAA Singles Championship 5/22/03

ATHENS, Ga. - Entering the NCAA Singles Championship as the top seed, junior Bobby Reynolds (Acworth, Ga.) knew each opposition would try to knock him down. After two rounds, Reynolds has shown no signs he is going to let up. With a 7-5, 6-2 victory over Baylor’s Benjamin Becker on Thursday at the Dan Magill Tennis Complex, he advances to the Round of 16 on Friday.

Becker was an opponent Reynolds was familiar with, as the two squared off on May 18 in the NCAA Team Championship quarterfinals. While the match was suspended due to the Commodores having clinched the team victory, Becker led Reynolds 3-2 in the third set. However, on Thursday, Reynolds showed his dominance, as he grabbed one break late in the first set and two breaks in the second to cruise to the straight-set win.

Reynolds will take on Washington’s Alex Vlaski on Friday morning. Vlaski defeated UCLA's Marcin Matkowski in straight sets, 6-1, 6-3.

Reynolds will be looking to avenge a loss to Washington’s top player. Vlaski, who is seeded 9-16 alphabetically in the tournament, gave Reynolds won of his six losses this year back in November at the Intercollegiate Tennis Association Indoor Championships in Farmers Branch, Texas.

If Reynolds defeats either Vlaski, he will earn his 100th career singles victory. He currently holds an all-time record of 99-34, which includes a 46-6 mark for the 2002-03 season.

The Commodores did not fair as well in the doubles competition, as both teams were eliminated in the first round. Junior Chad Harris (Aurora, Colo.) and Scott Brown (St. Louis, Mo.) were defeated by North Carolina's Trystan Meniane and Nicholas Monroe in two tight sets, 7-5, 7-6.

Reynolds and junior Lewie Smith (Memphis, Tenn.), who did not start their match until late in the evening due to inclement weather, were taken out by Brown's Jamie Cerratani and Chris Drake in three sets, 4-6, 6-4, 6-3. Both Vanderbilt doubles teams had not played together in a while, as head coach Ken Flach had adjusted the doubles lineups late in the dual-match season.