Source: FightingIllini.com
Posted: Monday, July 13, 2009 4:04:00 PM EST
Published: Monday, July 13, 2009 4:05:38 PM EST
Posted: Monday, July 13, 2009 4:04:00 PM EST
Published: Monday, July 13, 2009 4:05:38 PM EST
NEWPORT, R.I. - Former Illini Rajeev Ram defeated No. 3 seed Sam Querrey, 6-7(3), 7-5, 6-3 to take home his first ATP title at the Campbell's Hall of Fame Tennis Championships in Newport, R.I., this past weekend. He also went on to claim the doubles title, playing alongside five-time Newport champion Jordan Kerr (Australia). The duo topped Michael Kohlmann and Rogier Wassen, 6-7 (6), 7-6(7), 10-6.
"This is the biggest moment of my career and I will enjoy it and keep working hard," Ram told the ATP. "These days don't come around too often and when you get to this stage, you hope to take advantage of the opportunity."
In a weekend of firsts for the 25-year-old Ram, he became the first-ever "lucky loser" to win the grass-court tournament during the first all-American final in an ATP World Tour event since 2007. A lucky loser is a player who enters main draw play after another player withdraws prior to the first round. Ram replaced top-seeded Mardy Fish, who left the tournament to play on the United States Davis Cup team in place of Andy Roddick. Ram also became the first American to win at Newport since 2003 and the third player to win both the singles and doubles titles at the tournament in the same year.
In his lone season at Illinois in 2003, Ram helped lead the Illini to an NCAA Team Championship, in addition to securing the Doubles Championship with teammate Brian Wilson. Current Illinois men's tennis head coach Brad Dancer was thrilled to see Ram battle back to win the titles. "I am incredibly happy and proud of what Ram was able to accomplish," Dancer said. "He showed resiliency in coming back as the lucky loser and made the most of the opportunity, making the entire Illini nation proud."
With the win, the Carmel, Ind., resident earned 250 South African Airways ATP Ranking points, which moved him up 73 spots from No. 181 to a career-high 108th.
"This is the biggest moment of my career and I will enjoy it and keep working hard," Ram told the ATP. "These days don't come around too often and when you get to this stage, you hope to take advantage of the opportunity."
In a weekend of firsts for the 25-year-old Ram, he became the first-ever "lucky loser" to win the grass-court tournament during the first all-American final in an ATP World Tour event since 2007. A lucky loser is a player who enters main draw play after another player withdraws prior to the first round. Ram replaced top-seeded Mardy Fish, who left the tournament to play on the United States Davis Cup team in place of Andy Roddick. Ram also became the first American to win at Newport since 2003 and the third player to win both the singles and doubles titles at the tournament in the same year.
In his lone season at Illinois in 2003, Ram helped lead the Illini to an NCAA Team Championship, in addition to securing the Doubles Championship with teammate Brian Wilson. Current Illinois men's tennis head coach Brad Dancer was thrilled to see Ram battle back to win the titles. "I am incredibly happy and proud of what Ram was able to accomplish," Dancer said. "He showed resiliency in coming back as the lucky loser and made the most of the opportunity, making the entire Illini nation proud."
With the win, the Carmel, Ind., resident earned 250 South African Airways ATP Ranking points, which moved him up 73 spots from No. 181 to a career-high 108th.
