Ex-Cat Martirosyan advances in qualifying

Lexington Herald-Leader , KY
July 23 2006

By Special To The Herald-Leader

The "college experience" paid off yesterday for former University of
Kentucky Wildcat Tigran Martirosyan against one of the world’s best
juniors, Tim Smyczeck, in the second round of the Lexington Challenger
men’s qualifying at UK’s Hilary J. Boone Complex.

"Smyczek is explosive — one of the best young Americans, but Tigran is
more experienced and has the kind of game that can blunt that," said UK
Coach Dennis Emery, who had the big Armenian for his last two seasons.

The ’05 graduate agreed, "Four years of college helped me play more
mature tennis."

Smyczek, a semifinalist at Junior Wimbledon last year at 17, turned pro
less than two months ago. Martirosyan is just now playing competitively
again after a year as assistant coach at Eastern Kentucky University,
where he is working on his Masters in finance.

This morning at 10, Martirosyan takes on Matt Bruch, the No. 1 player
as a freshman last season for collegiate power Stanford. The winner
gains a spot in the $100,000 USTA Fifth Third Bank Tennis Championships
main draw.

Bruch, one of three college players traveling with a coach as a USTA
developmental team,

was on the ropes to former Wildcat Rahim Esmail before prevailing 2-6,
7-6 (5), 6-2.

Lexington Tennis Club pro Marcus Fluitt, a Cat from 1994-98, beat
Carey Rubin, who finished his UK tennis career this spring, 6-2, 6-4.
But, cramping in that indoor match took its toll on Fluitt, who then
fell to Canadian Dejan Cvetkovic 7-5, 6-2.

Louisville natives Shane Collins, a sophomore on UK’s team, and Colin
Purcell, who just finished his eligibility at Georgia, each won a
match before falling in the second round.

Blue-hoo

Merrit Emery, the reigning three-time Kentucky high school champion
and daughter of the UK men’s coach, drew UK’s No. 1 player Kim
Coventry of Australia in the first round of women’s qualifying today.
They’ll play the second match on Court 3, at about 11:30 a.m.

Fifth Third Championships

When: Qualifying concludes today, starting at 10 a.m.; main draw
starts Monday, and continues through next Sunday

Where: UK’s Boone Tennis Complex

Tickets: $8; available at all area Fifth Third Bank locations and at
the gate. Admission today is free.