University of Tennessee Athletics
Blake and Trifu Advance to Final of USTA / UT Challenger
November 17, 2001 | Men's Tennis
Nov. 17, 2001
Top-seeded James Blake of
the U.S. and qualifier Gabriel Trifu of Romania will meet in Sunday's final
round at the USTA/UT Challenger being held at the Goodfrienfd Indoor Tennis
Center on the UT campus.
Blake took out former NCAA champion Jeff Morrison in his semifinal match Saturday
to advance. Blake, ranked No. 72 in the world, won the match easily 6-2, 6-4.
Trifu came back to defeat American Robby Ginepri Saturday, with a hard-fought
1-6, 7-6(2), 6-1 win. Ginepri won the first set and had eight break points in
the second stanza, but could not capitalize on any of them.
Blake and Trifu will meet for the championship Sunday at 2:30 p.m.
In doubles play, Americans Mardy Fish and Morrison defeated Stephen Huss and
Paul Rosner 5-7, 7-6(7), 7-5 in their semifinal match. Fish and Morrison came
back from down 6-2 in the second set tiebreak to advance. Americans Brian Coupe
and Kelly Gullett ousted Justin Bower and Jack Waite 7-5, 7-6(7) to join Fish
and Morrison in Sunday's final. That match will begin at 1 p.m..
| Saturday's Results |
| Singles |
| Semifinal round |
| James Blake (USA) def. Jeff Morrison (USA) 6-2, 6-4 |
| Gabriel Trifu (ROM) def. Robby Ginepri (USA) 1-6, 7-6(2), 6-1 |
| Doubles |
| Semifinal round |
| Coupe/Gullett (USA) def. Bower/Waite (RSA/USA) 7-5, 7-6(7) |
| Fish/Morrison (USA) def. Huss/Rosner (AUS/RSA) 5-7, 7-6(7), 7-5 |
| ****Sunday's Matches and Times*** |
| Singles |
| Final |
| 2:30 p.m.- James Blake (USA) vs. Gabriel Trifu (ROM) |
| Doubles |
| Final |
| 1 p.m.- Coupe/Gullett (USA) vs. Fish/Morrison (USA) |
