FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 24, 2009
LOS ANGELES - Australian Chris Guccione has earned a wild card into the LA Tennis Open Presented by Farmers Insurance Group after winning the ninth annual Wild Card Shoot-Out on Friday at UCLA.
Guccione defeated American Donald Young 11-9 in the final tie-break to determine the wild card.
“It’s a lot better than playing three qualie matches,” Guccione said. “I just found out about this a couple days ago. I feel like I’m playing well. I just won the Aptos Challenger, so obviously I’m hitting the ball pretty well. This is great.”
Guccione suffered one loss in the Group Stage of the Shoot-Out, while Young was undefeated, meaning had to beat Young twice in a row to advance. He did, winning the final two tie-breaks 10-8 and 11-9.
This will be the second main draw appearance for Guccione in LA. In 2007, he lost in the first round in a third-set tie-break to Marat Safin.
Eight players took part in a double-elimination tie-break tournament. Those who have no advanced to the main draw may sign in for the qualifying tournament that begins at 10 am on Saturday.
PETE SAMPRAS FLIGHT
Chris Guccione vs. Steve Johnson
Prakash Amritraj vs. Taylor Dent
FIRST ROUND
Guccione def. Johnson, 10-4
Amritraj def. Dent, 10-6
SECOND ROUND
Dent def. Johnson, 10-8
Guccione def. Amritraj, 10-8
THIRD ROUND
Amritraj def. Dent, 10-8
Amritraj def. Guccione, 10-6
PLAYOFF
Guccione def. Amritraj, 10-6
ROGER FEDERER FLIGHT
Somdev Devvarman vs Devin Britton
JT Sundling vs Donald Young
FIRST ROUND
Devvarman def. Britton, 10-7
Young def. Sundling, 10-5
SECOND ROUND
Sundling def. Britton, 10-8
Young def. Devvarman, 10-5
THIRD ROUND
Devvarman def. Sundling, 10-3
Young def. Devvarman, 10-5
FINALS
Guccione def. Young, 10-8
Guccione def. Young, 11-9
Here’s a list of previous Wild Card Shoot-Out winners and their result in the main draw:
2008 – Zach Fleishman (1st Rnd)
2007 – Zach Fleishman (QFs)
2006 – Scott Oudsema (2nd Rnd)
2005 – Cecil Mamiit (1st Rnd)
2004 – Lester Cook (1st Rnd)
2003 – Michael Joyce (2nd Rnd)
2002 – Kevin Kim (1st Rnd)
2001 – Alex Kim (1st Rnd)