Sept. 22, 2004
COSTA MESA, Calif. - San Diego State junior Benedikt Stronk defeated Rubin Statham of New Zealand in three sets, 6-0, 3-6, 6-2, during first round play Wednesday of the Diadora Pro Championship. The tournament is a USTA event at the Costa Mesa Tennis Center in Costa Mesa, Calif.
Stronk faced fellow qualifier Statham, the No. 1176 ranked player in the world, and won in three sets to earn himself a spot in the second round Thursday against Brian Wilson, who owns a world ranking of 629th.
"He's got a good opportunity to win if he continues to play at the level he's been playing," SDSU head coach Gene Carswell said. "He just needs to keep his sights on taking it one point at a time and playing well."
Stronk qualified for the singles main draw after winning three straight qualifying matches. He started off by beating Sam Querry, the No. 1416 player in the world, by a score of 6-4, 3-6, 6-4.
Stronk also beat the qualifier's 16th seed, Nenad Toroman (4-6, 6-2, 7-5), and the top qualifying seed, Emin Agaev, in straight sets (6-4, 6-2), to advance to the Wednesday's main draw.