The last time Rajeev Ram of Carmel IN faced Mathew Cloer of Brevard NC in Kalamazoo, Ram held the top seed in 16 singles and Cloer the 11th seed. They met in the semi-finals of the 2000 USTA Super Nationals and Ram handled Cloer easily 6-3, 6-2. On Monday, the two squared off again, this time in the third round of 18 singles play.

Ram looked sluggish early, dropping the first set 6-2. In the second, he turned his game around and dominated 6-2. But Cloer battled back in the third set and the seemed headed for a tiebreak until Ram was able to convert a break in the 11th game for a 6-5 lead. Even then, Cloer had his chance to force the tiebreak at 30-all and facing a Ram second serve. However, Ram got into the net and put away an overhead for match point. On the next point, Ram followed his first serve into net and put the match away with a volley winner.

Fourth seed Robert Yim of Glendale CA also survived a tough challenge from hard-hitting crowd favorite Scott Oudsema of Portage MI. Yim prevailed 6-7(2), 6-2, 6-3.

Other top seeds in the 18 singles had an easier time Monday. Top seed Brian Baker of Nashville TN cruised past Ryan Keckley of South Bend IN 6-1, 6-2 and 2nd seed Prakash Amritraj of Encino CA downed Christopher Rasmussen of Moraga CA 6-1, 6-4.

In 16 singles action, top seed Yevgeny Supeko of Billings MT advanced to the fourth round by defeating Marek Czerwinski of Birmingham MI 6-3, 6-2. 2nd seed Vahid Mirzadeh of Wellington FL won 6-2, 6-1 over Jonathan Sanchez of Fullerton CA. Robert Cameron of Lenoir City TN, the third seed advanced Monday with his hard fought 6-4, 6-4 victory over Tyler Wilson of Medford OR. 4th seed Timothy Neilly of Bradenton FL handled Billy Mulligan of Miami FL 6-4, 6-4.

However, several top seeds fell from the 16 singles ranks. The 6th seed Jamie Friedland of Glen Cove NY dropped a tough three-setter to Nikolas Cromydas of Glenview IL 7-6(6), 4-6, 6-1. Danny Bryan of New Orleans LA, the 7th seed, also lost a heartbreaker. He fell 5-7, 6-3, 7-5 to Richard Johnson of Grand Junction CO. The 8th seed Alex Kuznetsov of Richboro PA fell 6-2, 6-2 to Gary Sacks of Calabasas Hills CA.

Tuesday features a day full of big matches. The day kicks off with the 4th round of singles play in the 16 and the 18 divisions at Stowe Stadium and finishes with the 4th round of doubles action in both divisions. At the WMU Sorensen Courts, the third round qualifying of the 16 Feed-ins is scheduled along with the third round of the 18 Feed-ins.

Source: Matt