Dent Leads American Grass Charge at ATP Newport
Posted on July 4, 2005
The grasscourt season stretches one more week at the "B"-level Campbell's Hall of Fame Tennis Championships in Newport, R.I., where Taylor Dent leads the Top 25-less field.
Joining the chunky serve-and-volleyer on the lawns are Brit "Grinning" Greg Rusedski, Frenchman Cyril Saulnier, German Lars Burgsmuller, and Americans Vince Spadea, Robby Ginepri, Paul Goldstein and James Blake.
Opening-round matches of interest are (1) Dent vs. former NCAA champ Amer Delic, Wimbledon doubles champ Wesley Moodie vs. Taipei's Yeu-Tzoo Wang, (5) Ginepri vs. (WC) Scott Oudsema in an all-American, Brit (WC) Andy Murray vs. Frenchman Gregory Carraz, (4) Saulnier vs. Italy's Daniele "Choppin'" Bracciali who stretched Andy Roddick to five sets at Wimbledon, and (2) Spadea vs. Alexander "My Serve Has" Popp.
The light bottom half of the draw is a question mark with Spadea's bum shoulder, but the top half could yield interesting match-ups such as (1) Dent vs. (5) Ginepri in the quarterfinals, and (1) Dent vs. (3) Rusedski, (8) Blake or (WC) Murray in the semis.
In last year's final the unseeded Rusedski outgunned Popp in two tiebreaks for the title.
Returning champs in the field are Rusedski (2004,'93), Ginepri (2003), and Dent (2002).
Main draw matches slated for Monday are (WC) Oudsema vs. (5) Ginepri, Popp vs. (2) Spadea, and (6) Burgsmuller vs. G.Lapentti.
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