October 17, 2007
Texas A&M men?â„¢s tennis player Conor Pollock (San Antonio, Texas) picked up a first-round singles victory in the main draw of the 2007 USTA Mansfield Futures Tournament held Wednesday at the Walnut Creek Country Club.
Pollock, who is competing as an amateur at the Futures event, defeated former University of Michigan standout Michael Rubin (USA), 6-4, 6-4, in the 32-player main draw. He will face third-seeded Australian Carsten Ball in the round of 16 tomorrow at 10 a.m. Ball is currently ranked No. 504 in the world and his father, Syd, played on the pro tour alongside Texas A&M head coach Steve Denton and Texas A&M assistant coach Bob McKinley.
?Conor has been pretty consistent and has played well in the fall,? Denton said. ?These Futures matches are a good test for him, because he has proven that he is capable of playing against the best in the world.?
For the second time of his career, Pollock earned a wild card entry into the main draw of a Futures tournament. He previously earned wild card entries in singles and doubles at the 2007 USTA Lubbock Challenger on Sept. 15-23, but did not advance past the first round in singles. Pollock earned his first ATP singles points by winning four matches in the qualies and four matches in the main draw while competing on the Futures circuit this past summer.
?I felt pretty confident going into my first-round match and I found a way to win,? said Pollock, who has now earned three ATP singles points. ?Getting your first points on this circuit is tough. You have to play every point, get that one break and play solid on your serve. It?â„¢s a great experience to compete against the best of the best in the world.?
2007 USTA MANSFIELD FUTURES TOURNAMENT
Oct. 15-19, 2007
Walnut Creek Country Club
at Mansfield, Texas
SINGLES MAIN DRAW
First Round
Conor Pollock (USA) def. Michael Rubin (USA), 6-4, 6-4.