Cook, Joelson and Pollock Having Success On Pro Circuit
Sep 23, 2009 | Men's Tennis
Sept. 23, 2009
COLLEGE STATION, Texas - Three former Texas A&M men's tennis players, who competed for the Aggies within the last five years, have been successful on the USTA Futures Tour pro circuit in the month of September.
"The more our past players are able to be successful, the more it shows we are doing something right here in Aggieland with regard to training young players in preparation for the pro circuit," said Texas A&M head coach Steve Denton who enjoyed a solid career on the ATP Tour including 20 doubles titles and a career-best No. 2 world ranking in 1982.
Three-time All-American Lester Cook (Sherman Oaks, Calif.) is the top-seeded player in the singles draw at the Costa Mesa Pro Futures Classic which gets underway this week in Costa Mesa, Calif. The 25-year-old is currently ranked No. 263 in the world on the ATP Tour and made his second all-time appearance in the qualifying tournament at the U.S. Open last month.
Former player Brett Joelson (Beaverton, Ore.), who played for the Aggies from 2004-07, recently teamed up with fellow American Ashwin Kumar to win the doubles title at the Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center USTA Pro Classic on Sept. 20 in Claremont, Calif. Being tabbed a future ATP doubles specialist by several opponents on the tour, the 24-year-old is competing in this week's Mexico F9 Futures Tournament in Leon, Mexico.
Joelson and former Tulsa All-American Arnau Brugues-Davi claimed a 6-3, 6-0 first-round victory over Jaime Clarke and Ernesto Tovar of Mexico. They are the fourth-seeded duo in the tournament and ranked No. 1473 in the world. He will also compete in the singles draw and face top-seeded and No. 372-ranked Miguel Gallardo-Valles of Mexico in the first round.
Three-time All-American Conor Pollock (San Antonio, Texas), the most recent graduate of the three Aggies currently playing on the pro circuit, also qualified for the singles draw at the Mexico F9 Futures Tournament in Leon, Mexico. Pollock, 22, will take on fourth-seeded American Todd Paul in the opening round.
