May 22, 2003
WACO, Texas - Benedikt Dorsch became just the second player in Baylor history to advance to the round of 32 in the NCAA Men's Tennis Championships with his straight sets victory over Texas A&M's Lester Cook today at the Dan Magill Tennis Complex in Athens, Ga. Dorsch and Reiner Neurohr combined to post a straight sets victory in the first round of doubles and extend their winning streak to 13 matches.
Due to rain in the area, all matches were moved to the complex's indoor courts.
Dorsch defeated Texas A&M's Lester Cook in straight sets, 7-5, 6-2, to advance in the tournament. The victory avenged Dorsch's earlier loss to Cook. With the win, Dorsch raised his season singles record to 46-5. Dorsch will now face Stanford's KC Corkery, a 6-1, 6-0 winner over Jesse Witten of Kentucky.
Johann Jooste is the only other Baylor to advance to the round of 16, which he accomplished in 2000. However, he lost in straight sets (7-6, 6-2) to Tripp Phillips of North Carolina
Benjamin Becker took on the tournament's top seed and the nation's No. 1 player, Bobby Reynolds of Vanderbilt. Becker fell behind 5-3 in the first set but fought back to even the match at 5-5, however, Reynolds ultimately prevailed 7-5, 6-2. Becker completes the 2002-03 season with a 30-7 singles record. The loss snapped Becker's 13-match winning streak that dated back to March 9 when he lost to then-10th ranked Jesse Witten of Kentucky.
The tandem of Dorsch and Neurohr, ranked No. 29, raised their season record to 25-2 with a 6-2, 6-3 win over the 14th-ranked team of Alex Hartman and Claes Lindholm of Mississippi. The Baylor duo will now take on Texas A&M's Lester Cook and Ante Matijevic, currently ranked No. 5 nationally. Dorsch and Neurohr posted a win over Cook and Matijevic, 9-8(6) in Waco on April 15.
2003 NCAA Men's Singles Championships
Round of 32 - Thurs., May 22
#2 Benedikt Dorsch (BU) def. #31 Lester Cook (Texas A&M) 7-5, 6-2
#1 Bobby Reynolds (Vanderbilt) def. #41 Benjamin Becker (BU) 7-5, 6-2
Doubles
Round of 32
#29 Dorsch/Reiner Neurohr (BU) def. #14 Alex Hartman/Claes Lindholm (Mississippi) 6-2, 6-3
