Thursday, July 11, 2002
Met tennis newcomer impressive
10th-seed Chamakoon wins opener
By Dave Schutte
Enquirer contributor
Warren Chamakoon debuts in the Met Wednesday.
(Brandi Stafford photo)
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First-time participants often are overlooked or given a low seed during the draw meeting for the Thomas E. Price Metropolitan Tennis Tournament. But Warren Chamakoon, a 31-year-old Dayton native, was awarded the No.10 seed. Wednesday night, he showed why.
Chamakoon defeated Kerry Hicks 6-0, 6-1 in a first-round match at Lunken Playfield.
“My concentration was good, and I hit the ball well tonight,” Chamakoon said. “My serve was on and I moved in to the net. I'm happy with how I played.”
Chamakoon comes from a tennis family.
“My dad (Winston) is a USTA teaching professional and got me into tennis when I was 6 years old,” Chamakoon said. “I haven't played in a tournament the past several years, but I'm in a Monday league at Five Seasons.”
A two-time All-American at the College of Wooster (NCAA Division III), Chamakoon briefly played on the professional satellite tour but quit after six months because of limited success.
Besides playing singles, Chamakoon is entered into doubles with Todd Getz, his doubles partner at Wooster.
Getz was responsible for persuading Chamakoon to play in the Met.
UPSET: The first upset of the tournament was registered by unseeded Rob Bakker, a standout soccer and tennis player at Xavier University.
Bakker defeated Ryan McCarthy, the No.6 seed, who plays at Furman University, 6-3, 6-1.
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Met tennis newcomer impressive
