POMONA VALLEY HOSPITAL MEDICAL CENTER USTA PRO CLASSIC

CLAREMONT, CA * SEPTEMBER 8-16, 2012

Site: The Claremont Club, Claremont, CA            Main Draw: (32 singles, 16 doubles)

Surface: Hard/Outdoor                                       Prize Money: $10,000

Website: (www.procircuit.usta.com)

TOP 1, 2, 4, 5 AND 6 SEEDED PLAYERS ADVANCE TO FINAL EIGHT AT

17th ANNUAL POMONA VALLEY HOSPITAL MEDICAL CENTER USTA PRO CLASSIC

CLAREMONT, Calif., (Sept. 14, 2012) – A five-week layoff because of an ailing back didn’t seem to bother top-seeded Alex Bogdanovic of Great Britain, who beat a determined Mark Verryth of Australia in a tough three-set match on Thursday to advance to the quarterfinals at the 17th annual Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center Pro Classic, a $10,000 USTA Pro Circuit men’s event being played this week at the Claremont Club.

Bogdanovic downed Verryth, 6-4, 6-7 (5), 6-3, in the second round of play, and the current world No. 311-ranked player said afterward that he’s set to play the three SoCal Futures events in Claremont, Costa Mesa and Irvine before playing USTA Pro Circuit events in Sacramento and Tiburon.

“We’ll see how the body reacts,” Bogdanovic said.

Bogdanovic will play qualifier and former UCLA standout Haythem Abid of Tunisia in the quarterfinals on Friday. Abid, now 27 and recovering from wrist surgery on his left hand, beat fellow American and No. 7-seeded Reid Carleton, 6-4, 3-6, 6-3.

Abid, who played Davis Cup matches for Tunisia this year, is driving 45 miles back and forth each day from his home in West Los Angeles. He is currently training at the Weil Tennis Academy and hoping for a full 2013 tour campaign.

A fellow Bruin alum, No. 2-seeded Daniel Kosakowski, also won his match on Thursday and will next face fellow Southern Californian Jason Jung, who beat wild card – and yet another Bruin – Dennis Novikov in straight sets on Thursday.

“I’ve never faced Jason but he’s playing well,” said Kosakowski, who beat American Ryan Rowe, 6-4, 7-6 (4). Kosakowski said he’s been working out with Taylor Dent and some others in Orange County recently.

In the doubles final on Friday scheduled for 4 p.m., Devin Britton and Reid Carleton of the United States will face fellow former collegiate standouts Jeff Dadamo and Kyle McMorrow.

For more information, check on the web at:www.procircuit.usta.com, www.claremontclub.com; Facebook: www.facebook.com/pages/The-Claremont-Club/236147226396

Thursday’s Second-Round Singles Results

WC: Wild card; Q: Qualifier

Dennis Lajola, U.S. (4), def. Boris Bakalov, Bulgaria, 3-6, 6-1, 6-4

Daniel Nguyen, U.S. (q), def. Chris Wettengel, U.S., 6-2, 6-3

Haythem Abid, Tunisia (q), def. Reid Carleton, U.S. (7), 6-4, 3-6, 6-3

Prakash Amritraj, India, def. Devin Britton, U.S. (3), 6-4, 7-6 (4)

Jason Jung, U.S. (6), def. Dennis Novikov, U.S. (wc), 6-0, 7-6 (3)

Daniel Kosakowski, U.S. (2), def. Ryan Rowe, U.S., 6-4, 7-6 (4)

Jeff Dadamo, U.S. (5), def. Finn Tearney, New Zealand (wc), 6-2, 6-0

Alex Bogdanovic, Great Britain (1), def. Mark Verryth, Australia, 6-4, 6-7 (5), 6-3

Thursday’s Semifinal Doubles Results

Devin Britton, U.S.-Reid Carleton, U.S. (1), def. Daniel Nguyen, U.S.-Ryan Rowe, U.S. (3), 7-5, 4-6, 10-6

Jeff Dadamo, U.S.-Kyle McMorrow, U.S. (2), def. Nicholas John Andrews, U.S.-Dennis Nevolo, U.S., 6-4, 5-7, 10-7

Note: Doubles final will take place on Friday at 4 p.m.

–S. Pratt