They say you never get a second chance to make a first impression.
Whoever “they” are never met Jeremy Wurtzman. The 24-year old former Ohio State tennis player made his Colorado debut at last month’s Denver City Open, but bowed out in the quarterfinals.
He’s back and hopefully better than ever at the 112th Colorado State Open at Gates Tennis Center.
Wurtzman’s comeback is not the only one local tennis fans have to look forward to. The 2004 State Open champion, Cory Ross, was absent from last year’s summer tennis tour. The former high school standout at Kent Denver spent the summer teaching the game at a club on Long Island in New York.
“It was great,” he said. “But I’m happy to be back.”
The second-seeded Ross, who lost in the semifinals of the City Open to eventual champion Bart Scott, knows that though most of the names are the same, the quality of play has improved since his title run at Gates two summers ago.
“It’s basically the same draw as the City, but the level is so much higher, and this is one of the toughest draws I’ve seen in a long time,” said Ross. “It’ll be a challenge for sure. Since I won the last time I played, this time I just want to go out and represent myself well.”
Scott will look for the clean sweep. After an impressive showing at the City Open, he enters Gates as the No. 3 seed. Willie Dann, who went three grueling sets in the finals last year against Jeff Loehr, rounds out the top four seeds.
Loehr, who became just the fourth men’s player in tournament history to win four championships, will not defend his title.
The same goes on the women’s side, where two-time defending champion Alicia Salas is not in the field. City Open champion Rhona Kaczmarczyk, 41, can pull off the same double Salas did a season ago with a victory here.
Kaczmarczyk, by virtue of her victory, earned the top seed.
Some new names round out the top seed on the women’s side. Yana Ruegsegger, a regular on the doubles scene, will play singles and is on the opposite side of the bracket from Kaczmarczyk as the No. 2 seed.
Tabatha Knop, who was the top seed at the City Open, enters as No. 3 this week. Rachel Sackmaster is at No. 4.
Play begins Saturday and runs through Sunday, July 16. Both the men’s and women’s semifinals will be played at 9:30 a.m. Saturday, July 15; the women’s championship match starts Sunday at 9 a.m., followed by the men.
Colorado State Open
Where: Gates Tennis Center
When: Saturday-July 16
Semifinals: Saturday, July 15: men and women at 9:30 a.m.
Championship: Sunday, July 16: women at 9 a.m.; men to follow
2005 champions: Men – Jeff Loehr (not playing); Women – Alicia Salas (not playing)
Jon E. Yunt can be reached at 303-820-5446 or jyunt@denverpost.com.
