Cory Ross seemed cool and collected after finishing off Will Vasos in the semifinals of the Denver City Open on Saturday, but he had revenge on his mind.
In a field that started full of standouts like returning champion Luke Shields, University of Denver coach Danny Westerman and his assistant coach Christopher Lam, Ross, 27, is again rising to the top.
After his 6-3, 6-0 dispensing of Vasos at the Denver Tennis Club, he will square off in the championship match today against Grand Junction’s Clancy Shields — the player who ousted Ross in the semis last year.
“It would be very sweet,” Ross said of possibly defeating Shields in the final.
After topping Vasos, the 2007 Class 5A state champion from Rocky Mountain High School who now plays collegiately for Iowa, Ross said his mind-set was “very good” and acknowledged he was playing at a high level going into today’s match.
Vasos, seeded 13th, upset Luke Shields, Clancy’s brother, on Thursday.
Clancy Shields just graduated from Boise State and was the 2009 WAC player of the year and was ranked 24th in the nation.
Ross, whose father was a tennis pro, picked up a tennis racket at age 3 and has played ever since.
Growing up in a tennis household — his mom played, too — has led to him having a comfort level on the court and a game that is both powerful and intelligent.
Ross knows more about winning than losing. He is a former state prep champion from Kent Denver who went on to excel at Louisiana State.
“I’ll always be involved in tennis. If it is coaching tennis or playing tennis, I will always be a part of it,” he said.
The Denver City Open men’s singles final takes place at 10:30 a.m. today. On the women’s side, Mallory Voelker will try for a repeat, taking on Marie Matrka in the open singles at 9 a.m.
The men’s open doubles final is at noon, and the women’s doubles final is at 1:30 p.m.
