FORMER COLLEGE STARS TENNYS SANDGREN AND DANIEL KOSAKOWSKI TO MEET IN FINAL AT USTA MEN’S PRO TENNIS CHAMPIONSHIPS OF CALABASAS

Written by: Staff on 19th March 2012

FORMER COLLEGE STARS TENNYS SANDGREN AND DANIEL KOSAKOWSKI TO MEET IN FINAL AT USTA MEN’S PRO TENNIS CHAMPIONSHIPS OF CALABASAS |

CALABASAS, Calif., (March 18, 2012) – College tennis spent the day in the spotlight on Sunday.

On the same day that former Georgia All-American John Isner played Roger Federer on one of tennis’ biggest stages at the BNP Paribas Open final in Indian Wells, two 20-year-old former NCAA stars advanced to the final of the USTA Men’s Pro Tennis Championships of Calabasas, a $15,000 USTA Pro Circuit Futures event, 150 miles north of where the Palm Springs-area ATP event is played.

Daniel Kosakowski, who played one season at UCLA where he was named the Pac-10 Freshman of the Year last year, won two matches on Sunday all by scores of 6-4 and will vie for his second career $15,000 Pro Circuit-level tournament title on Monday at 10 a.m. against former Tennessee All-American Tennys Sandgren.

In a quarterfinal match originally scheduled for Friday night but not played till Sunday at noon because of rain, No. 5-seeded Kosakowski of Downey, Calif., beat No. 3-seeded Brian Baker, 6-4, 6-4. Two hours later, Kosakowski beat No. 2-seeded Carsten Ball, 6-4, 6-4, in the semifinals.

“I’ll just try to get to sleep as soon as possible,” said Kosakowski, who said he was feeling pretty worn down near the end of his match, which was played on a sunny but cold and windy day. “I was getting tired out there but just had to push through. I’ll be a little sore tomorrow but I’ll be ready to go.”

In his semifinal, Sandgren saved two match points in the third set down 4-5, 15-40 on his serve against top-seeded Andre Begemann, but rallied for the win, 6-2, 4-6, 7-5.

Kosakowski said he and Sandgren met once in the juniors with Sandgren beating him 6-4 in the third set in the Round of 16 in the Boys’ 18s at the Easter Bowl in 2009.

“It’s weird to play a quarterfinal on a Sunday,” Kosakowski said. “I don’t remember the last time I played two matches in one day. Maybe back draw at Easter Bowl or Kalamazoo.”

The day concluded with the finish of the men’s doubles final which was won by top seeded Ball and Begemann, 7-6 (7), 6-4, over No. 2-seeded Nima Roshan and Artem Sitak. Ball and Begemann were up one set and tied 3-3 when the rains came Friday night.

Sunday’s Scores

Singles

Semifinals:

Tennys Sandgren, U.S., def. Andre Begemann, Germany, (1) 6-2, 4-6, 7-5

Daniel Kosakowski, U.S., (5) def. Carsten Ball, Australia, (2) 6-4, 6-4

Quarterfinal:

Daniel Kosakowski, U.S., (5) def. Brian Baker, U.S., (3) 6-4, 6-4

Sunday’s Doubles Final Score

Carsten Ball, Australia-Andre Begemann, Germany, (1) def. Nima Roshan, Australia-Artem Sitak, New Zealand, (2), 7-6 (7), 6-4

Topics: Daniel Kosakowski, Tennys Sandgren, USTA Men's Pro Tennis Championships of Calabasas