Rico Suffers First Round Defeats at ITA Indoors
11/7/2003 12:00:00 AM | Men's Tennis
Nov. 7, 2003
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Sophomore Pedro Rico made a statement for the Pepperdine men's tennis team by qualifying for the ITA National Indoor Championships, but the fast-paced indoor game was too much, as Rico was knocked out of play on the first day. After a first-round loss, the Spain native dropped to the consolation round and lost in the second set.
In the first round, Rico matched up with Duke's Ludovic Walter and lost, 7-6 (1), 6-3. Afterwards, he fell to the consolation bracket and tried once again to come away victorious. In the end, Rico came up short as Michigan's Michael Rubio took home a 6-4, 6-2 win.
"Pedro really had trouble catching up with the fast-paced indoor game and he couldn't hold on," said second-year head coach, Adam Steinberg. "However, it's a huge accomplishment that he made it to the nationals and I know he'll have a great season."
The tournament, which runs through Sunday (Nov. 9), features the nation's top collegiate players, with a 32-player singles field and 16-team doubles field for both men and women.
