Shabaz and Devvarman Advance at VNB Challenger

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CHARLOTTESVILLE — Cavalier senior Michael Shabaz and Virginia alumnus Somdev Devvarman both won their first round matches Tuesday at the Virginia National Bank Tennis Championships at the Boar’s Head Sports Club. The tournament, a stop on the ATP Challenger Tour, continues Wednesday with Shabaz and three former Cavaliers in action.

Shabaz, who reached the main draw by winning three matches in qualifying, won his first round match against world No. 222 Giovanni Lapentti 7-6(1), 6-4. He meets rising American star, 18-year-old Ryan Harrison, the No. 176 ranked player in the world, in the second round on Wednesday.

Devvarman, the tournament’s No. 2 seed, won his opener 6-4, 6-4 over world No. 198 Alex Bogomolov. The two-time NCAA Singles Champion, currently ranked No. 96 in the world, meets Greg Jones of Australia in the second round after Jones upset defending champion Kevin Kim in the first round.

Cavalier first-year Alex Domijan fell in the first round to former world junior No. 1 Yuki Bhambri 6-3, 3-6, 7-6(4).

In addition to Shabaz’s match against Harrison, Wednesday’s schedule includes Virginia alumnus Teddy Angelinos’ second round match against fifth-seeded Kei Nishikori of Japan. The featured match of the night is the first round doubles match between the team of Bogomolov and Alex Kuznetsov against the winningest doubles team in Virginia history, Devvarman and Treat Huey. Click here for Wednesday’s complete schedule.

Tickets for the tournament are $10 daily for Boar’s Head Sports Club members and $15 daily for non-members.