Aug. 3, 2010

WHEELING, W.Va. - Saint Joseph's rising sophomore men's tennis player Alex Veronis won the men's open singles competition at the West Virginia Open, a USTA Middles States Sectional Championship, on August 1 at the Wheeling-Oglebay Tennis Club. Veronis took down two-time defending champion and top seed Jeremy McClelland in the final of the clay court event.

In the final, he led 2-6, 7-5, 4-1 before McClelland was forced to retire due to illness. The win is the first Open title for Veronis, who fell to McClelland, the former number-one at Duquesne, in the semifinals in 2008.

The unseeded Veronis defeated Nathan Walch, 6-1, 6-2, in the first round on Wednesday before meeting third-seeded Keith Whittingham. Veronis earned a 7-6 (3), 4-6, 6-1 victory over the Mercyhurst rising senior to advance to Thursday's third round.

In a hard-fought match, Veronis took down Indiana University's Chris Foster, 6-2, 3-6, 7-5 before dispatching fifth-seeded Kyle King in straight sets, 6-0, 6-3.

Veronis then defeated the number-two seed Scott Kahler, runner-up to McClelland the last two years, 6-3, 7-6 (2) to set up the final pairing with the former Atlantic 10 standout.

"I know Alex has been concentrating on his conditioning this summer, and I am delighted that he has received validation of the impact of his work," Saint Joseph's head tennis coach Ian Crookenden said. "Beating a top Atlantic 10 performer in the final bodes well for Alex's performance this coming season."

Veronis will likely have the inside track on the top singles spot for the Hawks this upcoming season, as rising junior Jeff Kessler returns from injury and Michael Stauble, last year's number-one, graduated in May.