Former Virginia tennis standout Brian Vahaly did something that no other collegiate player from the 2001 season could achieve this week. He competed at Wimbledon.
In what some consider the crŠme de la crŠme of WTA Grand Slam tournament events, Vahaly earned an invite to the All-England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club by winning three qualifying matches. Unfortunately, he won't be staying a fortnight to enjoy the traditional strawberries and cream, as he lost in the first round Monday to Mikhail Youzhny.
The 22-year old from Atlanta, GA is currently ranked 143nd in the world, while Youzhny was ranked 58th going into the week. Youzhny won the first set 6-3, before Vahaly stormed back to take the second set 6-1. But Vahaly lost the last two 6-3, 6-2. This was Vahaly's first Wimbledon appearance, but it probably will not be his last, as Vahaly is only in the second year of his pro status.
Vahaly reached the event by storming through three qualifying rounds over Marco Chiudinelli (6-4, 6-7, 6-1) in the first round of qualifying, Yeu-Tzuoo Wang (1-6, 6-3, 7-5) in the second round and Jean-Francois Bachelot (7-6 (13-11), 3-6, 6-4, 6-1) in the third round.
While men's tennis coach Brian Boland didn't have the opportunity to coach Vahaly in college, he understands what a great accomplishment it is to reach Wimbledon at his age.
"This is just an unbelievable accomplishment for Brian," Boland said in a University release. "He is the only collegiate player from last year playing in Wimbledon this year. It's a great accomplishment for him and tremendous for the University of Virginia tennis program."
After graduating from Virginia in May 2001, Vahaly immediately turned pro, and the success he had in college continued in the pro ranks as Vahaly won five futures tournaments and secured a big win over the United States' own Michael Chang.
Vahaly won 40 singles matches as a senior in 2001, which was a Virginia record, and made it farther in the NCAA Championships than any Cavalier has in the past. In the same year, Vahaly was the 2001 ACC Player of the Year, while earning ACC flight champion honors at No. 1 seed his last two years at Virginia. Cavalier fans knew he was going to be a hit from the start, as he won ACC rookie of the year honors in 1998.
So while Vahaly won't be staying for the fortnight, he will not soon forget his first ever Grand Slam event.
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