Former Blue Devils Enjoying Professional Success in 2008

Durham, N.C. ? Several former Duke men's tennis players are currently competing in professional tennis tournament on the ATP Tour.

Michael Yani, a 2002 and 2003 All-America at Duke, recently had the best day of his professional career when he captured both the singles and doubles championships at the Yuba City, Calif. Challenger event on June 2. He defeated Sam Warburg in three sets 7-6 (5), 2-6, 6-3 to take the singles title and then teamed with Nicholas Monroe for a 6-4, 6-4 win over Jan-Michael Gambill and Scott Oudsema in the doubles finals.

Both victories were the first ever Challenger championships for Yani. He also made the finals in singles at the Gatineau, Canada Futures on March 3 and has climbed to the highest rankings in his career at No. 253 in singles and No. 404 in doubles.

Ludovic Walter, the winningest singles player in Duke history, is currently ranked No. 483 in singles and No. 405 in doubles. He has climbed in the rankings by reaching the finals of the Bergheim/Salzburg, Austria Futures on Jan. 21 and winning two doubles championships. He won his most recent tournament at the Bournemouth, Great Britain Futures with partner and Great Britain native Ken Skupski on April 28. He also teamed with Thomas Oger of France to win the Feucherolles, France Futures on Jan. 28. Walter made the doubles finals in his next two tournaments as well.

Duke's only four-time All-America, Phillip King, recorded his career-high ranking in doubles in April at No. 451. In his only doubles tournament this year, he advanced to the finals with his partner Danai Udomchoke of Thailand in the China TCL Challenger at Guangzhou, China. King made it to the quarterfinals on May 26 of the Countrywide Classic USTA Challenger in Carson, Calif.

A 2006 All-ACC selection, Stephen Amritraj has been playing in several Challenger events this year in doubles. He made the quarterfinal round of the Casablanca San Angel Challenger in Mexico City, Mexico, the Men's Pro Challenger at Tunica National in Tunica, La. and the Hurricane Tennis Open in Bradenton, Fla.

Peter Shults, a 2003 All-ACC selection, has made the quarterfinals in the two of his last three singles tournaments. He also made the finals in doubles at the Textla Gutierrez, Mexico Futures on Feb. 4 with his partner Nima Roshan.

Former Blue Devils Enjoying Professional Success in 2008

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