25,000 Colorado Classic

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All 2003 Results

Men's 2003 $25,000 Colorado Classic

British Player Wins Inaugural Colorado Tennis Classic

Second seeded Arvind Parmar of Great Britain defeated number one seed Jeff Salzenstein 6/4,6/4 to win the Colorado Tennis Classic. It was a highly competitive match with only one break of serve in each set. The local favorite, Salzenstein (Cheery Creek High School) had tremendous support as more than five hundred fans came out to cheer him on, in Sundays final. The win earned Parmar $3,600 and 50 ATP points not to mention a lot of confidence going into the US Open three weeks later.

In the doubles final the number one seeded tandem of Rohan Bopanna/ Aisam Qureshi (IND/PAK) defeated Americans Josh Goffi/ Jason Marshal (USA) 4/6, 6/3, 6/4. Bopanna & Quershi are from India and Pakistan respectively. These two countries have been at odds for many generations. “I hope our success together will show our countries that if we put aside our differences, any can be accomplished” Bopanna.

Other players of interest were 2002 and 2003 NCAA Singles Champion Matias Boeker (USA) reached the quarter-finals before falling to Alex Bogdanovic (GBR). USTA wild card entry Rajeev Ram (USA), who helped lead the University of Illinois to a NCAA team championship in 2003 reached the semi-finals where he was bested by Jeff Salzenstein. It was a bit of a homecoming as Ram is a Ft. Collins native. Two time 5A Colorado State Champion Chad Harris who was awarded a wild card by Tier One Tennis, lost in the first round to eventual champion Parmar by a score of 6/2, 6/4. “It was a tough first round but I learned a lot and I’ll be back next year” said Harris. University of Arizona standout and Pueblo resident Whi Kim earned a tournament main draw wild card by winning the pre-qualifying event. Kim lost in the first round to USTA wild card entry Brian Wilson 6/3, 6/4.