July 23, 2007

APTOS, Calif. - Former Illini and 2003 NCAA doubles champion Rajeev Ram partnered with Bobby Reynolds to win the Comerica Challenger in Aptos, Calif., on Sunday afternoon. Entering the event as the top seed, the pair stormed through the 16-team bracket before claiming the title behind a 6-7(5), 6-3, 10-7 victory over the unseeded duo of John Paul Fruttero of the United States and Cecil Mamiit of the Philippines.

Ram, who is coming off a quarterfinals appearance at the 2007 Championships at Wimbledon with partner Harel Levy of Israel, has been on a roll since losing to Arnaud Clement and Michael Llodra of France, the eventual All-England Club champions in the quarters. Reynolds' run at Wimbledon ended in a second-round exit with partner Amer Delic, another former Illinois star and 2003 NCAA singles champion. Reynolds and Ram's loss also came at the hands of the eventual champions, Clement and Llodra.

Ram and Reynolds entered the Comerica Challenger ranked No. 138 and finished atop the field for the their third time this season. The two have been in five Challenger finals this year - a total of seven semifinals runs or better - and have been an unstoppable team as of late, winning at Forest Hills, Carson and finishing runner-up at Dallas and Kyoto.

For continued results and recaps of Illinois tennis' former and current players on the professional tour, visit fighitngillini.com or atptennis.com for more information throughout the summer months.