Detroit Women's Tennis Coach Necajevs Competes in US Open Qualifier

DETROIT -- University of Detroit Mercy women's tennis head coach Pjotrs Necajevs showed his dominance as a two-year player with the UDM men's tennis team compiling a 55-8 singles record. He continues to compete and perform well as he reached the finals of the US Tennis Open Mid-Atlantic Sectional Qualifying Tournament in both men's singles and mixed doubles on Tuesday, June 5 at the Tennis Center at College Park in College Park, Md.

In the men's singles portion of the tournament, Necajevs reached the tournament finals before falling by a 6-4, 7-6 (7-5) margin. In the mixed doubles finals, he paired with Sophia Abelson of Midland, Mich., and the two secured a 6-2, 6-1 win. Both matches were played on Tuesday, June 5.

Necajevs started in the round of 128 in the men's singles bracket and advanced to the final match and faced Matt Brooklyn as Brooklyn wound up on top. With a win, Necajevs had the opportunity to earn a wild card entry into the US Open Qualifying Tournament at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing, N.Y., on Aug. 17 - 20. A victory at that second qualifying tournament would have earned him a bid at the US Open, which runs August 27 - September 9.

In the mixed doubles competition, he paired with Abelson and the duo advanced through the quarterfinals, semifinals and onto the finals where they came out with a 6-2, 6-1 win over Greg Chambers and Lyndall Jordan. The two will now advance to the national qualifiers in mixed doubles to be held at Yale University in New Haven, Conn., Aug. 22 - 25 for a chance to be in the main draw of the US Open.

The US Open National Playoffs is a series of tournaments that gives any player 14 years of age or older who meets the eligibility requirements the opportunity to qualify for the 2012 US Open. Thirteen USTA sections will run a Sectional Qualifying Tournament to include a men's singles, women's singles and mixed doubles division between April 1 and July 4.

Necajevs ended his Titan career in 2009-10 as just the third tennis player in Horizon League history to win back-to-back Player of the Year awards after going 30-4 on the year and a perfect 7-0 in the conference. He dominated conference play with six of his seven wins coming in straight-set sweeps. In his UDM career, he was 55-8 in singles, all from the top position, with a 14-0 record in conference meets.