Michigan States Baris lost in three setters in the finals of the Cranbrook Tennis Classic

BLOOMFIELD HILLS, Mich. (WILX) – Michigan State rising sophomore tennis player Ozan Baris has produced impressive results this summer on the pro circuit.

Baris played in this week’s inaugural Cranbrook Tennis Classic, a stop on the Associated Tennis Professionals Challenger Tour.

Baris won his first-round qualifier on Monday and needed one more win in Tuesday’s qualifiers to reach the round of 32 in the main draw, which includes former world No. 4 Kei Nishikori, two-time Australian Open quarterfinalist Tennys Sandgren, and others. and 110-ranked Aussie James Duckworth.

Baris was sharp early on by India’s Mukund Sasikumar, world number 385. He took two breaks in the first five games of the opening set before taking the set 6-2 in 47 minutes.

In connection with the change that followed, Baris immediately called the coach to the field without any special injury or problem being treated.

Baris’ fitness declined for most of the second set and was broken twice in the first three games as Sasikumar capitalized to take the No. 2 set 6-1 in just over 25 minutes.

“I just started feeling worse out there and I felt like I was fighting more than anything else against my body and my feeling,” Baris said of the physical challenges he faced in the upper 80 degree heat.

Baris was broken at 1-1 in the third set and quickly fell into a 4-1 hole before the tank was physically empty, falling in three sets 6-2, 1-6, 3-6, just missing the main game. drawing place in Bloomfield Hills.

I fought until the end, I did what I could, but it was definitely a tougher match than just tennis, Baris said. There’s a lot going on physically. So yeah, it’s tough.

However, it is possible for Baris to reach the main draw if he is able to secure the Lucky Loser slot, where a player already in the main draw withdraws before the next round.

And with more and more professional experience, Baris sees the matches as wins in the long run, even if the result doesn’t meet current expectations.

I believe I can win any tournament I enter. I still have a lot of tournaments ahead of me.

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