UK's Agostinelli wins pro debut at Fifth Third

Agostinelli follows Davis Cup victory by winning professional debut

By Craig Thomas / cthomas@herald-leader.com

Schedule
When: Through Sunday (play starts at 11 a.m. Wednesday)
Where: UK's Hilary J. Boone Tennis Complex
Tickets: $8 per session or $30 for a weeklong pass

Bruno Agostinelli finished his tennis career at the University of Kentucky just this spring, but he's no stranger to professional competition.

Making his pro debut Tuesday night in the Fifth Third Bank Championships at UK, Agostinelli knocked off sixth-seeded Carsten Ball of Australia 6-4, 6-2. Agostinelli will face Tim Smyczek at 6 p.m. Wednesday.

Before the Lexington tournament, Agostinelli was chosen to represent Canada in a Davis Cup match against Peru last week.

The UK product delivered, beating Ivan Miranda in a clinching match that spanned two days after it was suspended because of darkness. This came despite a partisan crowd rooting heavily for Miranda as the match concluded on the second day.

"On Monday, they let everybody in for free so it was a packed crowd. I think there was like 3,000 people. So the atmosphere was unbelievable," Agostinelli said. "Such a great relief, after winning that match. Just an honor to play for the Davis Cup."

Agostinelli said Canada's Davis Cup coach watched him play at the Southeastern Conference Championships.

"I think (they were) looking for somebody who has been playing on a team and is used to the crowds cheering against them. So I definitely feel like that helped me a lot," he said. "He also said he liked the way I carried myself on the court. I wasn't getting mad, and I was very professional. I think that's what caught his eye."

Agostinelli said before his Fifth Third match that there was no way to compare the two events.

"(The Davis Cup was) different because it's on clay, too. I mean you can't really compare anybody to anybody," he said. "Everybody plays better or worse on different days."

Agostinelli said winning the Davis Cup match wasn't what triggered his decision to begin a professional career.

"It definitely gave me some confidence. It wasn't a turning point. It was more like a dream come true," he said.

He said a message of support from the Canadian Tennis Federation made a big difference.

"I guess, when they told me that, it made me feel a little more confident and comfortable," he said. "It's tough to make it on your own out there."

Dennis Emery, UK's men's tennis head coach, said Agostinelli showed a lot of promise early as a Wildcat.

"He had a world-class backhand when he walked on campus," Emery said.

Since then, he said, Agostinelli has consistently improved other areas of his game.

"He's been able to finish points at the net. His movement has gotten better every year," Emery said.

Emery pointed to an October victory over Tennessee's John-Patrick Smith, then ranked 10th nationally, in the Intercollegiate Tennis Association Southeast Regionals as a key moment for Agostinelli.

"I thought that match really turned his career around. He just really began to believe he could win those matches. The fall of his senior year, he made a real commitment to winning," Emery said.

By March, Agostinelli had climbed to No. 2 in the ITA rankings.

"When you're No. 2 in the country, you better believe you can do it," Emery said of Agostinelli pursuing a professional career.

Once Agostinelli stopped worrying about the professional level, Emery said, he started playing more like a professional.

"You knew he was a person of tremendously high character," Emery said. "He has a lot of composure."

Agostinelli has two more United States Tennis Association Challenger tournaments similar to this week's Lexington event on his schedule. Then he'll try to take on the big boys of the pro tour at the Rogers Cup in Montreal in August before completing one more semester of classes at UK.

"Hopefully, they're going to give me a wild card to qualifying or maybe the main draw. It's just up to the Federation," he said of the Canadian tournament.

Rafael Nadal won the men's singles title last year.

Emery said Agostinelli doesn't need to change how he plays now but simply continue to get better.

"I think his natural progression will lead him to a lot of success. His game is very much there," he said.