4 Oct 2011

Venus Qualifies for Challenger event

10:11 am on 4 October 2011

The New Zealand tennis player Michael Venus has qualified for the main draw of the $132,000 Sacramento Challenger event overnight.

In the first round of qualifying Venus defeated Colombian second seed, Alejandro Gonzalez 6-4 6-2 followed by American Travis Rettenmaier 3-6 6-2 6-4.

In the final round he beat German Simon Stadler 3-6 6-3 6-4 in one hour 55 minutes.

Venus now joins the likes of top 100 players James Blake and Ivo Karlovic as well as former Heineken Open finalist Sam Querrey in the main draw singles.

Venus's first round opponent is not yet known.

Fellow Kiwi Artem Sitak won his first round qualifying match in straight sets but was beaten by Australian Carsten Ball in the second round 6-0 6-3.

Meanwhile, Marcus Daniell reached the final of the $13,000 Futures in Mexico going down to Luis Diaz-Barriga (MEX) 6-4 3-6 6-3.