Michael Yani Moves Up in ATP World Rankings

Durham, N.C. - Michael Yani, a two-time All-America at Duke University, has made a jump in the Association of Tennis Professionals rankings by making it to the semifinals in four consecutive USTA futures tournaments. Since June, 2004 he has won three futures singles titles and made it to the finals in two others to move up to a career high ATP world ranking of 396.

Yani's most recent championship came on August 1 when he took the title at a tournament in Decatur, Ill. with a 7-5, 6-4 victory over Sam Warburg in the championship match. He advanced to the finals after a 6-4, 6-2 upset of G.D. Jones, who was ranked 259 at the time. It was the second straight win for Yani against Jones. On May 30 he won a tournament in Fukuoka, Japan with a 7-6(2), 7-6(6) victory over Japanese native Go Soeda. Last year he won a tournament in Chico, Calif. on June 28 with a three set victory over Australia's Mark Hlawaty 6-7(2), 7-6(10), 6-4.

"One of the biggest reasons for my success is that when I am on the court, I have learned to relax a lot more and have fun with the game," said Yani. "Having graduated from Duke, I know that I will always have a top notch degree to fall back on if for some reason, tennis doesn't work out for me."

The four-year letterwinner for the Blue Devils has also advanced to the finals on two other occasions and the semifinals once this summer. At a tournament in Peoria, Ill. on July 11 he lost in straight sets to Romania's Catalin Gard 3-6, 4-6. The next week on July 18 he fell in three sets 7-6(4), 3-6, 5-7 to Brazil's Alexandre Simoni at a tournament in Joplin, Mo. Yani made the semifinals on July 25 at Godfrey, Ill. but was knocked out of the tournament with a three-set loss to Warburg.

Yani has also teamed up for three doubles championships this season. He partnered with David Martin for a win in Shizuoka, Japan on Apr. 25 in three sets 2-6, 6-1, 6-4. On May 16 in a tournament in Phuket, Thailand he teamed with Australia's Domenic Marafiote for a three set win over a former Duke teammate Phillip King and Trevor Spracklin 6-7(4), 6-4, 6-4. Yani partnered with King the next week and came away with a doubles win in straight sets 6-4, 6-4. The tournament was on May 23 in Munakata, Japan.

The next competition for Yani is the Japan F9 futures tournament which will take place on Monday, Aug. 29.

Michael Yani Moves Up in ATP World Rankings

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