Chase Buchanan Falls to World No. 7 Tsonga at 2009 U.S. Open – Ohio State Buckeyes
9/1/2009 12:00:00 AM | Men's Tennis
COLUMBUS, Ohio – In his first career Grand Slam showing, sophomore Chase Buchanan, a member of the Ohio State men’s tennis team, lost 6-0, 6-2, 6-1 Tuesday to No. 7-seed Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, a native of Le Mans, France, in the first round of the singles main draw of the 2009 U.S. Open. Tsonga, who stands at 6-2, 200 pounds, posted 29 winners against Buchanan at the Grandstand Court in the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center.
“Not too many 18-year-old athletes ever get a chance to play on a packed show court against the No. 7 player in the world,” Ohio State men’s tennis head coach Ty Tucker said. “He will work his tail off to get better and return.”
Buchanan, a central Ohio native from New Albany, earned a wildcard entry into the U.S. Open after winning the USTA Boys’ 18’s National championships Aug. 16 in Kalamazoo, Mich. The No. 2-seed Buchanan played his first three-set match of the prestigious juniors tournament in the final against eighth seed Ryan Lipman of Nashville, 6-2, 6-3, 6-4. It was the second-consecutive year Buchanan won a Boys’ 18 title as he won the doubles championship in 2008 with Ryan Harrison.
Buchanan, who joined the Buckeyes this past spring, quickly earned a playing spot at No. 6 singles during the regular season and postseason. He helped the team to an appearance in the NCAA team championships final against USC. He finished his freshman year with an 11-4 overall record, including a 6-1 mark in the Big Ten Conference.
2009 U.S. Open
Sept. 1, 2009
USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center
Grandstand
Flushing, N.Y.
Singles Main Draw
First Round
No. 7-seed Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (FRA) def. (WC) Chase Buchanan (USA) – 6-0, 6-2, 6-1
