PINESVILLE, Md. — LSU senior Ajay Ramaswami, ranked No. 57 in the nation, completed his run throught to the consolation championship at the T. Rowe Price National Clay Court Championships on Sunday with a 7-5, 6-3, win over 17th-ranked Jason Marshall of Purdue.
Ramaswami, competing in the main draw of a collegiate grand slam event for the first time, became the first player in Tiger history to win the consolation draw of a collegiate grand slam event. It is the second title he has claimed in as many tournaments as he won the Continental Airlines Cup “A” flight two weeks ago at Rice University.
The win over Marshall was Ramaswami’s fifth straight, four of which came against players ranked higher than him, at the collegiate grand slam event. He opened the tournament on Thursday by falling to Texas-Arlington’s Andy Leber, 6-4, 0-6, 7-6 (3), in the first round but came back later in the day to defeat No. 58 Christian Thall of South Alabama, 6-3, 6-3 in the consolation draw’s first round.
Friday, Ramaswami dominated 16th-ranked Andrew Pedroso of Duke, 6-2, 6-1, for his first upset win of the week. Saturday’s action would have Ramaswami upsetting two opponents to advance to Sunday’s final, No. 25 Maxim Belski of Alabama, 4-6, 6-1, 1-0, ret., and No. 34 Jon Wallmark of SMU, 6-4, 6-1.