PROVO -- The Utah Fall Tennis Classic at Brigham Young University is proving to be a training ground for many athletes as juniors and former professionals joined college tennis players Thursday to begin the open tournament.
Kelton Williams and Devan Dean are cousins from Lehi High School playing in the tournament. The variety of talent at the open this year has allowed both Dean and Williams to play both junior athletes and college athletes.
"Our grandma signed us up," said Dean, who plays No. 1 singles at Lehi. "I'm a junior in high school and I beat a college kid. It was fun."
BYU senior James Ludlow also had a strong showing Thursday, winning his first two matches. He beat freshman Miles Perkins from Montana State University in the second round 6-0, 6-1.
"He's got a huge return and a nice serve," Perkins said. "He's an all-around good player. He's just good."
BYU senior Dominik Kaufhold also won two singles matches Thursday, joining other day-one BYU winners Chip Hand, Jonathan Sanchez and freshman Cassidy Mears as well as other BYU tennis team members.
Both singles and doubles action will resume Friday at 9 a.m. at the outdoor tennis facility just south of the Smith Fieldhouse. In the case of inclement weather, play will resume at the BYU Indoor Tennis Facility adjacent to the outdoor courts.
The event is sanctioned by the United States Tennis Association and each athlete participating will receive a USTA ranking at the end of the event. However, the event is not sanctioned by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association meaning the competition is not considered in NCAA or conference rankings or play. College athletes who participate do so as individuals and not as representatives of their respective schools.