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Sports

Kosakowski Advances at UCLA

The Bruins' freshman beats Tim Smyczek in the first round of the Farmers Classic.

It was a day of "firsts" for UCLA tennis player Daniel Kosakowski.

Playing his first ATP Tour match, he notched his first pro victory in the first round of the Farmers Classic on Tuesday afternoon at the Los Angeles Tennis Center. 

After playing No. 1 singles as a freshman for the Bruins in the fall, Kosakowski has become accustomed to dealing with pressure, so he didn't panic when he lost the first set against fellow qualifier Tim Smyczek. He rallied from deficits in both sets in his final qualifying match Monday against Denis Kudla, so falling behind Tuesday was nothing new.

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Spurred on by UCLA faithful who showed up on campus to cheer for him, Kosakowski rebounded for a 2-6, 6-1, 6-3 that moved him into the round of 16, where he will face Ernests Gulbis of Latvia at 2 p.m. Wednesday at Straus Stadium. 

Kosakowski lost to Smyczek in straight sets in qualifying for the BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells in March and was determined not to let history repeat itself.

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"Last time when I played him I kind of got down on myself after losing the first set and it just went downhill after that," Kosakowski said "Today, when I lost the first set I tried to stay more positive and it helped out a lot."

Kosakowski broke Smyczek's serve to take a 4-3 lead in the third set, consolidated the break by holding for 5-3, then broke again for the victory when his groundstroke hit the baseline on his second match point.

Bruins fans had best enjoy Kosakowski's magical run because it may be his last hurrah at UCLA. After Tuesday's match he made it official: he won't be returning to Westwood for his sophomore season. 

"It was pretty difficult," he said about his decision to leave school to pursue a professional career. "It came down to what I wanted to do with my life. I wanted to just go for it."

2011 FARMERS CLASSIC AT UCLA

Tuesday's Singles Results

First Round

Ernests Gulbis (LAT) d. Xavier Malisse (BEL), 2-6, 6-3, 7-6 (5)

Daniel Kosakowski (USA) d. Tim Smyczek (USA), 2-6, 6-1, 6-3

(8) Igor Kunitsyn (RUS) d. Fernando Gonzalez (CHI), 6-4, 6-3

Ryan Harrison (USA) d. Richard Berankis (LTU), 6-7 (4), 7-5, 6-3

Gilles Muller (LUX) d. Steve Johnson (USA), 2-6, 6-3, 6-4

Alex Bogomolov Jr. (USA) d. Greg Jones (AUS), 4-6, 6-1, 6-1

James Blake (USA) d. Michael Berrer (GER), 6-2, 6-3

Alejandro Falla (COL) d. Laurynas Grigelis (LTU), 6-2, 6-4

Grigor Dimitrov (BUL) d. Tommy Haas (GER), 6-3, 6-2

Click here to view the singles and doubles draws.

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