Oklahoma State University Athletics
Mark Van Elden Set to Take on Collegiate Champion
September 16, 2003 | Cowboy Tennis
Van Elden, a junior from Geelong, Victoria, Australia, defeated Clancy Shields 6-1, 6-1 to advance to the second-round of the main draw.
His next opponent will be Brian Wilson. Wilson defeated Nenad Toroman, the event's top seed, in his first match. He was the No. 3 singles player for national champion Illinois and teamed with Rajeev Ram to win the doubles national championship in the 2003 season.
The USTA Professional Circuit is the world's premier developmental circuit for aspiring professional tennis players. It allows players to gain experience and rankings points to participate in the major pro tournaments. The USTA Professional Circuit generally offers approximately $15,000 in prize money per event. Van Elden is playing along with other collegiate players from schools such as Stanford, Illinois and Tennessee.
