Three new pairs searching for some chemistry

Driven by the depth of last year's singles players, the Tufts men's tennis team earned a 7-6 record in 2003, finishing fourth in the competitive NESCAC conference and 21st in the nation.

The doubles team did not play poorly, but it certainly did not excel, compiling a record of 22-24.

Four of Tufts' seven losses in 2003 came at the hands of teams ranked in the top 16 in the country. This year's rankings place 2003 NESCAC champion Williams at number two in the country, Middlebury at number four, Bowdoin at 13, and MIT at 16. These four teams handed the Jumbos consecutive losses in 2003 proving the difficulty of Tufts' schedule.

This year, the team will rely on a core of four veterans and two rookies in three completely new combinations in an attempt to strengthen the Jumbos' doubles play and enhance the team's chances of beating out its NESCAC rivals.

One obstacle to this improvement will be the loss of David Ruttenberg, who graduated last spring. In 2002, Ruttenberg joined freshman Rifat Perahya to form a doubles team that would remain together for two years, amassing an impressive record of 24-10 while playing in the first doubles spot.

While last year the pair's play resulted in a record of just 8-7, the duo occupied opponents' strong first doubles teams, allowing the third position doubles pair of then-junior Jon Bram and then-freshman Jon Rubenstein to cruise to an 11-6 mark.

"Loss [of Ruttenberg] affected the team big time." Perahya said. "He was a very solid doubles player so we are forced to create new doubles teams for this season."

Coach Jim Watson has elected to pair Bram with Perahya, breaking up last year's successful third team of Bram and Rubenstein. So far, the move seems to be working out well.

"I've been playing a lot of doubles with Rifat [Perahya] and there seems to be major chemistry between us with me playing the backhand side and him on the forehand side," Bram said.

Bram also praised Perahya's calmness on the court in juxtaposition to Bram's self described more intense style. "It's good for a doubles team because he calms me down well."

Perahya has proven himself to be a bona fide NESCAC stud, earning Rookie of the Year honors in 2002 and All-NESCAC honors in 2003. Bram contributed a 7-8 record at second and third singles, in addition to his winning doubles record with Rubenstein.

Rounding out the doubles teams will be two pairs consisting of an experienced doubles veteran and an incoming freshman. Rubenstein will pair up with freshman lefthander Sean McCooey, while junior Adam Yates, who played to a 3-9 record at second doubles last year with graduate Danny Lang, will join hard serving freshman Corey Keller.

If the Jumbos are to continue to improve in the national rankings, these three new duos will quickly have to find their chemistry.