P. Amritraj

NEWPORT — Former Brown University star Jamie Cerretani is making his way on the pro tour in doubles.

Ranked No. 64 in the world, Cerretani qualified for the main draw in the Campbell’s Hall of Fame Tennis Championships and was on the grass yesterday with South African Kevin Anderson as his partner. They defeated Benjamin Becker of Germany and Kristian Pless of Denmark, 6-7 (4), 6-2, 10-4.

Cerretani, of Reading, Mass., was on familiar ground. While a student at Brown, he worked summers for Bill and Mary Rompf an assistant pro at the Newport Casino. He also won five USTA National Open Grass Court Championships here. In 2004, he defeated Jamie Gresh of Barrington for the singles title, teamed with Gresh for the doubles crown and played with Rompf for the mixed doubles championship. In 2003 he and Brown sophomore Zach Pasaden won the doubles gold ball and he and Rompf the mixed title.

Cerretani left Brown as one of the best players in school history. He missed commencement exercises in 2004 to play in the NCAA Tournament in singles and doubles. He held Brown career records for victories (212) and doubles victories (119). He was third (93) on the singles list behind Tim Donovan ’89 (115) and Chris Drake ’03 (104).

Cerretani is 7-5 in doubles on the ATP tour this year. He reached the semifinals in Zagreb in February with and the final in Casablanca in May.

On the Challenger circuit he won in Wroclaw and reached the final in Cordoba and Bergamo. He got to the semifinals at Tunis, Marrakesh, Miami and Heilbronn.

He has played with several partners and has earned $45,863.

Don’t count him out

Don’t write off Roger Federer just because he lost the five-set Wimbledon final to Rafael Nadal on Sunday.

Hyperbolic observers proclaimed a changing of the guard, suggesting that Federer’s day is done. Tour veteran Vince Spadea disagrees.

“I would say Nadal is on such a high level, on a roll, winning Queens, winning the French Open. Federer has struggled this year in some people’s eyes and still could have, and possibly should have, won that match at the end. It’s like taking his “worst” and bringing Nadal’s best, and you’re still basically at a draw, a one-point difference,” Spadea said.

“Everyone’s human, you know. Sampras lost not even in the finals (quarterfinals, 1996). He lost to Federer one time in the quarters (2001). No one ever questioned his ability to come back and win, and he did, numerous times. I think Federer has that in him, and he’s still young enough. He still has it in him, for sure, especially at the U.S. Open.”

Spadea will play his second-round match in the Campbell’s Hall of Fame Championships today.

A confidence-builder

Seventh-seeded Frank Dancevic of Canada pulled out another three-setter yesterday, beating qualifier Brendan Evans of the U.S., 5-7, 6-4, 7-6 (3), a day after defeating the comebacking Taylor Dent, 3-6, 7-5, 6-1.

“It’s good for me. It helps build my confidence knowing I can win close matches,” he said.

Evans had upset Paul Capdeville of Chile in the first round Monday and gave Dancevic all he could handle yesterday.

“He played the best he could have played today, probably the best match of his life. He served well. He played unbelievable,” Dancevic said.

The difference was Evans seemed to get tight toward the end.

“His balls were penetrating the whole match, except when it got close,” Dancevic said.

Dancevic is ranked No. 99 in the world, Evans No. 185. This was Evans’ first ATP appearance this year. The 22-year-old had played 13 Challenger tournaments until qualifying for the main draw here.

Another Amritraj

Will another Amritraj win another Hall of Fame championship?

Prakash Amritraj took a step in that direction yesterday with a 7-5, 6-3 victory over Jesse Levine in the second round and reached the quarterfinals of an ATP tournament for the second time.

His father Vijay, was, a regular on the pro tour for two decades and won in Newport three times, in 1976, when the tournament was an exhibition, and again in 1980 and 1984. He is here to watch his son.

Prakash, 24, is ranked No. 305 and is here courtesy of a wild card from Hall of Fame CEO Mark Stenning.

Debut for Santoro

Second-seeded Fabrice Santoro of France, the defending champion, will finally play a match when he takes the stadium court today at 11. Because of the 28-man draw instead of the usual 32, the top four seeds received first-round byes. Top-seeded Mardy Fish and fourth-seeded Igor Kunitsyn played yesterday. Third-seeded Nicolas Mahut of France, the runner-up last year, will also make his 2008 singles debut today against Spadea.