Articles

USTA Circuit Player of the Week

by usta.com

Birthdate: April 24, 1983
Residence: Coral Springs, Fla.
Height: 5' 10"
Plays: Right-handed

Todd Widom of Coral Springs, Fla., gave his best performance to date at a USTA Pro Circuit event, when he defeated Australian Jay Gooding last week in the final of the Great Barrier Reef $10,000 Futures in Joplin, Mo.

Widom, a star player for the University of Miami, knocked off four seeded players en route to his first pro title. He eliminated No. 6 seed Matt Klinger of Canada, 7-6 (4), 6-3, in the first round, No. 3 Wayne Odesnik of Weston, Fla., 7-6 (4), 6-1, in the quarterfinals, top-seed Raven Klaasen of South Africa, 5-7, 6-2, 6-2, in the semifinals and No. 5 Gooding, 6-4, 7-6 (4), in the final.

Prior to Joplin, Widom's top singles results at the professional level were second-round finishes at the Futures events in Tampa, Fla., and Peoria, Ill., earlier this year, and at Challengers in Lexington, Ky., and Tulsa, Okla., in 2002. In doubles, his best finishes came this summer in Peoria, Ill., where he advanced to the final with partner Scott Lipsky, and Pittsburgh, where he again teamed with Lipsky to reach the semifinals.

Widom recently completed a phenomenal sophomore year at Miami, which earned him All-American status for the second year in a row. He advanced to the semifinals of the 2003 NCAA singles championships, becoming the first Miami player to reach the semis since Conny Falk in 1990, and he ended his sophomore campaign with a 27-9 singles record overall. Widom was also one of ten college players chosen to represent the United States on the Intercollegiate Tennis Association's USA All-Star Team that competed in Japan in June.

2003

Captured the first professional title of his career at the $10,000 USTA Futures event in Joplin, Mo… Defeated four seeded players en route to the title, including No. 6 Matt Klinger of Canada, 7-6 (4), 6-3, in the first round, No. 3 Wayne Odesnik of Weston, Fla., 7-6 (4), 6-1, in the quarterfinals, top-seed Raven Klaasen of South Africa, 5-7, 6-2, 6-2, in the semifinals and No. 5 Gooding, 6-4, 7-6 (4), in the final.
Reached the doubles final (with Scott Lipsky) at the USTA Futures event in Peoria, Ill.
Advanced to the doubles semifinals (with Lipsky) at the USTA Futures event in Pittsburgh.
At the University of Miami, earned All-American status for the second year in a row after reaching the semifinals of the NCAA Singles Championships… Became the first player from Miami to advance to the semis since Conny Falk in 1990.
Wrapped up his sophomore campaign with a 27-9 overall singles record.
Represented the United States on the Intercollegiate Tennis Association's USA All-Star Team that competed in Japan in June.

2002

Ended his first season at Miami as the third-highest ranked freshman at No. 22 in the nation.
Playing No. 1 singles for the Hurricanes the entire season, he tallied an overall singles record of 28-7 and became the first Hurricane since then-freshman Michael Russell in 1996-97 to earn ITA All-American honors.
Was named Most Outstanding Player of the BIG EAST Tournament and also earned team MVP honors at the annual tennis banquet.
Was named to the USA Tennis Collegiate Team, an elite training program for the top American collegiate tennis players.

2001

Was ranked third in the country in the boys' 18s.
Won the singles title at the Gator Bowl.
Placed third at the U.S. National Hard Court Championships and fifth in the Easter Bowl.

PERSONAL

Mother, Eloise… Brother, Gary.
Attended high school at J.P. Taravella… As a senior, he captured the district championship title at No. 1 singles and No. 2 doubles and was a state finalist at No. 1 singles… Was named to the Sun-Sentinel All-County First-Team… Earned team Most Valuable Player honors.

Source: usta.com