Eric Butorac, a 2003 graduate of Gustavus Adolphus College, has advanced to the quarterfinals of the men’s doubles draw at the Australian Open being played in Melbourne. The Australian Open is the first of four major tournaments on the Association of Tennis Professionals calendar.
Butorac, and doubles partner Rajeev Ram, defeated Leonardo Mayer and Horacio Zeballos of Argentina 6-7, 6-4, and 7-6 in a third round match on Sunday, Jan. 24.
Butorac and Ram will now face the top seeded American duo of Bob and Mike Bryan in the quarterfinals. The Bryan brothers have won the Australian Open three of the past four years.
Butorac and Ram defeated the seventh seeded Polish due of Mariusz Fyrstenberg and Marcin Matkowski 6-2, 3-6, and 7-6 in a second round match earlier in the week.
In the first round, Butorac and Ram defeated the Brazilian combination of Thomaz Bellucci and Andre Sa in straight sets, 6-3 and 6-4.
Butorac, a native of Rochester, Minn., is currently ranked No. 43 in the world in men’s doubles. He has six ATP Tour titles to his credit, including two with his current partner Ram.
You can follow Butorac’s progress at the Australian Open online at australianopen.com.
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