Ambert Falls In NCAA Singles Championship
After gaining a 4-1 lead in the first set, Ambert, ranked 37th nationally, ultimately dropped that first frame to the 27th-ranked Cloer 7-5. In the second set, the two players traded several service breaks that resulted in a 3-3 tie. But Cloer, the Atlantic Coast Conference's Player of the Year, would claim the final three games of the match to post a 7-5, 6-3 victory over the MSU senior.
The loss marked the end of one of the best careers in MSU tennis history. Ambert was a a two-time, all-American and four-time, all-Southeastern Conference selection. He was ranked as high as No. 3 nationally in singles during his career, and was in the top 10 a good portion of his time as a Bulldog. He finished up his four seasons in Starkville 98-49 overall in singles while facing the nation's top competition in many of those contests. He stands sixth all-time at MSU when combining singles and doubles victories, notching 167 total wins.
A native of Toulouse, France, Ambert earned his fourth career appointment to the NCAA singles field this year, making him only the second Bulldog netter ever to qualify for the NCAA Singles Championship four times. The other was all-American Matthieu Ballay, who accomplished the feat from 1996-99. He was named the ITA National Player to Watch in 2002 and earned two ITA regional sportsmanship awards in 2003. He is also an ITA Scholar Athlete.
"Today's loss was a tough way for Romain to end his career, but we are very proud of everything he accomplished," MSU head coach Sylvain Guichard said. "He had many great matches as a Bulldog and we will remember his contributions to our program for years to come. He certainly established himself as one of our program's best players ever."
MSU RESULTS IN THE 2004 NCAA SINGLES CHAMPIONSHIP
May 26, 2004 - Tulsa, Oklahoma
First Round - #27 Mat Cloer (Florida State) def. #37 Romain Ambert (MSU) 7-5, 6-3.