July 26, 2007

RIO DE JANEIRO - USA men's tennis team member Todd Paul (Stamford, Conn.) was eliminated from singles competition at the Pan American Games after play resumed following a rain-soaked day on Tuesday.

After cruising to a first-round 6-1, 6-3 victory over Gustavo Ramirez Paraguay, Paul fell to sixth-seeded Ivan Miranda of Peru, 7-6 (5), 6-4.

"The courts were slow," said Paul. "But, I had my chances."

Travis Helgeson (Overland Park, Kan.) and Stephen Bass (Bronxville, N.Y.) were also eliminated from play. Bass fell to No. 9-seed Michael Quintero, while No. 8-seed Carlos Salamanca of Columbia got the best of Helgeson in three sets, 1-6, 6-0, 6-4.

Helgeson and Paul represent the U.S. team's last hope for a medal when the pair teams up for the doubles competition today. The US tandem will meet Mexico's eighth-seeded Gustavo Ramirez and Juan Carlos Ramirez in their opening match.