Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks
CHAMPAIGN - By the end of Friday morning’s quarterfinal, Ryan Dickerson was soaked, down to his third pair of shoes, and one step closer to a title. The 28-year-old New Jersey native advanced to the semifinals of the Neitzel Family Open at Atkins Tennis Center after opponent Matthew Forbes retired midway through the second set due to a leg injury. Dickerson led 6-1, 3-0 at the time, having worn down the young Michigan State standout with a steady dose of pressure and precision. “I actually played Matt before,” Dickerson said, referencing a three-set loss to Forbes in February at the Palm Coast Open. “He's a young guy, upcoming talent. He's going to be good.” This time, it was Dickerson who dictated. Knowing Forbes’ weapons—particularly his serve and athleticism—Dickerson entered the match with a clear strategy: neutralize the serve, extend rallies, and wait for the right moment to strike. “I had to be sharp with my offense and patient aggressive,” he said. “I didn’t want him to be on offense. I did a good job today getting into a lot of rallies.” The plan worked. Forbes called a medical timeout late in the first set to treat a nagging leg injury, but after brief attention from a trainer and playing three more games, he was unable to continue. Ranked No. 185 in the ITF and No. 1120 in the ATP, Dickerson improved his career record to 95-66. Forbes, ranked 2143 in the ITF, fell to 6-10 on the year. While Dickerson’s tactical edge helped him win the match, his real opponent might’ve been the oppressive Central Illinois heat. A self-described “massive sweater,” Dickerson came prepared with no fewer than five full “shoe kits” laid out courtside—each containing dry socks, fresh shoes, and ankle braces. It’s a system born of necessity. “I usually need, like, two per match on average,” he said. “But here, it’s been unique. I’m sweating through shoes. I’m leaking water through my shoes to the court and it’s slipping as if it has just rained.” During his opening-round match against Kenta Miyoshi, the University of Illinois' top player, Dickerson used all five kits and his original pair in a marathon 5-7, 6-2, 6-4 win that stretched more than three and a half hours. “The last couple of days, it has been brutally hot,” he said. “I’m physically fit so I can handle it, but the sweating is another thing. Changing grips, shoes—it's a little out of control.”
Despite the conditions, Dickerson’s game has held up. His veteran experience and ability to adapt—whether to a young opponent’s serve or the moisture underfoot—have him in position to challenge for the title. That quest continues Saturday morning against top-seeded Paul Jubb, who defeated Kyle Kang 6-3, 6-4 to reach the semis. It will be their first career meeting. The winner of that match will face either American Quinn Vandecasteele or No. 8 seed Blaise Bicknell of Jamaica, who play in the second semifinal following the men’s doubles final. For Dickerson, the goal is simple: stay solid, stay aggressive—and stay dry enough to finish.
More stories ~
