Artem Sitak is a Fighter

Artem Sitak is a fighter.

MOBILE, Al -- With a big lead in the match -- 6-3, 3-0 and serving 40-30 -- Travis Rettenmaier had already checked out, mentally, and was making plans for lunch. He was to learn that his opponent Artem Sitak was a fighter.

After a terrible start, Sitak fought back in this semifinal match in the Newton Cox USTA Men's Professional Classic. Rettenmaier finally won -- 6-3, 7-5 -- but Sitak made him earn it.

"I was thinking about where I'm going to eat," Rettenmaier said about his mental state when he had a big lead in the match. "That's what makes tennis great. I got to give him credit. A lot of guys don't do that. Not at this level. Maybe at the ATP level. That's a testament to him.

"The guys who win the first set usually win the match."

He made the point casually and matter-of-factly that a lot of players at the Futures level do not play out -- with any sort of commitment -- their match when they find themselves down big. It is point that observant fans notice from time to time on the Futures and Challenger tour.

Travis Rettenmaier.