Win or Lose, Ryler De Heart Feels Pain

Ryler De Heart in Mobile.

MOBILE, AL -- Ryler De Heart spoke with a touch of sadness. Many of the players here and on the Futures tour are friends, he said, and the winner feels the pain of his friend's loss.

"I don't think he played his best," De Heart said about Luigi D'Agord, who lost 7-6 (5), 6-4 in the Newton Cox USTA Men's Professional Tennis Classic. But De Heart said the criticism was not in malice, but said as a friend. "We are good friends and it is difficult."

Michael Yani is another good friend, De Heart said. Yani and De Heart play each other in the semifinal Saturday in the semifinal.Ryler De Heart's lucky bag.

Ryler De Heart's lucky shoe.