By Jim Henry

jhenry@joplinglobe.com

The USTA Futures tennis circuit isn’t filled just with aspiring professionals looking to move up.

The tour also provides college players the opportunity to gauge their skills.

“My coach likes how we’re all playing in the summer,” said Jonathan Wolff, one of three Wake Forest players at the Millennium Tennis and Fitness Club this week. “Pretty much half of the college players don’t really play over the summer. They just take off.

“It’s a learning experience, playing in these professional tournaments. You grow and try to bring this same level into the college season next year. It is a higher level (than college play) ... not that big of a difference but it’s still noticeable.

“It’s for sure a confidence builder. Win or lose, you know you can play at this level.”

Wolff, who was 17-17 at mostly No. 4 and No. 5 singles for the Demon Deacons last year, lost to Blake Strode of Arkansas 6-4, 6-2 Thursday afternoon in the second round of the USTA Freeman $10,000 Futures Tournament.

“He’s a tough player,” said Strode, 17-18 at No. 1 singles for the Razorbacks this spring. “He makes you hit a lot of balls, a good forehand. It was kind of a tough start, but then once I kind of relaxed and got the lead in the first set, I kind of loosened up and played some good tennis.”

The top two seeds were knocked out Thursday morning.

No. 1 Adriano Biasella, 27-year-old from Italy, lost to Jean-Yves Aubone 6-3, 7-6 (7-5). Aubone, the No. 1 player at Florida State, also beat Biasella in the second round one week ago en route to the Futures title in Peoria, Ill.

Arnau Brugues, who made the tournament by winning a wild-card tournament here earlier this month, downed No. 2 Daniel Garza from Mexico when Garza retired down one set and 4-0 in the second set.

No. 8 Austin Krajicek was another upset victim, falling to Travis Helgeson of Georgia 6-3, 6-1.

Fourth-seeded Nicolas Santos from Brazil and No. 5 Adam Thompson of New Zealand won three-set matches to advance to today’s quarterfinals. Santos, after dropping the first set 6-3, won the final 12 games over South African Thomas Liversage. Thompson beat South Korean Hyung-Kwon Kim 6-3 in the decisive set.

Tigran Martirosyan, from Armenia and seeded seventh, downed Conor Pollock 6-3, 6-3.