He was a coach this week at the USTA girls 18 national team tennis championships north of San Francisco.

Next week, though, Cory Ross will concentrate on his own game as a player with a shot at Colorado tennis history.

The 25-year-old Ross, a Kent Denver graduate who played tennis collegiately at Louisiana State, has been busy helping his protégé, Cherry Creek High School senior Elizabeth Marsico, in her competition as an Intermountain section representative at the 16-team nationals in Novato, Calif.

"She lost the third set 6-4 (Wednesday), but I'm happy with the way she played," Ross said of Marsico when contacted earlier this week.

Ross will switch his focus from coach to player at the Babolat Boulder Open, which begins Sunday at the Millennium Harvest House.

Ross, top seeded in men's open singles, will be going for a Colorado grand slam.

"I can't wait to get back out there and play another tournament. I was in the groove at the State and hope to pick up where I left off. I honestly can't wait for it - to get get back out on the court," Ross said. "But it's all revolving round my job - which is basically coaching. She is my focus, my goal, my object."

Having already won the Elam Classic, the Denver City Open and the Colorado State Open, Ross is seeking to become only the second player since the Elam tournament began in Grand Junction in 1961 to win all four in a year. Harold Sears, of Salt Lake City, accomplished the feat in 1967.

"I guess it's one of those things where nobody's ever done it, at least not in the last 40 years or not with graphite rackets," Ross said. "There are guys that have six or eight City Open or State Open titles. I'm not close to that stuff. But I would feel great about winning four in one year."

Ross has won the Elam three times, the City and State twice apiece and the Boulder once.

"I hadn't thought of (a sweep of the four) before winning the Elam and the City Open. I said, 'Wow.' I can't think of anybody that's ever done that," Ross said. "I thought it would be a challenge and a good goal."

Ross, not particularly imposing at 5-foot-10 and 165 pounds, has a well-rounded game and always is looking for an edge.

"Yeah, I try to look at every match and every practice as a learning experience. The great fact about tennis is, you can always play better - make better shots, make better decisions. This year, my goal was to try to get in great physical shape because I'm normally the youngest one out there (five of the quarterfinalists at the recent State Open were 35 or older).

"It's a basic 'never let 'em see you sweat' type of thing. Let them know you can play all day. It's showing no sign of weakness," Ross said.

'Big Four' facts

• What is it? The "Big Four" of Colorado men's open singles tennis tournaments consists of the Elam Classic, the Denver City Open, the Colorado State Open and the Boulder Open/Intermountain sectional, which previously alternated between Salt Lake City and Denver venues.

• Who has won it? Harold Sears of Salt Lake City won all four events in 1967.

• Who is trying to win it? Denver resident Cory Ross will try to complete a sweep of the "Big Four" at the Babolat Boulder Open, which begins Monday and runs through Aug. 12.

• Who else has been close? Other players who have won three of the four in a calendar year since 1961:

Name, city or state Year

Jim Landin, Denver 1965

Rich Hillway, Englewood 1970

Mike Springelmeyer, Iowa 1972

Kent Woodard, Grand Junction 1974

Jeff Loehr, Denver 1999

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