NCAA All-American Somdev Devvarman cruised into the semifinals of the Roanoke Valley Invitational Tennis Tournament on Saturday at Hollins University.

Devvarman, a University of Virginia standout, defeated Virginia Tech's Jonathan Leong Son 6-2, 6-3 in the quarterfinals to advance to today's action.

Devvarman took control of the match from the start and established his domination when he hit a jumping backhand winner down the line.

All Leong Son could do was smile in disbelief.

"He's the toughest competitor I've played against," Leong Son said. "He's solid all around."

Earlier, Devvarman, the runner-up last month at the NCAA singles tournament, had little trouble with Daniel McGregor, winning 6-0, 6-1 in the second round.

But it wasn't always easy for Devvarman.

The humble Cavalier said he plays the game because he loves it, although he said he struggled as a player in his early teens.

"I used to lose a lot," Devvarman said with a smile.

When he would lose, his parents would ask him how he felt, but they'd never discuss the match. They didn't want to push him to the point where he wouldn't have fun with the game.

"My parents really supported my tennis, but they really just wanted me to be happy," Devvarman said.

Once Devvarman turned 18, he started to win most of his matches and started playing abroad.

He gained the No. 1 ranking in singles and doubles for juniors in India.

"I really don't know why I started to play so well," Devvarman said. "It just started to click, I guess, and as I traveled, the competition got better."

Devvarman thought hard about turning pro once he turned 18, but many coaches explained that college tennis would only help prepare him for the pro circuit -- all the while he received an education.

Devvarman needed only one college visit to make up his mind.

"I took a trip to Virginia and loved it," Devvarman said. "I didn't really visit any other schools once I went to Virginia because it was so nice and I could just see myself fitting in."

Devvarman explained how much it meant to him that Virginia tennis coach Brian Boland flew to India to get a commitment from him.

"For someone to fly halfway across the world to see you, that showed me that he had a genuine interest in me," Devvarman said.

Devvarman, now 21 and a sophomore at UVa, still plans to turn pro after his college days are over.

But he wants to have fun and finish his education first.

"I'm having a lot of fun at school right now," said Devvarman, who last week was named the state's player of the year by the Virginia sports information directors. "I chose Virginia because it wasn't a tennis-all-of-the-time type of place. That's what I needed."

Boys' 18 singles (round of 16)

Mason-Deese def. Ellenbogen (inj); McKean def. Laub 6-0, 6-1; Sarlo def. Willess 6-1, 6-4; Miller def. Li 6-2, 6-1.

Boys' 18 Singles (quarterfinals)

Allen def. Miller 6-2, 6-3; McKean def. Ezell 6-0, 6-0; Braig def. Sarlo 6-0, 6-2.

Boys' 16 singles (round of 16)

Tulenko def. Taylor (inj); Newsom def. Brown 6-2, 4-6, 6-2; O'Keefe def. Artwick 6-1, 6-1; Sipe def. Nelson 6-4, 6-1; Kosowitz def. Petersen 6-1, 6-2; Wieler def. Sun 6-0, 6-1; Tiller def. Haim 6-0, 6-2; Barton def. Hubbard 6-3, 6-3.

Boys' 14 singles (round of 16)

Luck def. Khokar 6-0, 6-1; Coffman def. Taylor (inj.); Miller def. Nelson 6-0, 7-5; Schwartz def. Murphy 6-1, 6-2; Brown def. Khokar 6-2, 6-4; O'Keefe def. White 6-0, 6-0; Sipe def. Tulenko 6-0, 6-0; Grubbs def. Barker 6-4, 6-3.

Boys' 14 singles (quarterfinals)

Miller def. Coffman 6-2, 6-1; O'Keefe def. Grubbs 6-1, 6-1; Sipe def. Luck 6-2, 6-0.

Boys' 12 singles (quarterfinals)

Coffey def. Nelligan 6-3, 0-6, 10-8; O'Keefe def. Braig 6-1, 6-3; Drougas def. Harrington 6-1, 6-4; Tulenko def. Reign 3-6, 7-6, 10-4.

Boys' 10 singles (quarterfinals)

Coleman def. Nelligan 6-1, 6-1; Cartledge def. Dudley 6-0, 6-1; Harrington def. Hathi 6-2, 6-0; Drougas def. Delnicki 6-1, 6-2.

Girls' 18 singles (quarterfinals)

Sheets def. Skeens 6-0, 6-0; Hopkins def. Ailstock 6-3, 6-3; Addison def. Acken 6-1, 6-2.

Girls' 16 singles (quarterfinals)

Dodson def. Canter 6-1, 6-1; Sibly def. Reedy 6-1, 6-1; Marshall def. Barber 6-4, 6-0.

Girls' 14 singles (quarterfinals)

Moomau def. Gordon 6-0, 6-1; Min def. Brooks 6-1, 6-2; Walton def. Barton 4-6, 6-3, 12-10; Harter def. Haim 6-0, 4-6, 10-6.

Girls' 12 singles (quarterfinals)

Sarver def. Brammer 6-0, 6-0; Min def. Moon 6-4, 6-1; Sledd def. Hudson 6-1, 6-1; Wolfe def. Jensen 6-1, 6-1.

Men's Open Singles (round of 16)

Halter def. Early 3-6, 6-3, 6-2; Devvarman def. McGregor 6-0, 6-1; Sergeev def. Armes 6-1, 6-4; Martin def. Coti 6-3, 6-4; Newton def. Bell 6-4, 4-6, 6-4; Downing def. Kopelcheck 6-2, 6-0; Miklo def. Martin 7-6, 6-1; Leongson def. Martin 7-5, 6-1.

Women's Open Singles (quarterfinals)

Dillingham def. Lester 6-0, 6-1; Haynes def. Smith 6-3, 6-3; Sibly def. Pipkin 6-0, 6-1.