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Dolgopolov defeats Haas, wins Citi Open

By WTOP Staff

Eric J. Russell, special to WTOP

WASHINGTON – Prior to Sunday’s Citi Open championship match, neither Tommy Haas nor Alexandr Dolgopolov had dropped a set during the tournament.

The first-ever encounter between the two turned out to be an intense three-set match. Second-seeded Dolgopolov beat No. 4 seed Haas 6-7 (7), 6-4, 6-1 in a contest that ended more than five hours after it began.

Dolgopolov, a 23 year-old Ukraine native, appeared frustrated after the first set but battled back. The win was his first title of the year and the second of his career.

The two were in the midst of a tight battle in the first set as play was halted for more than two hours due to rain. When play was suspended, Haas had a 6-5 lead in the set. Dolgopolov came out and won the next game to force a tiebreak.

Knotted at seven in the tiebreaker, Dolgopolov came up to the net but let Haas’ return sail past him, thinking it was out. The shot hit the line and gave Haas an advantage.

Dolgopolov found it difficult to come back after the delays.

“It was a bit tough because twice we went off court before my serve,” Dolgopolov said.

The second set was as closely contested as the first. Haas was able to save four of five break points, but the one he failed to save proved to be costly, and he dropped his first set of the tournament.

Haas admitted that once he lost the second set his mental state changed.

“When I lost the second set I think I cracked a bit mentally,” Haas said. “I made a few bad decisions and was running behind the break.”

Early in the third set, Haas seemed dismayed by the conditions of the playing surface and even complained to the chair umpire.

Dolgopolov seized that opportunity. He said he could sense Haas was giving away more points then he had been.

“He helped me a bit in the last game of the second set ,” Dolgopolov said. “Then third set he was a bit frustrated so it was really good that I got the advantage in the start of the set.”

After the match, Haas said rain and delays were no excuse because Dolgopolov was playing under the same conditions.

Dolgopolov said his main goal was to get some points to regain a spot in the Top 20 of the ATP rankings. The ATP Tour’s next stop on the U.S Open Series is Toronto for the Rogers Cup.

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(Copyright 2012 by WTOP. All Rights Reserved.)

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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