University of Tennessee Athletics
University of Tennessee
SEC Coaches' Indoor Championships
Sandgren and Smith Advance to SEC Indoors Quarterfinals
January 17, 2009 | Men's Tennis
Jan. 17, 2009
Tennessee teammates Davey Sandgren and John-Patrick Smith won twice Saturday to advance to the quarterfinals of the singles draw at the SEC Coaches' Indoor Championships played in Lexington, Ky.
"All the guys here are working hard and we've gotten some good victories," head coach Sam Winterbotham said. "I think Davey's done a great job so far in the tournament getting three wins against quality opponents and I look forward to him having a good day tomorrow. J.P. battled through some tough matches today and I think he's set himself up to have a good day tomorrow as well."
Sandgren began the day by dropping the first set of his match against Marcel Thiemann of Ole Miss but the 2007 second team All-SEC selection won the second set and then dominated the third set to advance with a 3-6, 6-4, 6-1 win. In the round of 16, Sandgren dropped his first ranked opponent of 2009 as he bested Florida's 63rd-ranked Joey Burkhardt in straight-sets, 6-3, 6-4. Sandgren faces Devin Britton of Ole Miss in the quarterfinals.
Smith received a bye through Friday's play and did not play his first singles match until Saturday morning. The 2008 All-America opened the day with a straight-set win over Kentucky's Brad Cox, 6-4, 6-2. In the next round, Smith went up against Alex Lacroix of Florida and fell behind after dropping the first set but battled back to win, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4. Smith faces 28th-ranked Jonas Berg of Ole Miss Sunday in the quarterfinals.
Sandgren and Smith teamed up to beat Drake Bernstein and Javier Garrapiz of Georgia, 8-1 to advance to the semifinals of the doubles tournament. The UT tandem has won both of its doubles matches in the tournament by a score of 8-1. Sandgren and Smith face Antoine Benneteau and Joey Burkhardt of Florida in the semifinals. Benneteau and Burkhardt are unranked but advanced to the semifinals by knocking off the nation's No. 1 duo in the quarterfinals.
Three Vols began play in consolation singles on Saturday. Jeremy Tweedt defeated Kentucky's Alex Lambropoulos, 7-5, 6-4 to advance. In the next round, LSU's Sebastien Carlsson knocked of the UT sophomore, 6-1, 6-4.
Matt Brewer and Christian Hansen both dropped their first round consolation matches in grueling third-set tiebreakers. Hansen fell to Jon Hamui of Florida, 7-6, 6-7, (10-6) while Brewer fell to Borja Malo of Georgia.
Sunday will be a busy day for Sandgren and Smith. Both netters will play their singles matches starting at 10 a.m. and then play in the semifinals of the doubles tournament at 1:30. If they win their semifinal match in doubles, the duo will play in the championship match at 3 p.m.
SEC Indoor Championships - Jan. 17, 2009
Singles - Round of 32
No. 50 John-Patrick Smith (UT) def. Brad Cox (UK) 6-4, 6-2
Davey Sandgren (UT) def. Marcel Thiemann (UM) 3-6, 6-4, 6-1
Singles - Round of 16
No. 50 John-Patrick Smith (UT) def. Alex Lacroix (UF) 3-6, 6-3, 6-4
Davey Sandgren (UT) def. No. 63 Joey Burkhardt (UF) 6-3, 6-4
Singles - Consolation First Round
Jeremy Tweedt (UT) def. Alex Lambropoulos (UK) 7-5, 6-4
Jon Hamui (UF) def. Christian Hansen (UT) 7-6, 6-7, (10-6)
Borja Malo (UGA) def. Matt Brewer (UT)
Singles - Consolation Second Round
Sebastien Carlsson (LSU) def. Jeremy Tweedt (UT) 6-1, 6-4
Doubles - Quarterfinals
Sandgren/Smith (UT) def. Bernstein/Garrapiz (UGA) 8-1
Players Mentioned
