University of Tennessee Athletics
University of Tennessee
UVA Ranked Plus One Invitational
Fago, Sandgren Advance to Finals at UVa Invitational
September 24, 2010 | Men's Tennis
Sept. 24, 2010
Senior Matteo Fago and sophomore Tennys Sandgren won their opening doubles matches of the season Friday to reach the finals of their draw at the UVa Ranked Plus One Invitational in Charlottesville, Va.
Playing together for the first time since mid-February, Fago and Sandgren started the day by defeating Duke's Jared Pinsky and Chris Mengel 8-5 in the quarterfinals of the A-4 flight. A few hours later, Fago and Sandgren earned a close 8-6 victory over Jonathan Jaklitsch and Evan Bernstein of Cornell.
Fago and Sandgren improved to 7-1 as a pairing. Fago, who ended the spring by winning his last five doubles matches with sophomore Edward Jones, extended his winning streak to seven, one shy of tying his career best.
They face Sanam Singh and Steven Rooda from host Virginia in the championship.
Singles were played in the afternoon, and three of four Vols advanced to their respective quarterfinals.
Senior John-Patrick Smith, ranked No. 1 nationally, took the lone loss. He was upset 7-6, 6-4 by Maryland's Maros Horny and dropped into the consolation draw of the A-1 flight. He had been the defending champion in the A-1 singles and doubles draws.
Sophomore Rhyne Williams cruised easily 6-2, 6-0 past Virginia Tech's Patrick Daciek in the A-3 flight. Williams, who won 41 matches as a freshman, reached the final of his draw at last year's UVa Invitational.
Fago and Sandgren both picked up victories in the A-4 draw. Fago earned his first victory over a ranked opponent since his sophomore season, rallying from a set down to defeat No. 49 Calin Paar of Nebraska 6-7 (7), 6-3, 7-6 (1). Sandgren beat Northwestern's Spencer Wolf 6-4, 6-3.
Smith and Williams, playing doubles together for the first time, had mixed results. They won their first match 8-4 against Cornell's Jeremy Feldman and Andy Gauthier in the A-1 flight. The Vol duo later lost their semifinal match by the same score to North Carolina's Jose Hernandez and Joey Burkhardt, who recently transfered from Florida.
UVa Ranked Plus One Invitational
Friday's Results
Singles
A-1 Flight
Round of 16
Maros Horny, Maryland, def. John-Patrick Smith, UT, 7-6, 6-4
A-3 Flight
Round of 16
Rhyne Williams, UT, def. Patrick Daciek, Virginia Tech, 6-2, 6-0
A-4 Flight
Round of 16
Tennys Sandgren, UT, def. Spencer Wolf, Northwestern, 6-4, 6-3
Matteo Fago, UT, def. Calin Paar, Nebraska, 6-7 (7), 6-3, 7-6 (1)
Doubles
A-1 Flight
Quarterfinals
John-Patrick Smith/Rhyne Williams, UT, def. Jeremy Feldman/Andy Gauthier, Cornell, 8-4
Semifinals
Jose Hernandez/Joey Burkhardt, North Carolina, def. Smith/Williams, UT, 8-4
A-4 Flight
Quarterfinals
Matteo Fago/Tennys Sandgren, UT, def. Jared Pinsky/Chris Mengel, Duke, 8-5
Semifinals
Fago/Sandgren, UT, def. Jonathan Jaklitsch/Evan Bernstein, Cornell, 8-6
Players Mentioned
