University of Tennessee Athletics
Mitsui Captures SEC Freshman of the Week Honor for Third Time
April 18, 2022 | Men's Tennis
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee men's tennis freshman sensation Shunsuke Mitsui has been named the SEC Freshman of the Week for a second consecutive week and third time overall this season, the conference announced Monday.
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This regular season, Mitsui was one of just two SEC players to tally 20 dual singles victories and was the lone freshman in the SEC to accomplish that feat. Mitsui logged a 3-0 overall record in Tennessee's wins over Alabama and No. 28 Auburn this past weekend.
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He improves to 20-3 (10-1 SEC) in dual singles matches this season and 30-7 overall on the singles courts. Mitsui has won 10 of his previous 11 completed singles matches and each of his two singles wins this weekend came at the No. 4 position.
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In doubles action against Alabama Friday, the 32nd-ranked pairing of Mitsui and Emile Hudd breezed past Enzo Aguiard and Juan Martin of Alabama, winning 6-2 on court two. Mitsui was the first singles court to finish in Tennessee's bout with the Tide, as he took care of business with a straight-set, 6-2, 6-1 win over German Samofalov on court four.
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Sunday saw Mitsui add to his SEC Freshman of the Year case by overcoming Auburn's Raul Dobai in a 10-point third-set tiebreak, 4-6, 6-4, 1-0 (12-10) during Tennessee's 6-2 win. He earned a break in the first game of set two, before battling for the set win and eventual match win.
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Mitsui was tracking towards another doubles win with Hudd on court Sunday against Auburn, before going unfinished while leading 5-3. Mitsui is 27-9 in overall doubles action this season, including an 11-7 mark in dual matches and is 9-3 (4-1 SEC) at the No. 2 doubles spot with Hudd.
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Mitsui and the Vols begin play at the SEC Championship this week in Athens, Georgia. Tennessee's first match will be Thursday at 3 p.m. ET against the winner of the Vanderbilt/Alabama match on Wednesday. The full tournament bracket can be found here and tickets can be purchased here.
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This regular season, Mitsui was one of just two SEC players to tally 20 dual singles victories and was the lone freshman in the SEC to accomplish that feat. Mitsui logged a 3-0 overall record in Tennessee's wins over Alabama and No. 28 Auburn this past weekend.
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He improves to 20-3 (10-1 SEC) in dual singles matches this season and 30-7 overall on the singles courts. Mitsui has won 10 of his previous 11 completed singles matches and each of his two singles wins this weekend came at the No. 4 position.
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In doubles action against Alabama Friday, the 32nd-ranked pairing of Mitsui and Emile Hudd breezed past Enzo Aguiard and Juan Martin of Alabama, winning 6-2 on court two. Mitsui was the first singles court to finish in Tennessee's bout with the Tide, as he took care of business with a straight-set, 6-2, 6-1 win over German Samofalov on court four.
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Sunday saw Mitsui add to his SEC Freshman of the Year case by overcoming Auburn's Raul Dobai in a 10-point third-set tiebreak, 4-6, 6-4, 1-0 (12-10) during Tennessee's 6-2 win. He earned a break in the first game of set two, before battling for the set win and eventual match win.
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Mitsui was tracking towards another doubles win with Hudd on court Sunday against Auburn, before going unfinished while leading 5-3. Mitsui is 27-9 in overall doubles action this season, including an 11-7 mark in dual matches and is 9-3 (4-1 SEC) at the No. 2 doubles spot with Hudd.
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Mitsui and the Vols begin play at the SEC Championship this week in Athens, Georgia. Tennessee's first match will be Thursday at 3 p.m. ET against the winner of the Vanderbilt/Alabama match on Wednesday. The full tournament bracket can be found here and tickets can be purchased here.
Players Mentioned
/ Men's Tennis
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