University of Tennessee Athletics
Walton, Monday Advance to NCAA Singles Second Round
May 23, 2022 | Men's Tennis
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Graduate student Adam Walton and sophomore Johannus Monday of the Tennessee men's tennis team each advanced to the second round of the NCAA Singles Championship Monday at the Khan Outdoor Tennis Center in Champaign, Illinois.
The morning match saw third-ranked Walton defeat #90 Charles Bertimon of VCU, 6-4, 6-0. Walton and Bertimon each held serve through four service games apiece in the first set, before Walton earned a break on deuce point to go up 5-4. Walton then served it out to take a 6-4 first-set victory. Down 3-4 in the first set, Walton won the final nine games of the match after delivering a bagel in set two.
"There were tough conditions today," Walton said. "It was a little colder and we played indoors in the team semifinals, so trying to get used to outdoors again was a little tricky at the start. It was tight at the start of the first set, but once I got my rhythm a little but, I was able to play much better tennis in the second set."
In the afternoon, #10 Monday delivered a three-set, 7-5, 4-6, 6-2 win over Cornell's #44 Alafia Ayeni. Down a break at 1-4 in the first set, Monday battled back and eventually went up 6-5 with another break of his own before serving out the set. Monday broke Ayeni to take a 2-1 lead in the second set, before Ayeni came back for the set win. Monday would not be denied in set three, having his way en route to a 6-2 set victory.
"I'm very happy to get a win," Monday said. "Last year's individual tournament wasn't the biggest success for me. Hopefully I'm here until Saturday in the finals. That's my goal. Some people say the first few rounds are the toughest because you may be playing with a little nerves and others may play with no pressure. It's just good to get off to a good start and hopefully that can continue."
UP NEXT
Walton (11 a.m. ET) and Monday (4 p.m. ET) will compete for a chance to be named All-Americans in their second round matchups Tuesday. The Doubles Championship draw commences Tuesday as well and the Vols have two duos competing. Hudd and Mitsui (27-11 as a pairing this season) will battle Justin Boulais and James Trotter of Ohio State in Tuesday's opening round of doubles at 5 p.m. ET. In addition, Tennessee's No. 1 doubles pair and reigning NCAA Doubles National Champions Walton and fellow Aussie Pat Harper (17-7 together this season) will begin their pursuit of a second consecutive doubles title by facing San Diego's August Holmgren and Guilherm Osorio at 7:30 p.m. ET.
RESULTS
Singles
R64 #3 Adam Walton (Tenn.) def. #90 Charles Bertimon (VCU) 6-4, 6-0
R64 #10 Johannus Monday (Tenn.) def. #44 Alafia Ayeni (Cornell) 7-5, 4-6, 6-2
The morning match saw third-ranked Walton defeat #90 Charles Bertimon of VCU, 6-4, 6-0. Walton and Bertimon each held serve through four service games apiece in the first set, before Walton earned a break on deuce point to go up 5-4. Walton then served it out to take a 6-4 first-set victory. Down 3-4 in the first set, Walton won the final nine games of the match after delivering a bagel in set two.
"There were tough conditions today," Walton said. "It was a little colder and we played indoors in the team semifinals, so trying to get used to outdoors again was a little tricky at the start. It was tight at the start of the first set, but once I got my rhythm a little but, I was able to play much better tennis in the second set."
In the afternoon, #10 Monday delivered a three-set, 7-5, 4-6, 6-2 win over Cornell's #44 Alafia Ayeni. Down a break at 1-4 in the first set, Monday battled back and eventually went up 6-5 with another break of his own before serving out the set. Monday broke Ayeni to take a 2-1 lead in the second set, before Ayeni came back for the set win. Monday would not be denied in set three, having his way en route to a 6-2 set victory.
"I'm very happy to get a win," Monday said. "Last year's individual tournament wasn't the biggest success for me. Hopefully I'm here until Saturday in the finals. That's my goal. Some people say the first few rounds are the toughest because you may be playing with a little nerves and others may play with no pressure. It's just good to get off to a good start and hopefully that can continue."
UP NEXT
Walton (11 a.m. ET) and Monday (4 p.m. ET) will compete for a chance to be named All-Americans in their second round matchups Tuesday. The Doubles Championship draw commences Tuesday as well and the Vols have two duos competing. Hudd and Mitsui (27-11 as a pairing this season) will battle Justin Boulais and James Trotter of Ohio State in Tuesday's opening round of doubles at 5 p.m. ET. In addition, Tennessee's No. 1 doubles pair and reigning NCAA Doubles National Champions Walton and fellow Aussie Pat Harper (17-7 together this season) will begin their pursuit of a second consecutive doubles title by facing San Diego's August Holmgren and Guilherm Osorio at 7:30 p.m. ET.
RESULTS
Singles
R64 #3 Adam Walton (Tenn.) def. #90 Charles Bertimon (VCU) 6-4, 6-0
R64 #10 Johannus Monday (Tenn.) def. #44 Alafia Ayeni (Cornell) 7-5, 4-6, 6-2
Players Mentioned
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
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