University of Tennessee Athletics
Saturday, May 7
Knoxville, TN
1 PM
University of Tennessee
4
vs
1
Duke
#6 Vols Dominate Singles, Advance to NCAA Round of 16 With 4-1 Win Over #21 Duke
May 07, 2022 | Men's Tennis
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – The sixth-ranked Tennessee men's tennis team rallied in singles to earn a 4-1 win over No. 21 Duke Saturday in Knoxville, advancing to the round of 16 for a third consecutive NCAA Tournament.
Tennessee (24-7) will host the Knoxville Super Regional match next weekend, with exact scheduling information to be announced following the conclusion of all second round matches.
"Unlike yesterday, I thought on all three courts we had great points," Tennessee head coach Chris Woodruff said. "I think we might've played the deciders on all three of the double's courts. It just comes down to these little fine things like the return of serves or maybe we were just a half a step slow or maybe they hit some good serves, but we still need to get out of the blocks earlier.
"I think when we came in here (inside), we made that emotional adjustment and that's more of what we are looking for at the start of the match rather than waiting to be down like we were."
The match clinch came on court four by freshman Shunsuke Mitsui, as he controlled the second-set tiebreak to earn a 6-4, 7-6(2) victory to advance the Vols to Super Regionals.
"Everyone brings me energy all the time and is always grinding and being loud on the court next to me," Mitsui said. "It makes feel impressive and brings me energy. The other court also being loud and the teammates who don't play singles cheer behind me all the time. If I am playing good and have energy, I bring someone that energy. If someone is down, I bring them energy. We bring energy to each other, and it makes us high energy all the time."
The match began outdoors at Barksdale Stadium, as Duke (17-9) took the doubles point with wins on courts two and one. The Blue Devils' doubles clinch came on court one, narrowly taking a 7-6(6) win over the 13th-ranked pairing of Adam Walton and Pat Harper.
As first sets were beginning to finish in singles action, rain delayed the match for roughly one hour, before play was moved indoors to the Goodfriend Tennis Center.
Once indoors, senior and 74th-ranked Emile Hudd picked up where he left off, cruising past Duke's Connor Krug on court three, 6-1, 6-1 to even the match at 1-1. Senior Martim Prata was soon to follow with a win of his own on court six, winning in straight sets over Andrew Dale, 6-4, 6-2. Prata went up a break at 2-1 in the second set and maintained control for the remainder of the match.
The Vols took a 3-1 lead as third-ranked Adam Walton fired up the Big Orange faithful with his 6-4, 6-3 victory over #49 Garrett Johns at the top of the singles lineup.
Singles matches on courts two and five went unfinished Saturday, with sophomore #10 Johannus Monday leading 7-6(3), 5-4 and Harper at 4-6, 6-1, 3-4 on court five upon the match being clinched.
SHUNSUKE CLINCHES
With the match clinch Saturday afternoon, Mitsui leads the team with seven clinches this dual season. He has clinched three of Tennessee's past seven victories.
UP NEXT
Tennessee advances to the Knoxville Super Regional to face either Georgia or Florida State in the round of 16 next weekend.
RESULTS
Doubles
1. Niroop Vallabhaneni/Faris Khan (DU) def. #13 Adam Walton/Pat Harper (UT) 7-6 (8-6)
2. Garrett Johns/Michael Heller (DU) def. #21 Emile Hudd/Shunsuke Mitsui (UT) 6-4
3. Johannus Monday/Mark Wallner (UT) vs. Sean Sculley/Andrew Zhang (DU) 6-6 (3-2), unfinished
Order of Finish: (2,1)
Singles
1. #3 Adam Walton (UT) def. #49 Garrett Johns (DU) 6-4, 6-3
2. #10 Johannus Monday (UT) vs. Andrew Zhang (DU) 7-6 (7-3), 5-4, unfinished
3. #74 Emile Hudd (UT) def. Connor Krug (DU) 6-1, 6-1
4. Shunsuke Mitsui (UT) def. Faris Khan (DU) 6-4, 7-6 (7-2)
5. Pat Harper (UT) vs. Edu Guell (DU) 4-6, 6-1, 3-4, unfinished
6. Martim Prata (UT) def. Andrew Dale (DU) 6-4, 6-2
Order of Finish: (3,6,1,4)
Tennessee (24-7) will host the Knoxville Super Regional match next weekend, with exact scheduling information to be announced following the conclusion of all second round matches.
"Unlike yesterday, I thought on all three courts we had great points," Tennessee head coach Chris Woodruff said. "I think we might've played the deciders on all three of the double's courts. It just comes down to these little fine things like the return of serves or maybe we were just a half a step slow or maybe they hit some good serves, but we still need to get out of the blocks earlier.
"I think when we came in here (inside), we made that emotional adjustment and that's more of what we are looking for at the start of the match rather than waiting to be down like we were."
The match clinch came on court four by freshman Shunsuke Mitsui, as he controlled the second-set tiebreak to earn a 6-4, 7-6(2) victory to advance the Vols to Super Regionals.
"Everyone brings me energy all the time and is always grinding and being loud on the court next to me," Mitsui said. "It makes feel impressive and brings me energy. The other court also being loud and the teammates who don't play singles cheer behind me all the time. If I am playing good and have energy, I bring someone that energy. If someone is down, I bring them energy. We bring energy to each other, and it makes us high energy all the time."
The match began outdoors at Barksdale Stadium, as Duke (17-9) took the doubles point with wins on courts two and one. The Blue Devils' doubles clinch came on court one, narrowly taking a 7-6(6) win over the 13th-ranked pairing of Adam Walton and Pat Harper.
As first sets were beginning to finish in singles action, rain delayed the match for roughly one hour, before play was moved indoors to the Goodfriend Tennis Center.
Once indoors, senior and 74th-ranked Emile Hudd picked up where he left off, cruising past Duke's Connor Krug on court three, 6-1, 6-1 to even the match at 1-1. Senior Martim Prata was soon to follow with a win of his own on court six, winning in straight sets over Andrew Dale, 6-4, 6-2. Prata went up a break at 2-1 in the second set and maintained control for the remainder of the match.
The Vols took a 3-1 lead as third-ranked Adam Walton fired up the Big Orange faithful with his 6-4, 6-3 victory over #49 Garrett Johns at the top of the singles lineup.
Singles matches on courts two and five went unfinished Saturday, with sophomore #10 Johannus Monday leading 7-6(3), 5-4 and Harper at 4-6, 6-1, 3-4 on court five upon the match being clinched.
SHUNSUKE CLINCHES
With the match clinch Saturday afternoon, Mitsui leads the team with seven clinches this dual season. He has clinched three of Tennessee's past seven victories.
UP NEXT
Tennessee advances to the Knoxville Super Regional to face either Georgia or Florida State in the round of 16 next weekend.
RESULTS
Doubles
1. Niroop Vallabhaneni/Faris Khan (DU) def. #13 Adam Walton/Pat Harper (UT) 7-6 (8-6)
2. Garrett Johns/Michael Heller (DU) def. #21 Emile Hudd/Shunsuke Mitsui (UT) 6-4
3. Johannus Monday/Mark Wallner (UT) vs. Sean Sculley/Andrew Zhang (DU) 6-6 (3-2), unfinished
Order of Finish: (2,1)
Singles
1. #3 Adam Walton (UT) def. #49 Garrett Johns (DU) 6-4, 6-3
2. #10 Johannus Monday (UT) vs. Andrew Zhang (DU) 7-6 (7-3), 5-4, unfinished
3. #74 Emile Hudd (UT) def. Connor Krug (DU) 6-1, 6-1
4. Shunsuke Mitsui (UT) def. Faris Khan (DU) 6-4, 7-6 (7-2)
5. Pat Harper (UT) vs. Edu Guell (DU) 4-6, 6-1, 3-4, unfinished
6. Martim Prata (UT) def. Andrew Dale (DU) 6-4, 6-2
Order of Finish: (3,6,1,4)
Team Stats
#1 Doubles Match
#2 Doubles Match
#3 Doubles Match
Order of Finish:
2,1
#1 Singles Match
12
Garrett Johns / 0 (49/-) [DU]
43
66
#2 Singles Match
123
Andrew Zhang / 0 [DU]
640
75UF
#3 Singles Match
12
Connor Krug / 0 [DU]
11
66
#4 Singles Match
12
Faris Khan / 0 [DU]
46
67
#5 Singles Match
1234
Edu Guell / 0 [DU]
6140
463UF
#6 Singles Match
12
Andrew Dale / 0 [DU]
42
66
Order of Finish:
3,6,1,4
Players Mentioned
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
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