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Koepfer & Di Lorenzo Rise To The Top, Takeda Takes the Jack Kramer, Andrews Shakes Hands With Dickie V, Fennell The Top Dog in Athens, Michnev Bags #1

by | Nov 16, 2015 | Blog

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It was Championship Sunday at the National Indoor Intercollegiates and Tulane senior Dominik Koepfer and Ohio State freshman Francesca Di Lorenzo would claim the singles championships while Texas Tech’s Hugo Dojas and Felipe Soares and North Carolina’s Hayley Carter and Whitney Kay would win the doubles championships.

Below are the final scores from all championship matches along with photos of the winners of the main draw events courtesy of the ITA. Here is the ITA’s recap of the day’s events and here is Colette Lewis’s recap on Zoo Tennis which has more insight in the singles matches.


Men’s Singles Championship 
3) Dominik Koepfer (TUL) def. Andre Goransson (CAL) 6-1, 7-5

Comments from Tulane recap

“In the last final I was in at Tulsa (for All-Americans), I had a lot of negative self-talking and this time I just kept it together, played my game and remained focused on every point, Koepfer stated.
“Words cannot express how proud I am of Dominik and how happy I am for him, Tulane head coach Mark Booras said. “He has worked relentlessly since he got here to develop more and more each year. He has seen some ups and downs, been with our team through some tough times and helped lead us to where we are now.
“Dominik has had some great accolades in his first few years and now he can add national champion to his resume, Booras added. “It’ll be pretty cool that he’ll be able to put his name alongside the other Tulane tennis singles national champions: the Sutter’s, Jack Tuero, Hamilton Richardson and Jose Aguero. It only took about 60 years but it’s well worth the wait.
Comments from Cal recap
“Andre made some adjustments late in the first set, and he played a strong second set, Cal head coach Peter Wright said. “Overall, Andre played well today and throughout the tournament. One of the best parts of the weekend was seeing Andre improve his problem-solving ability during his matches. He was able to work through some tough spots all week by making intelligent choices. I’m proud of Andre’s performance this week, and winning the Sportsmanship Award is a sign that he’s facing his challenges with a positive outlook.
“It was a tough one today, Goransson said. “Dominik was just a little bit too good today. I don’t think I played that bad. He was serving unbelievably well and hit some tough shots.

Women’s Singles Championship 
Francesca Di Lorenzo (Ohio St) def. Joana Eidukonyte (Clem) 6-3, 6-1


 Quotes from Ohio State recap:

“I think I played some pretty good tennis,” Di Lorenzo told ESPN3, which broadcast the match, after the win, her fifth of the tournament. “The first match was a little rusty but I got into it after that and just kept going from there, being aggressive and playing my game.”
“I think (the match) went pretty well,” Di Lorenzo told ITATennis.com. “I wasn’t hitting my backhand as well as I would’ve liked or how I had in previous matches, but I think I kept the ball moving well with my forehand, moved her well and came in when I had my opportunities.”
“It’s definitely an exciting way to finish out the fall; it could’ve have ended any better,” Di Lorenzo told ITATennis.com. “I’m just happy to represent my school and this was a really cool moment.”



Men’s Doubles Championship
Hugo Dojas/Felipe Soares (TT) def. [2] Brett Clark/Robert Kelly (UNC) 6-4, 5-7, 1-0(7)

Comments from Texas Tech recap

“I’m very proud of and very excited for Hugo and Felipe,” Texas Tech head coach Brett Masi said. “The goal was to come home with a national title, and they got it done. This has to feel good for them after being so close at the NCAAs last year.”
“It was an incredible week for us. Everything was going in the right way,” Soares said. “We played every match with a lot of energy, we played very well in important moments and we knew how important it was for us. It was an incredible job by our coaches as well. They did a fantastic job of preparing us for every match. We wanted to be the champions so bad. Last year at the NCAAs was very close, and we told ourselves today that this was our time. We were exited from the minute we woke up this morning.”

Women’s Doubles Championship
4) Hayley Carter/Whitney Kay (UNC) def. 3) Mami Adachi/Aldila Sutjiadi (KY) 4-6, 6-4, 1-0(6)

Men’s Consolation Singles Championship
Ben Lock (FSU) vs. Dovydas Sakinis (DART) 7-6(4), 7-5

Men’s Consolation Doubles Championship:
Austin Smith/Ben Wagland (UGA) def. Michal Rolski/Mike Vermeer (COL) 6-3, 1-6, 1-0(6)

Women’s Consolation Singles Championship
Klara Fabikova (CAL) def. Brienne Minor (MICH) 6-2, 3-6, 6-1

Women’s Consolation Doubles Championship:
Taylor Davidson/Caroline Doyle (Stan) def. Miho Kowase/Anna Sanford (Ohio St) 6-4, 6-2

Miami’s Max Andrews won the men’s singles championship at the Dick Vitale Lakewood Ranch Intercollegiate Clay Court Classic with a 6-4, 6-4 win over Minnesota’s Ruben Weber while Florida Gulf Coast’s Andres Alfonzo and Oliver Landert won the doubles crown with an 8-4 win over Michigan’s Carter Lin and Kevin Wong. 

Semifinals:

[4] Ruben Weber (Minnesota) def. Carter Lin (Michigan) 6-2, 6-2

[3] Max Andrews (Miami) def. [2] Christian Langmo (Miami) 7-5, 2-6, 1-0 ret.

Championship:

[3] Max Andrews (Miami) def. [4] Ruben Weber (Minnesota) 6-4, 6-4


Doubles Semifinals:

Carter Lin/Kevin Wong (Michigan) def. Colautti/Tso (Princeton) 8-2
Andres Alfonzo/Oliver Landert (FGCU) def. [2] MAndrews/Christian Langmo (UM) 8-7(4)

Doubles Championship:

Andres Alfonzo/Oliver Landert (FGCU) def. Carter Lin/Kevin Wong (Michigan) 8-4


Oklahoma State’s Vladica Babic didn’t drop a set in route to her 6-2, 6-4 finals win over Florida’s Spencer Liang. Florida’s women did pick up the doubles championship when Anna Danilina and Brianna Morgan defeated Oklahoma State’s Vladica Babic and Carla Tur Mari 8-2 in the finals. 


Women’s Semifinals
Vladica Babic (Oklahoma State) def. Katrine Steffensen (Princeton) 6-4, 6-2
Spencer Liang (Florida) def. Carla Tur Mari (Oklahoma State) 6-3, 6-0

Championship:
Vladica Babic (Oklahoma State) def. Spencer Liang (Florida) 6-2, 6-4

Doubles Championship:
Anna Danilina/Brianna Morgan (Florida) def. Vladica Babic/Carla Tur Mari (Ok St) 8-2




Arizona’s Naoki Takeda and SMU’s Hunter Johnson and Yates Johnson were the big winners at the Jack Kramer Classic out in California. Takeda only dropped 1 set during the tournament and that came in the finals against USC’s Thibault Forget

Singles Final
[1] Naoki Takeda (AZ) def. Thibault Forget (USC) 6-4, 4-6, 6-4

Doubles Final:
Hunter Johnson/Yates Johnson (SMU) def. Jake Devine/Thibault Forget (USC) 8-5

Tulane’s Chi-Shan Jao, Alabama’s Spencer Richey, and Samford’s Eduardo Lourido each won a singles flight at the CCB Collegiates Invitational in Birmingham.  Jao defeated Texas’s Adrian Ortiz 2-6, 6-3, 6-4 in the finals of the top flight Crimson Draw, Richey beat teammate Sam Edwards 1-6, 6-4, 6-3 in the finals of the White Draw, and Lourido won the Houndstooth Draw with a 6-2, 6-3 win over Southern Miss’s Jorman Reyes.

Samford’s Eduardo Lourido 

South Carolina’s Alex Fennell was named the Bulldog Scramble Champion after he finished 4-0 in singles over the weekend with wins over Georgia’s Nick Wood and Walker Duncan, Notre Dame’s Eric Schnurrenberger, and Harvard’s Andy Zhou.

Saturday, Nov. 14
Doubles:
Brian Yeung/Andy Zhou (Harvard) def. Wayne Montgomery/Walker Duncan (Georgia), 7-6
Emil Reinberg/Nick Wood (Georgia) def. Sebastian Beltrame/Kenny Tao (Harvard), 6-3
Alex Fennell/Sam Swank (South Carolina) def. Austin Siegel/Milstead (Oklahoma), 7-5
Casey Kay/Michael Kay (Georgia Tech) def. Eddy Covalschi/Grayson Broadus (ND), 6-3
Carlos Benito/Elijah Melendez (Georgia Tech) def. N Montoya/B Kempin (ND), 7-6
Conor Haughey/Kelvin Lam (Harvard) def. Schnurrenberger/K Sabacinski (ND), 6-4
Chris Morrow/Xavier Gonzalez (Harvard) def. Nathan Griffin/Rayl (Notre Dame), 6-2
Emil Reinberg/Walker Duncan (Georgia) def. Carlos Benito/Yun (Georgia Tech), 6-4
Andy Martinez/Nick Wood (Georgia) def. Alex Fennell/Sam Swank (South Carolina), 6-4
Brian Yeung/Andy Zhou (Harvard) def. Casey Kay/Michael Kay (Georgia Tech), 6-1
Sebastian Beltrame/Kenny Tao (Harvard) def. Eddy Covalschi/Grayson Broadus (ND), 6-3
Nicolas Montoya/Brendon Kempin (Notre Dame) def. Haughey/Kelvin Lam (HV), 6-2
Schnurrenberger/K Sabacinski (Notre Dame) def. Chris Morrow/Xavier Gonzalez (HV), 6-1
Elijah Melendez (GT)/John Milstead (OU) def. Nathan Griffen/Daniel Rayl (ND), 6-3
Singles
Nick Wood (Georgia) def. Daniel Yun (Georgia Tech), 6-3, 6-2
Andy Martinez (Georgia) def. Nathan Griffen (Notre Dame), 7-5, 6-4
Alex Fennell (South Carolina) def. Walker Duncan (Georgia), 6-3, 6-4
Emil Reinberg (Georgia) def. Chris Morrow (Harvard), 7-5, 6-4
Kelvin Lam (Harvard) vs. Eddy Covalschi (Notre Dame), 6-7, 6-4, 6-4
Brian Yeung (Harvard) def. Grayson Broadus (Notre Dame), 6-1, 7-6(3)
Kenny Sabacinski (Notre Dame) def. Elijah Melendez (Georgia Tech), 6-4, 6-4
Kenny Tao (Harvard) def. Michael Kay (Georgia Tech), 6-0, 3-6, 6-2
Casey Kay (Georgia Tech) def. John Milstead (Oklahoma), 6-2, 6-2
Andy Zhou (Harvard) def. Nicolas Montoya (Notre Dame), 6-1, 6-4
Brendon Kempin (Notre Dame) def. Conor Haughey (Harvard), 7-6(3), 6-2
Sam Swank (South Carolina) def. Grant Solomon (Harvard), 6-3, 7-6(1)
Daniel Rayl (Notre Dame) def. Xavier Gonzalez (Harvard), 6-3, 6-1
Sunday, Nov. 15
Doubles
Walker Duncan/Emil Reinberg (Georgia) def. Chris Morrow/X Gonzalez (Harvard), 6-2
Nicolas Montoya/Brandon Kempin (Notre Dame) def. Daniel Yun/Melendez (GT), 6-2
Grayson Broadus/Eddy Covalschi (Notre Dame) def. Benito/Li (GT), 6-1
Andy Yeung/Kenny Zao (Harvard) def. Alex Fennell/Sam Swank (South Carolina), 6-4
Sebastian Beltrame/Kenny Tao (Harvard) def. Casey Kay/Michael Kay (Georgia Tech), 6-2
E Schnurrenberger/K Sabacinski (Notre Dame) def. Austin Siegel/John Milstead (OU), 7-5
Conor Haughey/Kelvin Lam (Harvard) def. Nathan Griffin/Daniel Rayl (Notre Dame), 6-4
Singles
Walker Duncan (Georgia) def. Brian Yeung (Harvard), 7-6(2), 6-3
Alex Fennell (South Carolina) def. Nick Wood (Georgia), 7-6(3), 6-3
Emil Reinberg (Georgia) def. Eddy Covalschi (Notre Dame), 5-7, 6-2, 7-5
Elijah Melendez (Georgia Tech) def. Andy Martinez (Georgia), 6-3, 6-4
Eric Schnurrenberger (Notre Dame) def. Michael Kay (Georgia Tech), 7-6, 3-6, 6-1
Austin Siegel (Oklahoma) def. Grayson Broadus (Notre Dame), 6-1, 6-3
Carlos Benito (Georgia Tech) def. Chris Morrow (Harvard), 6-1, 6-2
Sam Swank (South Carolina) def. Kenny Tao (Harvard), 7-6(4), 6-1
Kenny Sabacinski (Notre Dame) def. Grant Solomon (Harvard), 6-3, 6-1
Nicolas Montoya (Notre Dame) def. Kelvin Lam (Harvard), 6-1, 6-3
Andy Zhou (Harvard) def. Daniel Rayl (Notre Dame), 6-1, 6-4
Brendon Kempin (Notre Dame) def. John Milstead (Oklahoma), 6-0, 6-2
Conor Haughey (Harvard) def. Nathan Griffin (Notre Dame), 1-6, 7-6, 7-6
Casey Kay (Georgia Tech) def. Xavier Gonzalez (Harvard), 4-6, 6-3, 6-4

It was a weekend of near-misses for several former, and one soon to be, college guys on the pro tour as Gonzales Austin (Vanderbilt ’15), Sebastian Fanselow (Pepperdine ’13), Rajeev Ram (Illinois ’03), and Alex Rybakov (TCU Commit) each lost in the finals of the event they were entered however there was one winner with Petr Michnev (Hawaii Pacific ’14) coming through in Estonia.

#728 Petr Michnev (Hawaii-Pacific ’14) won his first pro singles title with a 6-2, 6-1 thrashing of #501 Antal Van Der Duim in the finals of the $10K Parnu, Estonia Future (Hard-Indoor). Michnev picks up 18 points for the win and even though these points won’t be added in for another week he still is up to a new career ranking of 709. When the rankings come out in a week he’ll have another new career of right around 594.

#941 Gonzales Austin (Vanderbilt ’15) made it to his first career pro singles final but came up just short falling 4-6, 6-3, 7-5 to #750 Tim Van Rijthoven in the finals of the $10K Heraklion, Greece F11 Future (Hard). Austin got broke serving at 3-3 in the 3rd but he managed to break Van Ritjhoven’s 5-4 serve game to even it at 5. Van Ritjhoven would break back in the next service game from 30-40 and then serve it out from 40-15 to win the title. Austin picks up 10 points for the finals appearance and now has a new career high singles ranking of 918 and when the points are added in next week he’ll have another new career high ranking of around 785. Austin has posted a strong 27-14 record on the Futures circuit since graduating from Vanderbilt in May and in addition to this final he’s also made it to 3 quarterfinals and 1 semifinal. Great start AJ!!

#628 Sebastian Fanselow (Pepperdine ’13) was looking to run his record in Futures finals to 3-0 but he came up short falling 6-1, 6-4 to #305 Benjamin Mitchell at the $15K Wollongong, Australia F10 Future. Fanselow picks up 15 points for the result and when those are added in next week he’ll have a new career high singles ranking of around 550.

#99 Rajeev Ram (Illinois ’03) was seeking his 12th career pro singles title but the #1 seed Ricardas Berankis turned him away with a 7-6(3), 6-4 defeat in the finals of the $64K Ortisei, Italy Challenger (Hard-Indoor). Ram picks up 55 points for the final and is now back up to #87 in the rankings with his career high singles ranking being #78 which he achieved back in 2009.

#730 Alex Rybakov (TCU Commit) made it to his first career pro singles final but came up on the wrong end of a 6-1, 6-2 decision against #294 Bastian Trinker in the finals of the $10K Niceville, Florida (USA) F32 Future (Clay). Rybakov picks up 10 points for the making the finals and when those are added in next week he’ll have a new career high singles ranking of around 658. Rybakov is set to join TCU in just under 2 months for the start of the 2016 season.

For those that think life on the pro tour is a lucrative and luxurious one I suggest you give Christopher Clarey’s New York Times article a read.  It talks about the sparse crowds and pocket change that most of these guys/gals are playing for week in search for enough points to move on to the next level.

Also if you haven’t signed the petition to try and keep tennis at UMBC I suggest you give the link a click and put your John Hancock on it. As of this morning 1465 have signed and I know the program would like to get as many signatures as possible. I also have a link to the petition with a video in the upper left corner of my page. Mehrban Iranshade, former UMBC player, made his thoughts known on the subject in this article on tennisfiles.com – give it a read too.