Tigers Drop Highly Contested First Match of ITA Kick-off Weekend to Miami

WACO, TEXAS —  The Tigers (3-1, 0-0 ACC) fought to go 4-0 on the season, but came up short against Miami, (5-0, 0-0 ACC) 4-1 on Sunday afternoon. Miami got off to a 1-0 start after winning the doubles point and picked up wins on three singles courts to solidify the win.

Vasser and Martin took the win on Court 3 for the Hurricanes to take the early lead, but Ryuhei Azuma and Teodor Giusca battled to a win on Court 1 to tie it up at one a piece in a tiebreak over the #7 pair, Aubone and Hannestad. After another highly contested match on Court 2, Miami’s Jalif and Katz won in another tiebreak to give the Hurricanes the doubles point.  

Senior Giusca continued to impress as he took the singles victory on Court 2, 6-2, 6-0 before the Hurricanes registered singles wins on Courts 1, 3 and 5, two of which went to a third set, to take the match.

Up Next:

The Tigers will take on Baylor/William & Mary on Monday, Jan. 31. on day 2 of the ITA Kick-off Weekend. First serve for that match is slated for 12:00 p.m. 

BOX SCORE:

Doubles 

1. Azuma/Giusca (CU) def. #7 Aubone/Hannestad (UM)  7-6 (7-2)
2. Jalif/Katz (UM) def. Smith/Stinchcomb (CU), 7-6 (7-4)
3. Vasser/Martin (UM) def. Plans Gonzalez/Whitaker (CU) 6-4

Singles 

1. #121 Martin (UM) def. Azuma (CU), 2-6, 6-0, 6-1
2. #109 Giusca (CU) def. Jankulovski (UM), 6-2, 6-0
3. Hannestad (UM) def. Plans Gonzalez (CU), 6-2, 4-6, 6-2
4. Whitaker (CU) vs. Vasser (UM), 6-2, 1-6, 3-4, unfinished
5. Katz (UM) def. M. Pitts (CU), 6-3, 6-4
6. Smith (CU) vs. Jalif (UM) 0-6, 6-4, 3-2, unfinished