Tigers post 6-1 win against Belmont

Friday, January 18

Memphis, Tenn.

6 p.m.

University of Memphis

Belmont

Photo by: Matthew Smith

Jan 18, 2019 | Men's Tennis

Box Score

Box Score

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – For the third straight year, Memphis men's tennis established a 2-0 start to the spring season as the Tigers downed in-state foe Belmont, 6-1, Friday evening at the Racquet Club of Memphis.

The Tigers swept the opening doubles point to establish momentum and then leaned on depth to post five singles victories.

"I was impressed with our guys," associate head coach Chris Doerr said. "Belmont is a really good team. We spent the whole week preparing for them. We've seen some of their fall results, and they just get better and better every year. To take it to them at No. 1 doubles and then scratch out wins at No. 2 and 3, I was proud of the guys."

Memphis claimed all three courts in doubles play, while junior Jan Pallares and freshman Patrick Sydow clinched the opening point for the second time this season.

In singles, senior Chris Patzanovsky was first off the court with a straight-set victory at the top spot. Freshman David Stevenson notched his first singles victory of the season with a 6-1, 6-4 win to drive the Tiger lead to 3-0.

After helping provide the opening doubles point, Pallares then clinched the match for Memphis with a 6-3, 6-3 victory.

Belmont (0-1) found its first point of the day on court 2, but Memphis set the 6-1 final score with wins on courts 4 and 6. Junior Matt Story and freshman Oscar Cutting posted three-set tiebreak wins to earn their second singles victories of the season.

"We always tell our guys just to trust themselves and play their games," Doerr said. "I think that is what they do when the pressure comes and our guys get into some of these tight tiebreaks. When they believe in themselves, they just become much better players."

The Tigers return to the court Sunday as Memphis hosts Jackson State in a double header. First serve from the Racquet Club of Memphis is set for 11 a.m.

Singles
1. Chris Patzanovsky (MEM) def. Hendrik Inno (BELM), 6-1, 6-3
2. Marko Ilic (BELM) def. Jeremy Taylor (MEM), 6-4, 6-3
3. Jan Pallares (MEM) def. Joan Valy (BELM), 6-3, 6-3
4. Matt Story (MEM) def. Vincent Sterkens (BELM), 3-6, 6-1, 1-0(9)
5. David Stevenson (MEM) def. Jake Briggs (BELM), 6-1, 6-4
6. Oscar Cutting (MEM) def. Adam Rudowski (BELM), 6-2, 2-6, 1-0(7)
(Order of finish: 1, 5, 3, 2, 4, 6)

Doubles
1. Cutting/Stevenson (MEM) def. Ilic/Inno (BELM), 6-1
2. Pallares/Sydow (MEM) def. Briggs/Valy (BELM), 6-4
3. Story/Taylor (MEM) def. Khan/Rudowski (BELM), 6-4
(Order of finish: 1, 2, 3)