The No. 5 ranked Emory men's tennis team got its postseason underway on Friday morning, playing in the opening match of the UAA Championships. After posting a 13-5 regular season record, the Eagles were awarded the third-overall seed and were pitted against the sixth-seeded WashU Bears in the opening round. While the Bears pushed the Eagles to a third set in multiple matches, Emory was able to pull out a 4-1 win to punch its ticket to the semifinals match. The tournament is being played at a neutral site in Altamonte Springs, Florida.
The Eagles got out to a slow start once more, dropping the doubles point to the Bears. The duo of freshman
Ruilin Feng and sophomore
Christian Liew suffered just their third loss all season, being on the wrong side of a 2-6 decision on court one. Graduate student
Efe Comu and freshman
Ajay Kartik brought things back even on court two, winning by a score of 6-2.
With one doubles match left to decide who took the point, graduate student
Charley Force and junior
John Lasanajak battled on court three. The duo traded points with their opponents, but were ultimately downed, 5-7, as WashU took the doubles point.
The Eagles bounced back quickly, though, with Lasanajak earning a quick straight-set win by a score of 6-3 and 6-1 on court six. Comu was quick to join the party, playing to a 6-1, 6-3 win on court two to give Emory its first lead of the morning at 2-1. Comu has now won seven straight singles matches.
The remainder of the points did not come as easy, though, with each remaining match went into a third set. Liew's match was the next to wrap up, playing on court three. The sophomore dropped his opening set, 3-6, but managed to earn a 7-5 win in the second to force a deciding third set. Liew ultimately came away with the win, taking the third set, 6-2, to put the Eagles on the edge of victory.
Needing one final point to earn a win, it was Feng who put a bow on the victory while playing on court one. Feng won his first set, 7-5, before his opponent rallied to win the second set, 4-6. The freshman wasted no time in the final set with a 6-0 sweep to punch Emory's ticket to the semifinals. Feng is now 13-1 against Division III opponents this season.
The remainder of the matches were suspended after Emory had clinched the win. Kartik and Force both held third-set leads at the time their matches were abandoned.
With the win, the Eagles will now take on the second-seeded Case Western Reserve Spartans tomorrow afternoon. The Eagles and Spartans will clash at 12:30 PM in Altamonte Springs, Florida.
