Georgia Men’s Tennis 2020 Season Review

Memorable 2020 Moments (click below)

Georgia (9-2, 3-0 SEC) Season Stats

ATHENS — There is little doubt the Bulldogs were in championship form.

Riding a six-match win streak — which included four wins against ranked opponents — the Georgia men's tennis team looked poised for another title run. Under the direction of legendary head coach Manuel Diaz, the Bulldogs were young, but had the makings of so many great Georgia teams that have come before.

As the squad began its trek to Gainesville for a match against Florida, the season came to a stop due to the COVID-19 virus that shook every facet of life in the United States and around the world. With stay-at-home orders in place and following a mandate from the Southeastern Conference, the 2020 season suddenly came to a halt.

"We were devastated, but completely understood these circumstances and wanted to do everything we could to ensure everyone's safety," Diaz said. "We felt like we had accomplished so much, and it was just the start. Our team had remarkable chemistry, and It was one of the most fun group of guys I have ever coached. Like so many of us now, our main focus has been to make sure everyone is safe during this really difficult time."

Though the season ended abruptly, there is still plenty for the Bulldogs reflect back on and to celebrate.

Georgia's lineup featured an underclassman at each of the six spots for a large part of the 2020 season. In fact, during their signature 4-0 win against No. 3 Ohio State, the Bulldogs played three freshmen to go along with a trio of sophomores.

"Our guys were playing unbelievable tennis," Diaz added. "Our program has won five of the last seven SEC championships, but a lot of the players on this year's team had not had that experience. We were depending on several young, but very talented guys, who were playing out of their minds when the season ended. I just could not be more proud of each and every one of them."

Even though this year's team could be billed as youthful, it was a trio of seniors — Robert Loeb, Sam Dromsky and Alex Phillips — who pulled the Bulldogs together and led both on and off the court.

Throughout their careers, all three have represented the program in a first-class manner. Even though there was no Senior Day this year, their accomplishments will not soon be forgotten.

Loeb's career features All-America and All-SEC honors as well as a finals run in the 2017 NCAA Doubles Championship. Phillips boasts over 50 combined singles and doubles wins over the last four years and serves as the team's Student-Athlete Advisory representative. And finally, Dromsky, who was a 2019 ITA Scholar-Athlete and Presidential Scholar, will begin dental school this fall in Augusta, Ga.

"We owe a huge debt of gratitude to this year's senior class," Diaz noted. "These three men brought us together, and if not for them, we would not have been on that six-match win streak with so much promise. It breaks my heart they will not have a Senior Day, but we will find a way to thank them for all they mean to us."

With the 2020 season still fresh on the minds of so many Georgia faithful, it's always fun to look ahead.

Georgia returns the bulk of this year's team, including the top of the lineup that includes Trent Bryde, Philip Henning, Tyler Zink and Erik Grevelius. Not to mention Blake Croyder, who is riding a 17-match win streak. Frenchman Baptiste Anselmo, another talented rookie, came back from a wrist fracture to earn a 3-1 dual-match record in singles and a 2-0 mark in doubles.

Henning ended the year as Georgia's highest-ranked singles player at No. 11 nationally, with Bryde standing a close second at No. 12. The two combined to go 16-3 at the top singles courts and recorded 13 wins against ranked foes. The pair will also earn All-America status due to their ITA rankings.

When looking at those type of stats it might be easy to overlook another outstanding accomplishment the Bulldogs had this year. During the triumph against No. 3 Ohio State on March 1, Diaz recorded his 707th career win, which broke Hall of Fame coach Dan Magill's all-time SEC wins record.

Diaz completed his 32nd season as the dean of SEC coaches with 28 league titles to go along with four NCAA team championships and two ITA Indoor crowns.

Like so many Georgia fans, Diaz and the Bulldogs miss those classic Friday night matches under the lights in Athens or those postseason memories that have been filled with so many NCAA and SEC championship moments.

Sports will return soon enough, but all those associated with Georgia tennis — coaches, student-athletes and staff — hope all of you are staying safe and healthy during this time.

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Players Mentioned

Baptiste Anselmo

Trent Bryde

Blake Croyder

Erik Grevelius

Philip Henning

Robert Loeb

Alex Phillips

Tyler Zink

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