University of Georgia Athletics
Photo by: Tony Walsh/UGAAA
Stewart Clinches 4-3 Win Over Texas
March 01, 2022 | Men's Tennis
ATHENS, Ga. — Playing like the veteran that he is, Georgia men's tennis super senior Hamish Stewart rallied from a set down and pulled away late to deliver the winning match in the No. 15-ranked Bulldogs' 4-3 win over No. 12 Texas on Friday.
"That felt really good," a smiling Stewart said following his 3-6, 6-4, 6-2 over Texas freshman Pierre-Yves Bailly at No. 1 singles.
Playing in front of a spirited crowd at the Dan Magill Tennis Complex, the Bulldogs and Longhorns (7-6) split the singles matches after Georgia (8-3) won the doubles point. In the end, it all came down to No. 1 singles where the No. 22-ranked Stewart, the fifth-year player, was going up against Bailly, a January enrollee playing just his 11th career match.
After the 17th-ranked Bailly took the opening set, Stewart settled in and started to take control of the match. Stewart broke Bailly's serve early in the third set and added another break later to seal the victory. At the end of a long match point, after Bailly hit a volley into the net, Stewart ran into the arms of his celebrating teammates.
"A lot of heart there. He's really been stepping up and playing some awesome tennis — but more importantly, just leading by example," Georgia coach Manuel Diaz said. "In the tough moments, right now he's just fighting his heart out and playing high-caliber tennis when it matters most."
The Bulldogs got off to a fantastic start in doubles, getting early breaks of serve and taking command. At one point, Georgia duos were up 4-1 on all three courts. The Bulldogs' team of Trent Bryde and Philip Henning at No. 2 picked up the first win, beating Siem Woldeab and Pierre-Yves Bailly 6-2.
Georgia's second doubles win came at No. 3, where Erik Grevelius and Blake Croyder defeated Micah Braswell and Chih Chi Huang, 6-2, to secure the doubles point and a 1-0 lead for the Bulldogs heading into singles.
"All three of our doubles teams played extremely well today and put a lot of pressure on Texas," Diaz said.
The Bulldogs captured the first set in four of the six singles matches but it was Texas' Eliot Spizzirri that earned the first win, edging Bryde at No. 4, 6-4, 6-4, to tie the match 1-1. Croyder pulled the Bulldogs back in front on court 5, besting Cleeve Harper, 6-4, 6-4. Croyder has won his last 10 completed matches.
"Blake's just playing tremendous tennis right now," Diaz said.
Thomas Paulsell fought off two match points in the third-set tiebreaker against Siem Woldeab at No. 6 singles before prevailing with a dramatic 6-2, 1-6, 7-6 (9-7) win. Down 6-5 in the tiebreaker, Paulsell hit a running forehand cross-court passing shot for a winner to erase the first match point. Down 7-6, he produced a backhand passing shot for a winner to ward off the second. Soon after, Paulsell had a match point of his own and forced Woldeab into a missed forehand for the win that put Georgia ahead 3-1.
"We couldn't have done it without Thomas stepping in and just doing a tremendous job," Diaz said.
Texas answered with wins at Nos. 2 and 3 singles to tie the match 3-3. At No. 2, Braswell rallied to beat Tristan McCormick 4-6, 6-2, 6-2, and at No. 3, Richard Ciamarra beat Henning in three sets, 4-6, 7-6 (7-5), 6-2, setting up the match at No. 1 to decide the winner.
"I've been in that situation once before and I lost it," Stewart said of being the deciding match, "so it feels really good to win one at 3-all. It was one of the best feelings ever."
Tuesday's match was Georgia's last before kicking off SEC play on Friday at Vanderbilt, followed by a match at No. 22 Mississippi State on Sunday.
For more information on the Bulldogs, follow the team on Twitter (@UGATennis) and Instagram (@ugatennis).
Results
No. 15 Georgia 4, No. 12 Texas 3
Doubles
1. Hamish Stewart/Tristan McCormick (UGA) vs. Cleeve Harper/Richard Ciamarra (Texas), 4-3 (unfinished)
2. Trent Bryde/Philip Henning (UGA) def. Siem Woldeab/Pierre-Yves Bailly (Texas), 6-2
3. Erik Grevelius/Blake Croyder (UGA) def. Micah Braswell/Chih Chi Huang (Texas), 6-2
Singles
1. Hamish Stewart (UGA) def. Pierre-Yves Bailly (Texas), 3-6, 6-4, 6-2
2. Micah Braswell (Texas) def. Tristan McCormick (UGA), 4-6, 6-2, 6-2
3. Richard Ciamarra (Texas) def. Philip Henning (UGA), 4-6, 7-6 (7-5), 6-2
4. Eliot Spizzirri (Texas) def. Trent Bryde (UGA), 6-4, 6-4
5. Blake Croyder (UGA) def. Cleeve Harper (Texas), 6-4, 6-4
6. Thomas Paulsell (UGA) def. Siem Woldeab (Texas), 6-2, 1-6, 7-6 (9-7)
Order of Finish
Doubles:Â 2, 3
Singles:Â 4, 5, 6, 2, 3, 1
"That felt really good," a smiling Stewart said following his 3-6, 6-4, 6-2 over Texas freshman Pierre-Yves Bailly at No. 1 singles.
Playing in front of a spirited crowd at the Dan Magill Tennis Complex, the Bulldogs and Longhorns (7-6) split the singles matches after Georgia (8-3) won the doubles point. In the end, it all came down to No. 1 singles where the No. 22-ranked Stewart, the fifth-year player, was going up against Bailly, a January enrollee playing just his 11th career match.
After the 17th-ranked Bailly took the opening set, Stewart settled in and started to take control of the match. Stewart broke Bailly's serve early in the third set and added another break later to seal the victory. At the end of a long match point, after Bailly hit a volley into the net, Stewart ran into the arms of his celebrating teammates.
"A lot of heart there. He's really been stepping up and playing some awesome tennis — but more importantly, just leading by example," Georgia coach Manuel Diaz said. "In the tough moments, right now he's just fighting his heart out and playing high-caliber tennis when it matters most."
The Bulldogs got off to a fantastic start in doubles, getting early breaks of serve and taking command. At one point, Georgia duos were up 4-1 on all three courts. The Bulldogs' team of Trent Bryde and Philip Henning at No. 2 picked up the first win, beating Siem Woldeab and Pierre-Yves Bailly 6-2.
Georgia's second doubles win came at No. 3, where Erik Grevelius and Blake Croyder defeated Micah Braswell and Chih Chi Huang, 6-2, to secure the doubles point and a 1-0 lead for the Bulldogs heading into singles.
"All three of our doubles teams played extremely well today and put a lot of pressure on Texas," Diaz said.
The Bulldogs captured the first set in four of the six singles matches but it was Texas' Eliot Spizzirri that earned the first win, edging Bryde at No. 4, 6-4, 6-4, to tie the match 1-1. Croyder pulled the Bulldogs back in front on court 5, besting Cleeve Harper, 6-4, 6-4. Croyder has won his last 10 completed matches.
"Blake's just playing tremendous tennis right now," Diaz said.
Thomas Paulsell fought off two match points in the third-set tiebreaker against Siem Woldeab at No. 6 singles before prevailing with a dramatic 6-2, 1-6, 7-6 (9-7) win. Down 6-5 in the tiebreaker, Paulsell hit a running forehand cross-court passing shot for a winner to erase the first match point. Down 7-6, he produced a backhand passing shot for a winner to ward off the second. Soon after, Paulsell had a match point of his own and forced Woldeab into a missed forehand for the win that put Georgia ahead 3-1.
"We couldn't have done it without Thomas stepping in and just doing a tremendous job," Diaz said.
Texas answered with wins at Nos. 2 and 3 singles to tie the match 3-3. At No. 2, Braswell rallied to beat Tristan McCormick 4-6, 6-2, 6-2, and at No. 3, Richard Ciamarra beat Henning in three sets, 4-6, 7-6 (7-5), 6-2, setting up the match at No. 1 to decide the winner.
"I've been in that situation once before and I lost it," Stewart said of being the deciding match, "so it feels really good to win one at 3-all. It was one of the best feelings ever."
Tuesday's match was Georgia's last before kicking off SEC play on Friday at Vanderbilt, followed by a match at No. 22 Mississippi State on Sunday.
For more information on the Bulldogs, follow the team on Twitter (@UGATennis) and Instagram (@ugatennis).
Results
No. 15 Georgia 4, No. 12 Texas 3
Doubles
1. Hamish Stewart/Tristan McCormick (UGA) vs. Cleeve Harper/Richard Ciamarra (Texas), 4-3 (unfinished)
2. Trent Bryde/Philip Henning (UGA) def. Siem Woldeab/Pierre-Yves Bailly (Texas), 6-2
3. Erik Grevelius/Blake Croyder (UGA) def. Micah Braswell/Chih Chi Huang (Texas), 6-2
Singles
1. Hamish Stewart (UGA) def. Pierre-Yves Bailly (Texas), 3-6, 6-4, 6-2
2. Micah Braswell (Texas) def. Tristan McCormick (UGA), 4-6, 6-2, 6-2
3. Richard Ciamarra (Texas) def. Philip Henning (UGA), 4-6, 7-6 (7-5), 6-2
4. Eliot Spizzirri (Texas) def. Trent Bryde (UGA), 6-4, 6-4
5. Blake Croyder (UGA) def. Cleeve Harper (Texas), 6-4, 6-4
6. Thomas Paulsell (UGA) def. Siem Woldeab (Texas), 6-2, 1-6, 7-6 (9-7)
Order of Finish
Doubles:Â 2, 3
Singles:Â 4, 5, 6, 2, 3, 1
Players Mentioned
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
Georgia Men's Tennis SEC Tournament vs LSU - Post Match Interview - Coach Hunt
Friday, April 17
Georgia Men's Tennis SEC Tournament vs Kentucky Video Recap
Friday, April 17
Georgia Men's Tennis vs Auburn Video Recap
Sunday, April 12
Georgia's Men's Tennis vs South Carolina Video Recap
Friday, April 10