University of Georgia Athletics
Photo by: Mackenzie Miles
Bulldogs Take Down Razorbacks, 4-1
March 18, 2022 | Men's Tennis
ATHENS, Ga. — The No.8-ranked Georgia men's tennis team made quick work of Arkansas on Friday inside the Lindsey Hopkins Indoor Courts, taking the doubles point and three straight-set singles wins en route to a 4-1 victory.
With Georgia leading 3-0 in the match, Hamish Stewart, ranked No. 19 in the country, provided the clinching win at No. 1 singles. After cruising in the first set against Alex Reco, Hamish got down 5-3 in the second before roaring back and winning the final four games, earning a 6-1, 7-5 win and clinching the Bulldogs' victory.
"A very good quality match for our guys. We did a great job taking care of the doubles points on 1 and 3, looking good on 2, I thought we played well in all three positions and our kids were sharp in singles.," Georgia head coach Manuel Diaz said. "I can't say enough about Hamish Stewart, who won playing probably one of his better matches all season."
At the end of a long match point, Stewart drove a crosscourt forehand into the corner and Rico appeared to hit a winner up the line. But the 6-foot-3 graduate student lunged to his left and produced a perfect backhand drop volley winner to seal the victory.
"I played a really, really good first set and I had chances early in the second and didn't convert, and I was getting a little annoyed," Stewart said. "I knew if I just stuck in it would maybe come and after the 5-4 game, when I broke, I thought maybe I was going to run away with this. It was a good feeling."
Georgia (12-4, 4-1 SEC) easily captured the doubles points with quick wins at Nos. 1 and 3. First off the court was the Bulldogs' No. 1 team of Tristan McCormick and Stewart, who beat the Hogs' Nico Rousset and Reco, 6-1. Soon after, Georgia's Blake Croyder and Erik Grevelius took down Jacob Sweeney and Hunter Harrison, 6-2.
One singles play began, Georgia quickly took the opening sets on the first three courts. McCormick, ranked No. 31 in the country, put the Bulldogs in front 2-0 with a 6-2, 6-4 win over Oscar Pinto Sansano at No. 3. That was followed by Philip Henning's 6-3, 6-2 win over Rousset at No. 2. Stewart then clinched the victory at the No. 1 spot.
"I think we came in really confident off the win over (seventh-ranked) South Carolina (last Sunday), and we played a really good doubles point. And then we just ran with that momentum in singles," Stewart said.
The lone win for Arkansas (10-8, 1-4) came at No. 4 singles, after the Georgia win was clinched, where Adrien Burdet defeated Trent Bryde, 7-6 (8-6), 6-3.
The Bulldogs are back in action Sunday at No. 4 Tennessee, which has been ranked No. 1 for much of the season. The trip to Knoxville marks the first of three straight road matches for Georgia, which plays at No. 22 Texas A&M on March 27 and then visits Ole Miss on April 1.
"We're going to have to play our best tennis on Sunday and that's what we aim to do," Diaz said.
For more information on the Bulldogs, follow the team on Twitter (@UGATennis) and Instagram (@ugatennis).
Results
No. 8 Georgia 4, Arkansas 1
Doubles
1. Hamish Stewart/Tristan McCormick (UGA) def. Nico Rousset/Alex Reco (Arkansas), 6-1
2. Trent Bryde/Philip Henning (UGA) vs. Melvin Manuel/Adrien Burdet (Arkansas), 4-3 (unfinished)
3. Erik Grevelius/Blake Croyder (UGA) def. Jacob Sweeney/Hunter Harrison (Arkansas), 6-2
Singles
1. Hamish Stewart (UGA) def. Alex Reco (Arkansas), 6-1, 7-5
2. Philip Henning (UGA) def. Nico Rousset (Arkansas), 6-3, 6-2
3. Tristan McCormick (UGA) def. Oscar Pinto Sansano (Arkansas), 6-2, 6-4
4. Adrien Burdet (Arkansas) def. Trent Bryde (UGA), 7-6 (8-6), 6-3
5. Blake Croyder (UGA) vs. Melvin Manuel (Arkansas), unfinished
6. Miguel Perez Peña (UGA) vs. Aleksa Bucan (Arkansas), unfinished
Order of Finish
Doubles: 1, 3
Singles: 3, 2, 1, 4
With Georgia leading 3-0 in the match, Hamish Stewart, ranked No. 19 in the country, provided the clinching win at No. 1 singles. After cruising in the first set against Alex Reco, Hamish got down 5-3 in the second before roaring back and winning the final four games, earning a 6-1, 7-5 win and clinching the Bulldogs' victory.
"A very good quality match for our guys. We did a great job taking care of the doubles points on 1 and 3, looking good on 2, I thought we played well in all three positions and our kids were sharp in singles.," Georgia head coach Manuel Diaz said. "I can't say enough about Hamish Stewart, who won playing probably one of his better matches all season."
At the end of a long match point, Stewart drove a crosscourt forehand into the corner and Rico appeared to hit a winner up the line. But the 6-foot-3 graduate student lunged to his left and produced a perfect backhand drop volley winner to seal the victory.
"I played a really, really good first set and I had chances early in the second and didn't convert, and I was getting a little annoyed," Stewart said. "I knew if I just stuck in it would maybe come and after the 5-4 game, when I broke, I thought maybe I was going to run away with this. It was a good feeling."
Georgia (12-4, 4-1 SEC) easily captured the doubles points with quick wins at Nos. 1 and 3. First off the court was the Bulldogs' No. 1 team of Tristan McCormick and Stewart, who beat the Hogs' Nico Rousset and Reco, 6-1. Soon after, Georgia's Blake Croyder and Erik Grevelius took down Jacob Sweeney and Hunter Harrison, 6-2.
One singles play began, Georgia quickly took the opening sets on the first three courts. McCormick, ranked No. 31 in the country, put the Bulldogs in front 2-0 with a 6-2, 6-4 win over Oscar Pinto Sansano at No. 3. That was followed by Philip Henning's 6-3, 6-2 win over Rousset at No. 2. Stewart then clinched the victory at the No. 1 spot.
"I think we came in really confident off the win over (seventh-ranked) South Carolina (last Sunday), and we played a really good doubles point. And then we just ran with that momentum in singles," Stewart said.
The lone win for Arkansas (10-8, 1-4) came at No. 4 singles, after the Georgia win was clinched, where Adrien Burdet defeated Trent Bryde, 7-6 (8-6), 6-3.
The Bulldogs are back in action Sunday at No. 4 Tennessee, which has been ranked No. 1 for much of the season. The trip to Knoxville marks the first of three straight road matches for Georgia, which plays at No. 22 Texas A&M on March 27 and then visits Ole Miss on April 1.
"We're going to have to play our best tennis on Sunday and that's what we aim to do," Diaz said.
For more information on the Bulldogs, follow the team on Twitter (@UGATennis) and Instagram (@ugatennis).
Results
No. 8 Georgia 4, Arkansas 1
Doubles
1. Hamish Stewart/Tristan McCormick (UGA) def. Nico Rousset/Alex Reco (Arkansas), 6-1
2. Trent Bryde/Philip Henning (UGA) vs. Melvin Manuel/Adrien Burdet (Arkansas), 4-3 (unfinished)
3. Erik Grevelius/Blake Croyder (UGA) def. Jacob Sweeney/Hunter Harrison (Arkansas), 6-2
Singles
1. Hamish Stewart (UGA) def. Alex Reco (Arkansas), 6-1, 7-5
2. Philip Henning (UGA) def. Nico Rousset (Arkansas), 6-3, 6-2
3. Tristan McCormick (UGA) def. Oscar Pinto Sansano (Arkansas), 6-2, 6-4
4. Adrien Burdet (Arkansas) def. Trent Bryde (UGA), 7-6 (8-6), 6-3
5. Blake Croyder (UGA) vs. Melvin Manuel (Arkansas), unfinished
6. Miguel Perez Peña (UGA) vs. Aleksa Bucan (Arkansas), unfinished
Order of Finish
Doubles: 1, 3
Singles: 3, 2, 1, 4
Players Mentioned
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