University of Georgia Athletics
University of Georgia
LSU
Bulldogs Top LSU 4-1 In ITA Kickoff Opener
January 29, 2023 | Men's Tennis
ATHENS, Ga. — The No. 15-ranked Georgia men's tennis team posted a 4-1 win over SEC rival LSU during the first round of play in the ITA Kickoff Weekend. On a gray and cool Sunday afternoon at the Dan Magill Tennis Complex, the Bulldogs started strong in doubles and were in command throughout the singles, as well.
After winning the doubles point, Georgia (1-2) captured four of the six first sets in singles, with super senior Trent Bryde earning the clinching win at the No. 4 spot.
"I've been playing great this semester," Bryde said. "I'm really happy with where my tennis is at and I think just using that confidence in the tail end of that second set is what got me through, so I'm really happy that I was able to clinch for us."
The Bulldogs will face Louisville on Monday afternoon with a spot in the ITA National Indoor Championships going to the winner. The Cardinals took down Miami, 4-1, in the early match Sunday. The qualifying matches for the indoor tournament are being played outdoors in Henry Feild Stadium due to the ongoing major renovations to the Lindsey Hopkins Indoor Courts.
Monday's scheduled matches are Miami versus LSU at 11 a.m., followed by Georgia-Louisville at 2:30. With wet weather in the forecast for Monday, stay tuned to GeorgiaDogs.com or the Bulldogs' Twitter or Instagram feeds (@UGATennis) for updates.
In doubles, Georgia's team of Blake Croyder and Britton Johnston got the first win, at No. 3, beating LSU's George Stoupe and Ronald Hohmann, 6-3. The Bulldog duo got down a break of serve early before breaking back to make it 3-3 and then breaking again to pull away for good. LSU's Chen Dong and Welsh Hotard picked up the win at No. 2, beating Teodor Giusca and Philip Henning, 6-3.
The match at No. 1 doubles decided the point and was tight from start to finish. The No. 19-ranked team of Ethan Quinn and Bryde fought off a set point with Quinn serving at 4-5, later forced a tiebreaker, and then jumped on the No. 20-ranked Tiger tandem of Nick Watson and Stefan Latinovic early, winning five of the first six points, and taking the set 7-6 (7-3) on a Quinn ace.
In singles, the No. 21-ranked Croyder was the first one off the court. Playing at No. 5, Croyder charged past Stoupe, 6-2, 6-3, capping a strong showing with a backhand winner up the line on match point, to put Georgia in front 2-0. As Croyder was winning, Henning, ranked No. 10, was beginning to serve for the match at No. 2 against Latinovic. Henning held easily at the end of a tight second set to win 6-2, 6-4.
The Bulldogs needed just one more win at that point, but before they got it, LSU (0-1) got on the scoreboard with a win at No. 6, where Julien Penzlin defeated Miguel Perez Peña, 6-4, 6-4, to make it 3-1 Georgia with three matches still going.
Georgia got its clinching win at No. 4, where Bryde knocked off Hotard, 6-2, 7-5. It was a race between the No. 106-ranked Byrne and the top-ranked Quinn at No. 1 to see who would get the clinch. Quinn, facing the No. 18-ranked Rohmann and up 7-6 (3), 5-3, failed to convert a couple of match points on Rohmann's serve before Bryde delivered the clinching win.
ITA Kickoff Weekend
Results
No. 15 Georgia 4, LSU 1
Doubles
1. #19 Ethan Quinn/Trent Bryde (UGA) def. #20 Nick Watson/Stefan Latinovic (LSU), 7-6 (3)
2. Chen Dong/Welsh Hotard (LSU) def. Teodor Giusca/Philip Henning (UGA), 6-3
3. #55 Blake Croyder/Britton Johnston (UGA) def. George Stoupe/Ronald Hohmann (LSU), 6-3
Singles
1. #1 Ethan Quinn (UGA) vs. #18 Ronald Hohmann (LSU), 7-6 (3), 5-4, unfinished
2. #10 Philip Henning (UGA) def. Stefan Latinovic (LSU), 6-2, 6-4
3. #70 Teodor Giusca (UGA) vs. Chen Dong (LSU), 5-7, 3-3, unfinished
4. #106 Trent Bryde (UGA) def. Welsh Hotard (LSU), 6-2, 7-5
5. #21 Blake Croyder (UGA) def. George Stoupe (LSU), 6-2, 6-3
6. Julien Penzlin (LSU) def. Miguel Perez Peña (UGA), 6-4, 6-4
Order of Finish
Doubles: 3, 2, 1
Singles: 5, 2, 6, 4
Players Mentioned
