After moving indoors to avoid freezing temperatures, the No. 49-ranked TCU men’s tennis team defeated University of Texas Pan American 6-1.
In doubles play, Junior transfer Daniel Sanchez and Senior Zach Nichols posted the first victory for the Horned Frogs, scoring a decisive 8-3 win over UTPA’s Ricardo Hopker and Abdel Riani at the No. 3 spot.
Shortly after TCU’s No. 55-ranked doubles team of senior Emanuel Brighiu and senior Christopher Price defeated Aswin Vijayaragavan and Beau Bernstein, 8-5, to secure the doubles point for the frogs.
The No. 2 team of Sophomore Sören Goritzka and junior Slah Mbarek ended the doubles competition with defeating UTPA’s Marcus Dornauf and Matt Teivans 8-7 (7-5).
The Frogs then posted 4 straight wins in singles play to win the match and gain an early 5-0 lead.
Price defeated Hopker in straight sets, scoring 6-1, 6-2, to put the frogs up 2-0 at the No. 5 position.
Mbarek also won in straight sets at the No. 4 spot to sweep UTPA’s Teivans with a score of 6-1, 6-3.
Nichols followed up his impressive doubles victory by clinching the win for TCU at No. 3 singles. He won in straight sets, as well, with a 6-4 and 7-6 (7-5) victory.
“Any time you have a chance to clinch a match and you do it, it’s a great feeling,” Nichols said. “But as far as pressure, there wasn’t much. I knew we were in control.”
Goritzka added yet another victory for the frogs. After dropping the first set 5-7 to UTPA’s Bernstein, he battled back and won two in a row, 6-3, 6-1, at No. 2 singles.
“Sören Goritzka had a hell of a day” said Coach Roditi. “He was asked a lot today and he came out with 4 wins today 2-0, 2-0.”
Goritzka said that today’s victories were good for both his and his team’s confidence.
UTPA’s Vijayaragavan then bested Brighiu at the No. 1 singles position, 4-6, 7-6 (7-5), 1-0 (10-8), to obtain the Bronco’s only victory in the match.
Coach Roditi still remained positive about Brighiu, although he started his season 0-2 in singles play. “Any time you play number one you”re going to have a tough match everyday, and I know he’s gonna get some really good, important wins for us,” Roditi said.
The Horned Frogs Cameron Nash rounded out the singles play by quickly defeating UTPA’s Riani (UTPA) at the No. 6 spot. Nash was a 6-2, 6-1 winner.
“We get in here and play a team that’s probably been waiting to play us for four or five months, who we lost in doubles points to last year and for us to… take care of this team six one, that’s what I was the most proud of.”
Today’s win gave the Horned Frogs a 2-0 start to their season.
