Oklahoma State University Athletics
Finzelberg Defeats Third Straight Ranked Foe To Advance In Tulsa
October 06, 2016 | Cowboy Tennis
TULSA, Okla. – Oklahoma State men's tennis completed the first day of main draw action at the Saint Francis Health System ITA Men's All-American Championships on Thursday with Lukas Finzelberg advancing to the Round of 32 after defeating his third consecutive ranked opponent.
Finzelberg has displayed his class this week already, defeating two ranked opponents in qualifying play to advance into the main draw, but faced his toughest test of the week thus far going up against No. 27 Nick Crystal of Southern California today.
The Cowboy showed no fear in facing one of the nation's top-ranked players as he dominated the first set and then carried that momentum throughout the match as he picked up his fourth win over ranked competition this season, defeating No. 27 Crystal in three sets, 6-1, 4-6, 6-0.
"I started the match really solid and was able to break him early, which gave me some confidence," Finzelberg said. "I played a little too aggressive in the second set when I didn't have to, but in the third I refocused and played my game again and I'm glad to be moving into the second round now."
Finzelberg's run at the ITA All-American Championships continues in tomorrow's Round of 32 where he will face off with No. 18 Gustav Hansson of Ole Miss.
The German international was joined by his teammate, No. 29 Julian Cash, in the main draw as the pair became the first Cowboys to compete in the ITA All-American Championships' main draw since Oleksandr Nedovyesov was the event's top seed in 2008.
Cash faced one of the toughest tests of his collegiate career when he squared off with the No. 6-ranked player in the country, Stanford's Tom Fawcett, in the opening round. Cash played Fawcett tough throughout the contest, but ultimately wasn't able to grind out a win and now moves into the consolation bracket.
Cash also competed in the doubles main draw with his partner Arjun Kadhe. The nation's top-ranked doubles tandem reunited to play their first competitive match of the season together as they faced off with Princeton's No. 21-ranked duo of Alex Day and Luke Gamble.
In a back-and-forth contest, the Cowboy duo ultimately came up just short as they were knocked off in a third-set super tiebreak by No. 21 Day/Gamble, 1-6, 6-3, 1-0 (11). The tandem will compete again tomorrow in the consolation bracket.
For all information regarding draws, match times and results, visit the ITA All-American Championships' event page.
Oklahoma State Results
Singles Main Draw - Round of 64:
No. 6 Tom Fawcett (STAN) def. No. 29 Julian Cash, 7-5, 6-4
Lukas Finzelberg (OSU) def. No. 27 Nick Crystal (USC), 6-1, 4-6, 6-0
Doubles Main Draw - Round of 32:
No. 21 Alex Day/Luke Gamble (PRIN) def. No. 1 Julian Cash/Arjun Kadhe, 1-6, 6-3, 1-0 (11)
Finzelberg has displayed his class this week already, defeating two ranked opponents in qualifying play to advance into the main draw, but faced his toughest test of the week thus far going up against No. 27 Nick Crystal of Southern California today.
The Cowboy showed no fear in facing one of the nation's top-ranked players as he dominated the first set and then carried that momentum throughout the match as he picked up his fourth win over ranked competition this season, defeating No. 27 Crystal in three sets, 6-1, 4-6, 6-0.
"I started the match really solid and was able to break him early, which gave me some confidence," Finzelberg said. "I played a little too aggressive in the second set when I didn't have to, but in the third I refocused and played my game again and I'm glad to be moving into the second round now."
Finzelberg's run at the ITA All-American Championships continues in tomorrow's Round of 32 where he will face off with No. 18 Gustav Hansson of Ole Miss.
The German international was joined by his teammate, No. 29 Julian Cash, in the main draw as the pair became the first Cowboys to compete in the ITA All-American Championships' main draw since Oleksandr Nedovyesov was the event's top seed in 2008.
Cash faced one of the toughest tests of his collegiate career when he squared off with the No. 6-ranked player in the country, Stanford's Tom Fawcett, in the opening round. Cash played Fawcett tough throughout the contest, but ultimately wasn't able to grind out a win and now moves into the consolation bracket.
Cash also competed in the doubles main draw with his partner Arjun Kadhe. The nation's top-ranked doubles tandem reunited to play their first competitive match of the season together as they faced off with Princeton's No. 21-ranked duo of Alex Day and Luke Gamble.
In a back-and-forth contest, the Cowboy duo ultimately came up just short as they were knocked off in a third-set super tiebreak by No. 21 Day/Gamble, 1-6, 6-3, 1-0 (11). The tandem will compete again tomorrow in the consolation bracket.
For all information regarding draws, match times and results, visit the ITA All-American Championships' event page.
Oklahoma State Results
Singles Main Draw - Round of 64:
No. 6 Tom Fawcett (STAN) def. No. 29 Julian Cash, 7-5, 6-4
Lukas Finzelberg (OSU) def. No. 27 Nick Crystal (USC), 6-1, 4-6, 6-0
Doubles Main Draw - Round of 32:
No. 21 Alex Day/Luke Gamble (PRIN) def. No. 1 Julian Cash/Arjun Kadhe, 1-6, 6-3, 1-0 (11)
Players Mentioned
Tuesday, July 07
Tuesday, July 07
Friday, June 05
Friday, May 29
