US College Signings 2017 (and general college tennis chat)

The Optimist · ATP qualifying

RE: US College Signings 2017 (and general college tennis chat)

The Optimist · ATP qualifying

#6 Texas Tech bt #11 Auburn 4-2

4. Sabrina Federici (Texas T) bt Georgie Axon (Auburn) 7-5, 6-0

5. Alannah Griffin (Auburn) bt Sarah Dvorak (Texas T) 6-3, 6-2

Dubs

1. #14 Alizee Michaud / Taylor Russo (Auburn) bt #26 Sarah Dvorak / Sabrina Federici (Texas T) 6-3

2. #69 Gabriela Talaba / Felicity Maltby (Texas T) bt Andie Dikosvljevic / Alannah Griffin (Auburn) 6-2

3. Caroline Turner / Georgie Axon (Auburn) bt Alba Cortina-Pou / Alex Valenstein (Texas T) 7-5

Texas Tech play Ohio State in the Elite 8 at 7pm on Sunday - streaming on the Georgia Womens Tennis website

Oakland2002 · All-time great

Vandy v Cal ongoing, Vandy take doubles point but singles looking tight. Still struggling with the fact that the Cal no.1 is competitive serving under arm!

The Optimist · ATP qualifying

A good underarm serve is tricky to handle, the receiver ends up in an awkward place on the court. Maegan's goes right to the back of the box and only comes off the floor a couple of inches, short of trying to drop shot it back I'm not sure how I would handle it.

In the Sweet 16,

#3 Vanderbilt bt #13 California 4-1

5. Maya Jansen (California) bt Georgina Sellyn (Vanderbilt) 6-4, 6-3

Dubs

1. #34 Maegan Manasse / Maya Jansen (California) bt #1 Emily Smith / Astra Sharma (Vanderbilt) 6-4

The Optimist · ATP qualifying

Texas Christian and Cam take on Ohio State today in the Elite 8 at 5pm UK time streamed on the Georgia Men's Tennis website

Oakland2002 · All-time great

Vandy win, Pepperdine take out Georgia, not a complete shock as they have two of the best players in college tennis at 1 and 2 in Stefani and Lahey, not that highly ranked as in the west college conference plus a very solid senior no 5 with the longest name in college tennis and are one of the two teams along with Florida to beat Stanford (unbeaten in Palo Alto) on the road.

All the big 4 left Florida, UNC, Ohio state and Vanderbilt left in the elite 8. Vandy I think are the most vulnerable to heroics, against Pepperdine as implied earlier Georgia Sellwyn is up against IMG academy product ...here goes it.... Apichaya Rungerlerdkriangkrai (let's call her Jean, because everyone else does) at No.5 and Ashley Lahey at 2 is points in the bag for Pepperdine. If Vandy loose the doubles point it could be a very exciting 3 set finish at the number 1 singles slot that decides it.

Stanford have their work cut out against UNC, I think any chance is dependent on the bottom end of the order, a bit of a paradox really but very healthy and promising for the future when it is freshman in at 5 and 6 and sophmores starting the season at 3 and 4. it is likely that Stanford will have the no 6 singles point in the bag but to win Emily would have to be considered the next best banker at 5, along with the doubles point and then someone else picking out a win in singles the sophomores being the most likely at 4 perhaps 2.

Lots of time for the Texas Tech programme and great to see them in the QF for the third year of on the trot. Sabrina Frederici's victory yesterday over Georgie at No 4 shows a programme with increasing depth, Sabrina now a junior was recruited in what was perceived to be their strongest ever class with Romanian #9 Gabriela Talaba now playing no1 but the no2 and 3 slots are now filled by sophomores both Californian and Nationally ranked (#58 and #115). They hosted an ITF 25k last year (although I can't see it this yet) and there are no seniors in this team so the only way is up for Texas Tech.

-- Edited by Oakland2002 on Saturday 20th of May 2017 08:17:32 AM

Oakland2002 · All-time great

Oh well, Ohio State beat TCU 4-3 with the doubles point and the lower order being critical, TCU had the two strongest players at the top end of the singes seeding with Cam winning his doubles set and singles point (a three setter) and the match going down to the wire.

After 2 singles matches were completed in 2 sets (one each) the remaining 4 went to 3 sets with OSU managing to dig out 3 wins down the order to squeeze through.

Not to be for TCU this year, I am sure they are very disappointed. Cam's three years at a TCU have helped them establish a reputation that should leave a legacy and enrich the TCU tennis programme long term. I am very optimistic that he will progress rapidly through the challenger level and develop into an ATP touring pro. The link with TCU there will always be there through Cam's professional career facillitating recruitment and the depth of the programme to grow, essential to progression through those final rounds of the NCAA tournament. Of course he still has the NCAA singles to look forward to and at the very least today put down a marker against college tennis's no 2 player.

-- Edited by Oakland2002 on Saturday 20th of May 2017 08:03:59 PM

-- Edited by Oakland2002 on Saturday 20th of May 2017 08:04:37 PM

-- Edited by Oakland2002 on Sunday 21st of May 2017 06:45:57 AM

Oakland2002 · All-time great

The later matches with no British interest were subjected to long rain delays but Wake Forest the number 1 seeds were beaten by UNC, and Georgia beat UCLA. Virginia beat Texas in the synchronous match with TCU.

Again it was the wins at positions 4,5 and 6 that were decisive along with the doubles point, no team that won in any of those the elite eight match ups won the top singles game! So arguably the best players in each tie have all won but all been knocked out! I am not quite sure what that means, is it a good or bad thing?

To win the NCAA College tennis tittle, recruiting stars is important but few very good players will come in and play lower than 2 even as a freshman, often they cancel each other out in the singles as both players are good and matches go to 3 sets and don't get to finish, so it is encouraging that the focus if you are to win is developing the games of those at 3-6. Perhaps better to be playing 3-4 in a top power conference team than No 1 in a weaker division 1 conference?

-- Edited by Oakland2002 on Sunday 21st of May 2017 07:10:16 AM

The Optimist · ATP qualifying

Same with all team tennis....it's a solid middle order that wins the tie. And IMO a player is definitely better off in the middle of the order in a strong team than at the top of a weak team, at least at the start of their college career. And just to put some facts and figures to TCU's loss

#3 Ohio State be #6 Texas Christian 4-3

1. #1 Cameron Norrie (Texas C) bt #2 Mikael Torpegaard (ATP=340 CH=355) (Ohio St) 5-7, 6-4, 6-3

Dubs

3. Cameron Norrie / Trevor Johnson (Texas C) bt Hunter Tubert / JJ Wolf (Ohio St) 6-4

Oakland2002 · All-time great

Stanford in with a chance although blown away at No1 seed (6-1,6-0) the doubles point and a win at number 3 see then leading 2-1, games 2 and 4 going to a third set, Emily even in her first set due to a staggered start as the matches moved in door due to rain in Georgia.

Oakland2002 · All-time great

3-2 Stanford, only singles matches 5 and 6 out there, Emily a set down but battling in second.

Oakland2002 · All-time great

Emily has taken the second set. So it's all in her hands the no 6 match UNC one set up.

Oakland2002 · All-time great

Emily clinches a Stanford victory 4-6, 6-4, 6-2 over #100 Makena Jones of UNC the number 2 seed! Setting up a potential SF against Vanderbilt. So potentially an NCAA SF with three Brits on show.

Emily A + v Emily S + in the number 1 doubles match and Emily A v Georgina Selwyn at No 5 in the singles.

-- Edited by Oakland2002 on Sunday 21st of May 2017 10:30:31 PM

Spectator · All-time great

Well done, Ms A! She seems to cope well with pressure.

Oakland2002 · All-time great

And Vandy also beat Pepperdine, Georgina Selwyn's win at no 5 being critical they now get no 1 Florida in the SF. Stanford get no 3 Ohio State. Add in Emily Smith and that's 3 girls in the final 4!

-- Edited by Oakland2002 on Monday 22nd of May 2017 06:35:42 AM