COLUMBIA, S.C. – The Columbia men's tennis team opened its fall season this weekend with the team playing at the Gamecock Ranked +1 event in Columbia, South Carolina and the Wake Forest Fall Invitational in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.
The team got the fall season started with some excitement as the Lions claimed two singles and a doubles draw championship at the Gamecock Ranked +1 event. Columbia played hidden duals at the Wake Forest Fall Invitational. The Lions were an impressive 15-2 overall in doubles action between the two events this weekend.
Splitting the roster,
Alex Kotzen,
Ishaan Ravichander,
Roko Horvat,
Henry Ruger,
Sachin Palta and
Hugo Hashimoto competed at the Wake Forest Fall Invitational.
Michael Zheng,
Max Westphal,
Theo Winegar and
Jayden Templeman competed at the Gamecock Ranked +1 Invitational.
Seniors Ruger and Ravichander went undefeated in singles and doubles action at the Wake Forest Fall Invitational to help lead the Lions over the weekend. Columbia paired up with Tennessee and Wake Forest in the first day of the event. The Lions swept doubles play and proceeded to win four out of six singles matches. Columbia continued to play well in doubles, sweeping its three matches on day two as well. The Lions split singles play, 3-3 on day two. Wrapping up the event Sunday, the Lions went 2-1 in doubles and went 4-1 in singles play.
As a highlight of the weekend, all four Lions that competed at the Gamecock Ranked +1 won a draw title. The 2023 All-American Zheng won the B-draw title with a 6-0, 6-4 win over Ozan Baris (Michigan State) Sunday. Winegar secured the C-draw title Sunday with a 6-3, 6-3 win against Alexander Keifer (Virginia).
Westphal and Templeman highlighted the Lions' doubles play at the Gamecock Ranked +1 as the duo won the B-draw Sunday with a 6-4 win over Duke's Connor Krug and Jake Krug. Winegar and Zheng reached the A-draw double title match, but lost to Michigan State's Baris and Ronald Hohmann.
UP NEXT
The next event on the fall schedule for the Lions is the ATP LTP Challenger in Charleston, South Carolina. The event will start on Monday, September 25 and wrap up on Sunday, October 1.
FOLLOWING THE LIONS
Stay up to date on all things Columbia Men's Tennis by following the Lions on Twitter (@CULionsMTEN), Instagram (@culionsmten) and on Facebook (@ColumbiaAthletics).
