ATHENS, Ga. – The Columbia men's tennis team started the fall season at the Southern Intercollegiate Championships hosted by Georgia this weekend as several members of the team competed at a high level against some of college tennis' top talent.
The weekend was highlighted by No. 2 Zheng's main draw singles title. Zheng posted wins over Noa Vukadin (Clemson), No. 64 Miguel Perez Pena (Georgia) and No. 28 Ryan Colby (Georgia) to earn a spot in the main draw singles title match against teammate No. 74
Nicolas Kotzen on Sunday. Kotzen's path to the championship match Sunday included wins against Nate Bonetto (Georgia Tech), No. 14 Thomas Paulsell (Georgia) and fellow Lion No. 98
Hugo Hashimoto. Zheng worked past Kotzen in two sets, 6-2, 6-4 to claim the singles title at the Southern Intercollegiate Championships.
Columbia ended up with the top three finishers in the singles main draw with Zheng as the champion, Kotzen as the runner-up and Hashimoto in third. Hashimoto defeated Georgia's No. 28 Colby in the third-place match Sunday, 6-2, 7-6(2).
The Lions also saw success in doubles this weekend as No. 21 Hashimoto and Zheng teamed up and Kotzen and
Sachin Palta teamed up. Hashimoto and Zheng picked up two wins on Friday before losing their final two doubles matches. Kotzen and Palta lost their first doubles match Friday, but bounced back to win a match on Saturday and Sunday to wrap up the weekend.
DAY 1 RESULTS
Singles Red Draw
#2
Michael Zheng (COL) def. Noa Vukadin (CLEM) 6-4, 6-7(6), 6-3
#98
Hugo Hashimoto (COL) def. #86 Oscar Pinto Sansano (UGA) 7-5, 6-4
#74
Nicolas Kotzen (COL) def. Nate Bonetto (GT) 6-4, 7-6(1)
Singles Black Draw
Sachin Palta (COL) def. Max Stenzer (USC) 7-6(3), 6-1
Doubles Red Draw
#33 Thomas Paulsell/Ryan Colby (UGA) def.
Nicolas Kotzen/
Sachin Palta (COL) 6-2
#21
Hugo Hashimoto/
Michael Zheng (COL) def. Joseph Wayand/Alex de Gabriele (UNCW) 7-6(4)
#21
Hugo Hashimoto/
Michael Zheng (COL) def. Viktor Markov/Marko Mesarovic (CLEM) 6-3
Atakan Karahan/Jelani Sarr (USC) def.
Nicolas Kotzen/
Sachin Palta (COL) 6-4
DAY 2 RESULTS
Singles Red Draw
#2
Michael Zheng (COL) def. #64 Miguel Perez Pena (UGA) 6-1, 6-2
#74
Nicolas Kotzen (COL) def. #14 Thomas Paulsell (UGA) 6-3, 7-6(3)
#98
Hugo Hashimoto (COL) def. #51 Wissam Abderrahman (CLEM) 3-6, 6-4, 6-2
Singles Black Draw
Cyrus Mahjoob (UGA) def.
Sachin Palta (COL) 6-2, 3-6, 6-4
Doubles Red Draw
#2 Freddy Blaydes/Niels Ratiu (UGA) def. #21
Hugo Hashimoto/
Michael Zheng (COL) 6-3
Nicolas Kotzen/
Sachin Palta (COL) def. Max Stenzer/Sean Darybeigi (USC) 6-2
DAY 3 RESULTS
Singles Red Draw
#2
Michael Zheng (COL) def. #28 Ryan Colby (UGA) 6-1, 6-0
#74
Nicolas Kotzen (COL) def. #98
Hugo Hashimoto (COL) 6-3, 6-4
Sachin Palta (COL) def. Atakan Karahan (USC) 7-6(4), 6-4
#2
Michael Zheng (COL) def. #74
Nicolas Kotzen (COL) 6-2, 6-4
#98
Hugo Hashimoto (COL) def. #28 Ryan Colby (UGA) 6-2, 7-6(2)
Singles Black Draw
Freddy Blaydes (UGA) def.
Sachin Palta (COL) 6-7, 7-6, 6-3
Doubles Red Draw
#33 Ryan Colby/Thomas Paulsell (UGA) def. #21
Hugo Hashimoto/
Michael Zheng (COL) 7-5
Nicolas Kotzen/
Sachin Palta (COL) def. Gabriele Datei/Edward Thymes (GSU) 6-2
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