Every now and then, we all need a little luck — especially while battling stomach sickness.
Despite going winless and having to fight through upset stomachs, three Oregon men’s tennis players advanced to the main draw at the Icy Hot/ITA All-American Championships, beginning today in Chattanooga, Tenn. Preseason No. 63-ranked freshman Manuel Kost will play in the singles draw, while freshman Sven Swinnen and junior Oded Teig will compete in the doubles draw.
Oregon head coach Chris Russell said the stomach problems were a result of something the players ate Tuesday evening.
Kost forged on, winning the first set of his qualifying match in a tiebreaker, but couldn’t hold on as he eventually fell to Baylor’s Ivor Lovrak 6-7, 6-2, 6-2. Swinnen and Teig struggled with their illness, losing their qualifying doubles match against Butler’s Brandon and Kevin Gill 8-4.
Russell was informed by a tournament referee Wednesday that the Ducks had qualified for the main draw by virtue of the “lucky loser” entry.
“It was an interesting day for us,” Russell said. “They should feel a little better tomorrow.”
Kost will face off with preseason No. 92 Oliver Levant of Florida in today’s first round. Swinnen and Teig have a showdown with Tulsa’s tandem of Ryan Livesay and Dustin Taylor, also in today’s first round.
“Everyone from here on out is very good,” Russell said. “In fact, everyone the last two rounds has been very good.”
There are 64 players in the singles draw and 32 pairs in the doubles draw. The tournament finals for both draws will take place Sunday.
Panova
victorious again
A day after upsetting the No. 32-ranked player in the nation, Oregon sophomore and preseason No. 44 Daria Panova continued her run through the back draw of the Riviera/ITA All-American Championships with a three-set victory over UCLA’s Jackie Carleton on Wednesday in Pacific Palisades, Calif.
Panova won 6-1, 6-7, 6-4, in her third consecutive three-set match.
“There were a couple close calls, but she (Panova) stuck it out,” Oregon assistant coach Kathy Sell said. “She played well and fought hard.”
Panova battled to defeat preseason No. 32 Anne Nguyen of Georgia in her first consolation back draw match.
Related Links:
University of Oregon Men’s Tennis
Intercollegiate Tennis Association
Jon Roetman is a freelance writer
for the Emerald.