TULSA, Okla. – The ITA All-American Championships take place in Tulsa, Oklahoma each year and spans a 9-day period. This year, four Notre Dame men’s players represented in the event beginning with three players in the prequalifying singles draw.
Senior Yu Zhang, sophomore Chase Thompson and Freshman Peter Nad all appeared in the prequalifying draw beginning on the 21st. While Zhang played the event two years ago, Thompson and Nad were making their debut in All-American Championships. Zhang won his opening round match against his opponent from Tulane by a convincing 6-4, 6-1 margin. He then fell in the second round to end his singles portion of the tournament. Thompson and Nad both lost their opening round singles match but Nad responded to defeat his Aggie opponent from Texas A&M in two tight sets.
Nad paired with junior Sebastian Dominko in the qualifying draw of the doubles competition. The preseason ranked #46 team in the country drew the #32 team in the country from Stanford in the opening round. After dropping the opening set, the Irish duo responded to win the second set and force a deciding tiebreak. Unfortunately, momentum did not continue in their favor and the lost the close contest 10-5 in the tiebreak. The duo did come back the next day to win their consolation doubles match against the duo from the host school Tulsa in another 3-set match.
Dominko began his singles tournament in the main draw of the event by virtue of his preseason singles ranking of #13 in the country. He would need a come from behind victory in the opening round against his in form Baylor opponent who had already won 6 matches on the week to qualify for main draw play. After dropping the opening set 5-7, Dominko would convincingly take the 6-1, 6-3 set wins and a first round victory.
In the second round, Dominko would play his 4th consecutive three set match of the tournament but come up just short against the Florida opponent who comes in ranked #24. In the consolation match, the Irish junior played another highly ranked opponent in a Tennessee senior coming in at #10 and who proved to be a bit too much, taking the contest in straight sets.
Next Up:
Action is underway at the Milwaukee Tennis Classic in Wisconsin where four Notre Dame players are in action. The 32 player singles draw and 16-team doubles draw will complete play over the 3-day event on Sunday.
Prequalifying Singles 1st Round
Zhang(ND) def. Hoeijmans(TUL) 6-4, 6-1
Petrovic(TUL) def. Thompson(ND) 6-4, 7-5
Weekes(UK) def. Nad(ND) 6-2, 7-5
Prequalifying Singles 2nd Round
Kuzmenok(RICE) def. Zhang(ND) 7-6(9), 6-2
Prequalifying Singles Consolation
Nad(ND) def. Ross(TAMU) 6-4, 7-5
Prequalifying Doubles 1st Round
Shick/Van Sambeek(NCST) def. Thompson/Zhang(ND) 6-2, 6-4
Qualifying Doubles 1st Round
Godsick/Banerjee(STAN) def. Dominko/Nad(ND) 6-3, 3-6, 1-0(5)
Qualifying Doubles Consolation
Dominko/Nad(ND) def. Tettamble/Seger(Tulsa) 6-3, 5-7, 1-0(7)
Main Draw Singles
Dominko(ND) def. Miladinovic(BAY) 5-7, 6-1, 6-3
Jin(UF) def. Dominko(ND) 6-1, 2-6, 6-4
Mitsui(TENN) def. Dominko(ND) 6-4, 6-2