Texas Tech University Athletics
Texas Tech Athletics
Denver
Texas Tech Downs Denver For First Win
February 15, 2009 | Men's Tennis
Feb. 15, 2009
LUBBOCK, Texas - After opening the season with two-consecutive losses, the Texas Tech men's tennis team won its first match Saturday night, defeating the University of Denver, 4-3, at the Colorado Athletic Club Inverness.
With the win, the No. 26-ranked Red Raiders improve to 1-2 on the season, while No. 48 Denver drops to 4-4, breaking the Pioneers two-match winning streak.
For the first time this season, the Red Raiders were able to win the doubles point, taking victories at both the No. 2 and 3 positions. Tech's No. 7-ranked duo of Christian Rojmar and Raony Carvalho dropped their match, 8-6, to Martin Zimmermann and David Simson.
Carvalho was able to rebound in singles, however, as the No. 19-ranked freshman was able to upend No. 83 David Simson in straight sets, 6-4, 6-2. The win was Carvalho's first dual victory in his collegiate career.
At the No. 2 position, Zimmermann downed Tech's Sinisa Markovic in three sets, splitting the first two, 7-5, 6-7, before taking the tiebreaker, 14-12. Rojmar would find the same difficulty at the No. 3 slot as he was dropped by Benny Althaus in straight sets, 6-3, 6-1, while Michael Breler took Yannick Weihs to three sets at the No. 4 position before falling, 6-4, 3-6, 14-12.
Milos Kustudija and David Gonzalez would lift Tech in the No. 5 and 6 positions as Kustudija defeated Johan Gunnarsson, 6-2, 6-4, and Gonzalez downed Varun Gunaseelan in straight sets, 6-0, 6-2.
"It was good to get a win," Tech head coach Tim Siegel said. "It is tough to play at Denver indoors, but we've got a lot of work to do to be a top level team. We had great effort and great team spirit, but the overall play was not good enough for us to be a top-level tournament team. We will get better, though, and get ready for a tough trip to Arizona."
The Red Raiders return to the road next weekend, traveling to Tucson, Ariz., to face the University of San Diego on Fri., Feb. 20, and Arizona the following day. Tech's first home match at the McLeod Tennis Center is Feb. 28, against TCU.
No. 26 Texas Tech - 4
No. 48 Denver - 3
Colorado Athletic Club Inverness - Denver, Colo.
Singles
1. No. 19 Raony Carvalho (TTU) def. No. 83 David Simson (DEN), 6-4, 6-2
2. Martin Zimmermann (DEN) def. Sinisa Markovic (TTU), 7-5, 6-7, 14-12
3. Benny Althaus (DEN) def. Christian Rojmar (TTU), 6-3, 6-1
4. Yannick Weihs (DEN) def. Michael Breler (TTU), 6-4, 3-6, 14-12
5. Milos Kustudija (TTU) def. Johan Gunnarsson (DEN), 6-2, 6-4
6. David Gonzalez (TTU) def. Varun Gunaseelan (DEN), 6-0, 6-2
Doubles
1. Zimmermann/Simson (DEN) def. #7 Carvalho/Rojmar (TTU), 8-6
2. Breler/Markovic (TTU) def. Althaus/Weihs (DEN), 8-5
3. Gonzalo Escobar/Gonzalez (TTU) def. Gunnarsson/Gunaseelan (DEN), 8-5
Match Notes:
Texas Tech 1-2; National ranking No. 26
Denver 4-4; National ranking No. 48
