MALIBU, Calif. – The Wildcats put up a strong showing on a long and rainy day one out at the ITA Regional Championships in Malibu Calif. as Arizona went a combined 4-2 on the day, while three Cats played their way into the round of 32, which will begin on Friday.
"All in all I felt the guys competed well despite a few ups and downs, " said head coach Tad Berkowitz. "Tomorrow we will have to step it up as the competition level will continue to get stronger."
After waiting out a roughly a two-hour rain delay, the Cats got doubles play underway, with Harry Busby and Jason Jaruvang taking down host Pepperdine's Tom Hill and Stefan Menichella 8-6 in a thriller, punching their ticket to the round of 32. Trent Botha and Naoki Takeda are also still alive in doubles action, as they advance on a bye.
Then in singles play, it was Jaruvang who set the tone, as he won his first match against San Diego State's Santiago Cevallos 6-3, 7-6(6), collecting his team-best sixth victory of the year and advancing to the round of 64. Jaruvang's tournament run came to an end in the round of 64, as he fell to Pepperdine's Guilherme Hadlich, 6-4, 6-1.
After earning a bye in the opening round, Takeda proved why he's considered one of the best players in college tennis, as grinded out 3-6, 6-0, 6-0 comeback victory over Hawai'I's Igor Kolaric to stay alive in main draw play.
Busby then followed suit, as he was pushed to three sets, but in the end managed to pull off a 3-6, 6-3, 6-3 win over Cal Poly's Axel Damiens in the round of 64 after receiving an opening round bye.
Trent Botha fought hard but was defeated by UCSB's Oliver Sec in round of 128 play, 7-6(4), 6-4.
The Cats will be back on the courts tomorrow with a chance to do some serious damage. Day two will begin with doubles action at 8 am PT.
First Round Results
SINGLES
Round of 128
Jason Jaruvang (UofA) def. Santiago Cevallos (SDS), 6-3, 7-6(6)
Oliver Sec (UCSB) def. Trent Botha (UofA), 7-6(4), 6-4
Round of 64
Naoki Takeda (UofA) def. Igor Kolaric (Hawaii), 3-6, 6-0, 6-0
Harry Busby (UofA) def. Axel Damiens (Cal Poly) 3-6, 6-3, 6-3
Guilherme Hadlich (Pepperdine) def. Jason Jaruvang (UofA), 6-4, 6-1
DOUBLES
Round of 64
Harry Busby and Jason Jaruvang (UofA) def. Tom Hill and Stefan Menichella (Pepperdine), 8-6
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