CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – A decisive match at No. 5 singles would go the way of Austin Peay as Carson-Newman men's tennis fell for the first time Friday afternoon at the Governors Tennis Center.
After winning the sought-after doubles point to open the competition, C-N positioned itself to contend for the victory by picking up wins at Nos. 4 and 6 singles. A three-set bout by senior captain Gabriel Dabdab (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) went the way of the Govs for the match-clinching point.
The loss moves the Eagles to 4-1 on the season.
Dabdab and teammate Hugo Castets (Gradignan, France) picked up a victory (6-4) at No. 1 doubles along with Ids Waterbolk (Bennekom, Netherlands) and Julian Froehlich (Kobenz, Austria) at No. 3 doubles (6-1) for the first point of the match.
Ironically, it was both Froehlich (6-1, 6-3) and Waterbolk (6-2, 7-6) who came up big for C-N in singles as well, earning two match points to push the final court to a decision.
Another three-set match at No. 2 singles also ended up going the way of the Govs, with sophomore Rintaro Oka (Narita, Japan) battling back from a one-set deficit to drop 4-6, 6-4, 3-6.
Austin Peay's Julius Gold would hand freshman Marc Janse (Zeewolde, Netherlands) his first career singles loss, winning at No. 3 singles 6-3, 6-3.
Froehlich, Janse and Oka move to 4-1 on the season individually, as the Dutch freshman Waterbolk remains the only Eagle undefeated at 5-0.
No. 1 singles player Castets was challenged by the best of what the Govs had to offer in Christian Edison, with Edison walking away with the 6-0, 6-4 victory.
Austin Peay now moves to 1-6 on the year.
Sunday is another chance for the men's tennis team to sharpen its skills in non-conference play as C-N travels to Sewanee for a 2 p.m. opening serve in an exhibition match.
