May 14, 2009
Quotes from Head Coach John Whitlinger
COLLEGE STATION, Texas- The ninth-ranked Stanford men's tennis team saw its season come to an end today in its 30th NCAA appearance, as the Cardinal fell 4-2 to eighth-ranked USC today in the NCAA Round of 16 at Texas A&M. The match was the third 4-3 decision this season between the two teams, with the Trojans taking the 2-1 advantage.
In doubles, USC grabbed the first match at the No. 2 position, running away with an 8-6 win after the teams were tied 5-5 heading into the stretch. Senior Matt Bruch and sophomore Ted Kelly evened it for Stanford at No. 3, hanging on to a 7-3 lead to win 8-5. The two teams were then left to watch the battle on No. 1, as freshmen Ryan Thacher and Bradley Klahn were able to stay one game ahead of the Trojans all the way until it was 8-7, but ultimately fell to Robert Farah and Steve Johnson 9-8(4), as the fourth-ranked pair avenged their Pac-10 Tournament loss to the Cardinal duo.
After the break, Bruch gave Stanford some momentum by speeding to a 6-1 victory in the first set over No. 106 Abdullah Magdas. The Lake Forest, Ill. native fell in the second but was able to win the third to give the Cardinal its first point on the board and pull it to within one point, as Thacher had fallen to No. 81 Jaak Poldma, 7-5, 7-6(4) in the first match to end.
In No. 6 singles, Daniel Nguyen turned up the pressure on Stanford by defeating senior Blake Muller in three sets, 6-4, 3-6, 6-1, putting USC on the edge of victory, but Klahn fought off defeat, coming back after losing the first set to upend No. 53 Steve Johnson for the third time this season, 3-6, 6-2, 7-6(1).
The fate of the match then moved on to No. 1 singles, where No. 21 sophomore Alex Clayton was dueling eighth-ranked Robert Farah. Clayton had taken the first set 6-3, conceded the second by the same score, and was in a 4-2 hole in the third set when Klahn's match ended. Clayton managed to close the gap by one game, trailing 5-4, but could not find a way to defeat Farah, giving the Trojans the victory and a date with top-ranked Virginia in the quarterfinals.
"This was a typical Stanford-USC match, with a tough doubles competition and five three-setters out of the six singles matches," said head coach John Whitlinger. "The doubles was very competitive and we knew that would be key. I'm very proud of the way my team competed and how they kept fighting even when we were down 3-1. Give credit to USC; the better team won today."
The Cardinal completes the 2009 season with a 20-6 record (3-3 Pac-10). Clayton and Klahn will begin NCAA Singles Championship play on May 20.
May 14, 2009 - College Station, Texas
NCAA Men's Tennis Championship - Round of 16
No. 8 USC 4, No. 9 Stanford 2
DOUBLES
1) No. 4 Farah/Johnson (USC) d. No. 28 Thacher/Klahn (STAN) 9-8 (4)
2) No. 59 Magdas/Nguyen(USC) d. No. 40 Wire/Muller (STAN) 8-6
3) Bruch/Kelly(STAN) d. Kecki/Poldma (USC) 8-5
Order of Finish: 2, 3, 1
SINGLES
1) No. 8 Robert Farah (USC) d. No. 21 Alex Clayton (STAN) 3-6, 6-3, 6-4*
2) No. 34 Bradley Klahn (STAN) d. No. 53 Steve Johnson (USC) 3-6, 6-2, 7-6(1)
3) No. 81 Jaak Poldma (USC) d. Ryan Thacher (STAN) 7-5, 7-6(4)
4) Matt Bruch (STAN) d. No. 106 Abdullah Magdas (USC) 6-1, 3-6, 6-3
5) Richard Wire (STAN) led Matt Kecki (USC) 7-5, 3-6, 2-2
6) Daniel Nguyen (USC) d. Blake Muller (STAN) 6-4, 3-6, 6-1
Order of Finish: 3, 4, 6, 2, 1
* denotes clinching match