ATHENS, Ga.- Anthony Tsodikov outlasted Viktor Farkas 6-3, 1-6, 6-2 at the No. 5 spot to propel No. 40 Stanford past No. 36 Washington on Saturday morning in the opening round of ITA-Kickoff Weekend.
Despite losing the doubles point, Stanford (2-0) stormed back in singles play with the top of the lineup fueling the rally before Tsodikov provided the clincher.
Stanford has now won nine in a row against Washington, with the last four victories taking place at different sites. The Cardinal defeated the Huskies 4-2 last April in Ojai during the Pac-12 Championships after winning the regular-season meeting 4-3 in Seattle three weeks before. Two years ago, Stanford blanked Washington 7-0 at Taube.
Washington (2-2) grabbed an early 1-0 lead, locking up victories on courts No. 1 and 3 in doubles play.
The deficit was quickly erased after Maciek Romanowicz (6-2, 6-1) and Daniel Ho (6-2, 6-2) gave Stanford a 2-1 lead and John Morrissey’s 6-3, 6-5 (7-4) victory put the Cardinal on the brink of clinching.
Washington crept to within 3-2 following Jeff Hawke’s 6-4, 3-6, 6-4 win over Trey Strobel on court four.
The Cardinal was in control on both final courts, with Tsodikov coming through with his first career clincher.
Stanford will next face the winner of host No. 3 Georgia and No. 43 Columbia on Sunday at 2 p.m. PT. The winner punches its ticket to the ITA National Team Indoor Championships in Houston, Texas next month.
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No. 40 Stanford 4, No. 36 Washington 2
DOUBLES
1) Emmett Egger/Jeff Hawke (WASH) d. John Morrissey/Maciek Romanowicz (STAN) 6-3
2) Daniel Ho/Robert Stineman (STAN) led Viktor Farkas/Max Manthou (WASH) 5-3, abandoned
3) Michael Chamerski/Wendell Watanabe (WASH) d. Trey Strobel/Jamin Ball (STAN) 6-0
Order of Finish: 3, 1
SINGLES
1) John Morrissey (STAN) d. Max Manthou (WASH) 6-3, 6-5 (7-4)
2) Daniel Ho (STAN) d. Emmett Egger (WASH) 6-2, 6-2
3) Maciek Romanowicz (STAN) d. Gal Hakak (WASH) 6-2, 6-1
4) Jeff Hawke (WASH) d. Trey Strobel (STAN) 6-4, 3-6, 6-4
5) Anthony Tsodikov (STAN) d. Viktor Farkas (WASH) 6-3, 1-6, 6-2
6) Robert Stineman (STAN) led Daffra Sanon (WASH) 6-3, 5-4, abanadoned
Order of Finish: 3, 2, 1, 4, 5
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Matches over the next month will be played under the experimental rules format. For men’s matches, the rules are as follows:
The dual match will consist of three doubles matches played first (worth a total of one point), followed by six singles matches, each individual match worth one point. Four points are required to win the team match.
The three doubles matches will each consist of one set to 6, with no-ad scoring and a tie-breaker at 5 all. Once a team has won two doubles matches, the remaining doubles match shall not be completed.
Six singles matches will follow the doubles. Each singles match is two out of three sets, with each set using no-ad scoring, and a tie- breaker at 5-all in each set.
All singles matches will be played to completion unless both coaches agree to do otherwise.
There will be no warm-up against opponents before the first point is played in doubles and singles: players will be expected to warm- up with their own team prior to the scheduled match time.