BERKELEY, Calif. - Maciek Romanowicz outlasted J.T. Nishimura 5-7, 7-5, 7-5 at the No. 4 spot, lifting No. 39 Stanford to a 4-3 upset of No. 14 California on Saturday afternoon.
Leading 3-1, Stanford (5-2) held off a late charge from California (7-3) and secured the match after Romanowicz, who clinched a team-best four matches last season, rallied after dropping the first set.
It was the fourth straight victory for the Cardinal, which had come up empty in two chances earlier this season against nationally-ranked competition. Stanford also defeated California in Berkeley last April when the Golden Bears were ranked No. 16.
Even more impressive, Stanford completed the comeback after losing the doubles point. California grabbed a 1-0 lead when its No. 3 team of Filip Bergevi and Mads Engsted pulled away from Nolan Paige and David Wilczynski 7-5.
A 6-2, 6-3 victory from Paige over Oskar Wikberg at the No. 6 position evened the match at 1-1.
Stanford continued to gain momentum, taking a 3-1 lead after John Morrissey (6-4, 6-1) and Tom Fawcett (6-2, 6-4) posted victories at the Nos. 3 and 1 spots, respectively.
But California battled back, evening the match thanks to a pair of three-set victories. Bergevi rallied past Wilczynski 2-6, 6-2, 6-1 on court two before Gregory Bayane edged David Hsu 6-2, 6-7 (6), 6-2 on court five.
The match was decided when Romanowicz came through with a 5-7, 7-5, 7-5 clincher.
Stanford returns home to host Hawai’i on Tuesday, Feb. 24 at 2 p.m. PT.
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DOUBLES
1) No. 30 Bayane/Chase Melton (CAL) d. Morrissey/Robert Stineman (STAN) 6-3
2) Fawcett/Romanowicz (STAN) d. No. 32 Goransson/Wikberg (CAL) 6-2
3) Bergevi/Mads Engsted (CAL) d. Paige/Wilczynski (STAN) 7-5
Order of Finish: 2, 1, 3
SINGLES
1) No. 28 Tom Fawcett (STAN) d. No. 42 Andre Goransson (CAL) 6-2, 6-4
2) No. 114 Filip Bergevi (CAL) d. David Wilczynski (STAN) 2-6, 6-2, 6-1
3) John Morrissey (STAN) d. Billy Griffith (CAL) 6-4, 6-1
4) Maciek Romanowicz (STAN) d. J.T. Nishimura (CAL) 5-7, 7-5, 7-5
5) Gregory Bayane (CAL) d. David Hsu (STAN) 6-2, 6-7(6), 6-2
6) Nolan Paige (STAN) d. Oskar Wikberg (CAL) 6-2, 6-3
Order of Finish: 6, 3, 1, 2, 5, 4