STANFORD, Calif. – A shift in the singles line-up didn't deter the 20th-ranked Cardinal from topping visiting USF 6-1 Wednesday afternoon at the Taube Family Tennis Stadium.
The Cardinal (6-1) started off doubles strong with Michael Genender and Sameer Kumar ripping past Christian Brockstedt and Oliver Poysti in the No. 2 spot 6-1. The Dons (2-4) rallied back in the No. 1 and 3 spots as they pushed the Cardinal to a tiebreak in both. David Wilczynski and Brandon Sutter came through in the end with a 7-6(1) win to help Stanford out to a 1-0 lead.
With a shift in the original single line-up, the Cardinal remained composed with David Wilczynski defeating USF's Ryan Marker in straight sets 6-2, 6-2 at the No. 3 spot. Michael Genender pulled Stanford within a point of clinching after dispatching Mert Zincirli 6-4, 6-4 in the No. 2 position.
Brandon Sutter played the clincher again for the second time in five days after jumping out to a 6-3 win in the first set, only to have USF's Oliver Poysti answer with his own 6-3 win. Sutter rallied back to add another 6-3 set to clinch the match for the Cardinal.
Stanford returns to action next weekend as it travels to Los Angeles to take on USC and UCLA on Feb. 24 and 25.
No. 20 Stanford 6, USF 1
DOUBLES
1) Joenhagen/Zincirli (USF) d. Tom Fawcett/Yale Goldberg (STAN) 7-6(6)
2) Genender/Kumar (STAN) d. Brockstedt/Poysti (USF) 6-1
3) Sutter/Wilczynski (STAN) d. Giraud/Marker (USF) 7-6(1)
Order of finish: 2, 3, 1
SINGLES
1) Sameer Kumar (STAN) d. Johan Joenhagen (USF) 4-6, 6-2, 6-2
2) No. 70 Michael Genender (STAN) d. Mert Zincirli (USF) 6-4, 6-4
3) David Wilczynski (STAN) d. Ryan Marker (USF) 6-2, 6-2
4) Brandon Sutter (STAN) d. Oliver Poysti (USF) 6-3, 3-6, 6-3
5) Paul Giraud (USF) d. Roy Lederman (STAN) 6-4, 4-6, 6-4
6) William Genesen (STAN) d. Woravin Kumthonkittikul (USF) 6-4, 4-6, 6-2
Order of Finish: 3, 2, 4, 1, 5, 6