STANFORD, Calif. – No. 12 Stanford opened NCAA Championships with a quick and convincing victory over Fresno State Friday afternoon at Taube Family Tennis Stadium. The Cardinal posted its 10th shout of the season, with a 4-0 win over the Bulldogs.
"I was very pleased with our performance today," said Stanford's Taube Family Director of Men's Tennis, Paul Goldstein. "It was a mature, quality effort by our team. We have worked all year to put ourselves in a position to be hosting and these guys played like it was their house. It was really fun to watch."
Stanford (18-6) advances to the second round and a matchup with UC Santa Barbara, a 4-1 winner over No. 18 Texas Tech earlier in the day. Saturday's second round match is set for 3 p.m., following the conclusion of the Stanford women's tennis NCAA first round match against New Mexico State. The Cardinal, in its 12th consecutive NCAA appearance, has now advanced to at least the second round of the NCAA Championships each of the last five seasons. Friday's shutout of Fresno State (18-11), which lasted just over an hour and a half, marked Stanford's third consecutive shutout in the opening round of the NCAA Championships. Stanford swept New Mexico State last season and Idaho in 2017.
The Cardinal came out strong with 6-0 wins at No. 1 and No. 3 to capture the doubles point in 22 minutes. Senior Sameer Kumar and sophomore Timothy Sah registered the shutout at No. 1. Moments later, junior Jack Barber and freshman Sangeet Sridhar clinched the point with the shutout at No. 3.
Kumar, Sah and Sridhar registered straight-set wins at No. 3, No. 4 and No. 5, respectively, with the freshman clinching it and sending the Cardinal to the second round. Sah and Kumar picked up their 21st victory of the season.
The focus turns to UC Santa Barbara on Saturday. Stanford owns a 12-0 all-time record against the Gauchos. The two teams last met more than a decade ago, as Stanford defeated UC Santa Barbara, 4-0, in the first round of the 2008 NCAA Championships in Malibu, California.No. 12 Stanford 4, Fresno State 0
DOUBLES
1. Sameer Kumar/Timothy Sah (STAN) d. Patrik Pech/Zdenek Derkas (FS) 6-0
2. Axel Geller/William Genesen (STAN) led Mantas Bugailiskis/Cem Erturk (FS) 4-3
3. Jack Barber/Sangeet Sridhar (STAN) d. Cagatay Soke/Angus Bradshaw (FS) 6-0
Order of Finish: 1,3
SINGLES
1. No. 13 Axel Geller (STAN) led Zdenek Derkas (FS) 6-3, 3-3
2. No. 91 William Genesen (STAN) led Angus Bradshaw (FS) 6-2, 2-4
3. Sameer Kumar (STAN) d. Jeremy Moser (FS) 6-0, 6-2
4. Timothy Sah (STAN) d. Cem Erturk (FS) 6-1, 6-1
5. Sangeet Sridhar (STAN) d. Cagatay Soke (FS) 6-1, 6-3
6. Michael Genender (STAN) vs. Henrique Osorio (FS) 6-2, 4-1
Order of Finish: 4,3,5
