LEXINGTON, Ky. – The remarkable run of Vanderbilt’s doubles team of Adam Baker and Alex Zotov finally came to a close on Sunday when the duo was defeated in the finals at the ITA Southeast Championships by Georgia’s eighth-ranked team of Nate Schnugg and Jamie Hunt.
The duo, which had already knocked off four teams, including the 15th-ranked team in the country, hung with Schnugg and Hunt before being topped, 8-4.
Despite the loss, the success of Zotov and Baker is an outstanding sign for the Commodores. Last season, doubles play was Vanderbilt’s weakest link. At one point during dual competition, the team dropped 11 straight points in doubles play.
Baker carried his success in doubles play to the singles portion of the tournament. Playing in the First Round Consolation bracket, the Nashville native reeled off four wins and landed in the finals.
After earning a win by default over Eastern Kentucky’s Vadim Ivanis in the first round, he defeated Stetson’s Gokay Celik, 6-3, 6-1. Baker then defeated Alabama’s Ricky Doverspike, 6-3, 7-6 (2) and Mississippi State’s Daniel Sanchez, 5-5, retired. The final match against Miami’s Keith Crowley was not played.
Also doing well in the First Round Consolation bracket was James Moye, who earned a pair of wins. Moye defeated Stetson’s Christopher Swanteson, 0-6, 6-4, 10-4, and Florida Gulf Coast’s Edison Lima, 6-4, 7-5.
Vanderbilt will conclude its fall schedule Oct. 24-26 at the Alabama Invitational.
ITA Southeast Championships
Doubles Competition
Finals
Nate Schnugg/Jamie Hunt (UGA) def. Adam Baker/Alex Zotov (VU), 8-6
Singles Competition
First Round Consolation
Adam Baker (VU) def. Vadim Ivanis (EKU), default
Adam Baker (VU) def. Gokay Celik (SU), 6-3, 6-1
Adam Baker (VU) def. Ricky Doverspike (UA), 6-3, 7-6 (2)
Adam Baker (VU) def. Daniel Sanchez (MSU), 5-5, retired
James Moye (VU) def. Christopher Swanteson (SU), 0-6, 6-4, 10-4
James Moye (VU) def. Edison Lima (FGC), 6-4, 7-5
Second Round Consolation
Davey Sandgren (UT) def. Vijay Paul (VU), 6-7 (4), 7-6 (5), 10-7
Bryant Salcedo (VU) def. Sebastian Carlsson (LSU), 6-4, 6-3
Ignacio Taboada (Miam) def. Bryant Salcedo (VU), 7-6 (4), 6-4
Maksim Levanovich (Stetson) def. Charlie Jones (VU), 6-4, 6-1
John Tragardh (LSU) def. Alex DiValerio (VU), 7-6 (4), 6-2
