LEXINGTON, Ky. – The Vanderbilt men’s tennis team stepped into their spring season with some positive play at the first day of the SEC Coaches’ Indoors Championships in Kentucky.
“It was a good day today,” said assistant coach Jamie Hunt. “It’s good to be back competing after long break, and I think there were a lot of positives from the day.”
Charlie Jones, after dropping his first singles set against Alabama’s David Vierya 3-6, came roaring back to win 6-1 and 6-2. He and Gonzalez Austin came out on top in both their singles matches, with Austin winning 7-5, 3-6, 6-2 over South Carolina’s Chip Cox and 6-3, 6-3 over Florida’s Spencer Newman.
“AJ played some really incredible tennis,” said Hunt. “He’s really stepping up his game and it’s great to see him win two great singles matches today.”
Jones led the way with a 3-0 mark on the day, winning his singles and doubles matches. He and doubles partner Joe Dorn defeated Ole Miss’s Johan Backstrom and William Kallberg in the morning round of doubles 9-8(10).
Dorn and Jones take on a pair from the perennial tournament contenders, Georgia, tomorrow morning.
Freshman Anton Kovrigin saw his first collegiate play after sitting the fall while recovering from an injury, but Hunt and head coach Ian Duvenhage saw promise in the freshman’s performance.
“Anton did great,” said Hunt. “He played a very good player, the no. 1 guy from Alabama, and had chances. He was right there with him in the third set, even though he lost in the end. He looked great and we’re really excited for where he’s at right now.”
The team resumes play in the morning with both main and consolation draw rounds.
