TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Playing in their first tournament together, Vanderbilt’s tandem of Charlie Jones and Adam Baker wasted little time learning each other’s tendencies as the two wrapped up the team’s play at the Crimson Tide Fall Invitational by knocking off the nation’s No. 1 duo of John-Patrick Smith and Davey Sandgren, 8-6, to win the Crimson doubles draw on Sunday.
“They played really well,” Vanderbilt assistant coach Tom Boysen said. “They got an early break and never got broken. If there is one thing they did very well, it was that they managed their own service games very well. They also took care of volleys and closed off points nicely.”
Alex Zotov also earned a title on Sunday, as he claimed the Namath draw with a 6-0, 6-3 win over Alabama’s Michael Davis. The titles by Zotov and the doubles team of Baker and Jones were the Commodores first titles of a fall season that concluded Sunday.
“Alex (Zotov) fought through some tough matches early in the tournament,” Boysen said. “The last two days, he really focused well and put it all together.”
Charlie Jones had his hopes of winning a doubles title and singles title dashed when Kentucky’s Alex Musialek defeated him 6-3, 6-4 in the championship of the Bryant draw. Andy Pulido also lost his match, falling 6-3, 6-3 to Alabama’s Harris Barnard in the third-place match of the Musso draw.
By concluding play at the Crimson Tide Fall Invitational, the Commodores have completed their play for the fall season.
Singles
Bryant Draw
Finals
Alex Musialek (UK) def. Charlie Jones (VU), 6-3, 6-4
Namath Draw
Final
Alex Zotov (VU) def. Michael Davis (ALA), 6-0, 6-3
Musso Draw
Third Place
Harris Barnard (ALA) def. Andy Pulido (VU), 6-3, 6-3
Doubles
Crimson Draw
Finals
Adam Baker/Charlie Jones (VU) def. No. 1 John-Patrick Smith/Davey Sandgren (TEN) 8-6
