Tough Finish From Rocky Top

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — After two rain delays, a late three-point swing and a dramatic third set tiebreaker finish, Vanderbilt men’s tennis fell just short at No. 16 Tennessee 4-3 on Saturday.

“I know the result didn’t go our way today, but the Dores are coming,” head coach Scott Brown said. “Today is a great example of what’s to come in the future. The grit, willpower and determination the guys showed to come back from being 3-0 down was incredible. These guys are champions. They continue to push and buy into what we are trying to build. I could not be more proud of the group we had here this weekend.”

Doubles play saw the Dores fall at their top two positions. Freshman Pablo Martinez Gomez and sophomore Danil Panarin held a 5-2 lead at No. 3 doubles before the point was clinched. It is just the fifth doubles loss for Vanderbilt against conference opponents.

Tennessee grabbed first set leads at four of the six singles courts. Straight set victories at the top two spots gave the Volunteers a 3-0 advantage. A rain delay set up an opportunity to shift the momentum, and Vandy took advantage. Fifth year Henry Ruger claimed the first set at No. 5 singles 7-6 (4) over Alan Jesudaso. Martinez Gomez secured another first set for the Dores, 6-3, against Alejandro Moreno at line No. 3.

Another rain delay moved the match indoors. Vanderbilt continued to chip away; senior Michael Ross evened the score at No. 4 singles with a 6-3 second set. Ruger finished off Jesudason 7-6 (4), 6-2 to give the Dores their opening point of the match. The score moved to 3-2 after Martinez Gomez took down Moreno 6-4 in the second set. And after Ross hung on for the 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 comeback, the scoreboard read 3-3 all.

The match point came down to No. 6 singles between freshman Callum Markowitz and Ian Cruz. Cruz opened the battle with a first set win, but Markowitz knotted things up in the second 6-4. The Commodore fell into a 3-0 hole in the final frame before clawing back, eventually tying the score at 3-3. Both players traded set points, including Markowitz fending off Cruz down 6-5 to force a third set tiebreaker. Tennessee snatched a 5-0 advantage to open the deciding frame. Markowitz notched two consecutive points in a last-ditch effort to complete the Commodore comeback, but the deficit was ultimately too much. Cruz clinched the tiebreaker 7-4 to finalize the match for the Volunteers.

“I want to end by mentioning Callum,” Brown said. “He is an absolute beast. He hasn’t played in the top six much this season, and for him as a freshman to step up, compete and battle the way he did against both Georgia and Tennessee was incredible. I am not surprised at all; he’s continued to work and check the boxes off. We’re leaving Rocky Top with confidence as we prepare for Ole Miss next Saturday at home.”

No. 56 Vanderbilt (8-13, 1-10 SEC) has four matches remaining in the regular season, all of which will be at home. The Dores return to play next Saturday in a doubleheader against No. 49 Ole Miss (11-10, 2-9 SEC) and Eastern Illinois (6-18, 3-14 OVC). For more information, updates and exclusive game day content, follow the Vanderbilt men’s tennis team, @VandyMTennis, on Instagram and X.

No. 16 Tennessee 4, No. 56 Vanderbilt 3

Doubles
1. No. 13 Alex Kotzen/Moreno (Tennessee) def. No. 37 Nathan Cox/Ross (Vanderbilt) 6-3
2. Shunsuke Mitsui/Jesudason (Tennessee) def. Ruger/Dylan Charlap (Vanderbilt) 6-2
3. Danil Panarin/Giuseppe Cerasuolo (Vanderbilt) vs. Jose Garcia/James Newton (Tennessee) vs. 5-2, unfinished

Singles
1. No. 35 Kotzen (Tennessee) def. Panarin (Vanderbilt) 6-4, 6-3
2. No. 24 Mitsui (Tennessee) def. Cox (Vanderbilt) 6-0, 6-0
3. Martinez Gomez (Vanderbilt) def. Moreno (Tennessee) 6-3, 6-4
4. Ross (Vanderbilt) def. Garcia (Tennessee) 4-6, 6-3, 6-4
5. Ruger (Vanderbilt) def. Jesudason (Tennessee) 7-6 (4), 6-2
6. Cruz (Tennessee) def. Markowitz (Vanderbilt) 6-4, 4-6, 7-6 (4)

Order of finish: Doubles (1,2); Singles (2,1,5,3,4,6)