M. Tennis Opens Dual Match Play with Sweep

CORAL GABLES, Fla. – The University of Miami men’s tennis team opened the 2020 spring dual match season in dominant fashion, posting a 7-0 victory over the College of Charleston Friday afternoon at the Neil Schiff Tennis Center.
 
“First match,” fourth-year head coach Aljosa Piric said. “Obviously the weather was an issue today. We got delayed and had to stay focused. Every match is a tough match. We had a lot of things to deal with today, but overall it is always good to get a win and get the season off to a good start.”
 
Despite a 105 minute weather delay, the Hurricanes jumped out to the early lead through doubles action and never looked back.
 
Competing at No. 2 doubles, sophomore Francisco Bastias and junior Adria Soriano Barrera posted a 6-2 victory over Ben Cawston and Karl Mosterd.
 
Moments later, redshirt senior Dane Dunlap and junior Bojan Jankulovski defeated Noah Borges and Johnny Wang, 6-2, to clinch the doubles point for Miami.
 
Competing on court 3, senior Stephen Madonia and junior Tatsuki Shimamoto held a 5-3 advantage over Ben Husum and Robby Krick before play was halted.
 
In singles, the Hurricanes continued to cruise winning the opening set on five of six courts.
 
Competing at No. 1 singles, No. 53 Soriano Barrera cruised past Wang, 6-1, 6-0, to give Miami the commanding 2-0 lead in the overall match.
 
Then within minutes, Miami clinched the match following victories by Dunlap and junior William Grattan-Smith on courts 2 and 5, respectively.
 
The former topped Cawston, 6-2, 6-2, before Grattan-Smith locked up a break point to improve Miami to 1-0 on the young season, besting Husum 6-3, 6-1.
 
The remaining three matches were played out with Miami eyeing a sweep.
 
Battling Borges on court 4, Jankulovski claimed a 6-2, 6-3 victory to put the Canes in front 5-0.
 
The loan Hurricane to drop a set, Bastias bounced back with a strong showing in the second to force a third set tiebreaker. In the breaker, the sophomore claimed the opening six points, on his way to a 4-6, 6-2, 1-0 (10-4) triumph.
 
In the final match to conclude, Shimamoto took down Easton Thomas, 7-6 (8-6), 6-4, to preserve the sweep.
 
Up next, Miami will square off against Liberty at 1 p.m. and Georgia Southern at 6 p.m. on Sunday at the Neil Schiff Tennis Center for a doubleheader.
 
To keep up with the University of Miami tennis team on social media, follow @CanesMensTennis on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.