Hokie ClubCARY, N.C. – The 36th-ranked/6-seeded Virginia Tech men’s tennis team dropped a 4-2 decision to No. 7/2-seeded Wake Forest in its first ever ACC semifinal match at Cary Tennis Park on Saturday afternoon.
Doubles play began with a bang for the Hokies as Amerigo Contini and Edoardo Tessaro breezed past the 78th-ranked duo of Petros Chrysocos and Jon Ho 6-0 on court 2 to start Tech off on the right foot. However, over on court 3, Jai Corbett and Mitch Harper couldn’t finish off Wake’s Romain Bogaerts and Dennis Uspensky and fell 6-4 to set up a point-deciding match on 1. There, No. 15 Andreas Bjerrehus and Joao Monteiro had an early lead over 13th-ranked Skander Mansouri and Christian Seraphim, but ultimately dropped the match 7-5 to give the Demon Deacons the 1-0 advantage.
Wake went up 2-0 after No. 19 Chrysochos knocked off No. 66 Bjerrehus 6-2, 6-3 on court 2 to kick off the singles scoring. No. 118 Bogaerts put the Deacons up 3-0 next, claiming a 6-4, 6-4 victory over No. 74 Tessaro on 4 to bring Wake within a point of clinching the match.
Mitch Harper notched Tech’s first point, defeating Seraphim 6-4, 6-4 over on court 5 to make the score 3-1 in favor of Wake Forest. No. 22 Montero claimed his second victory over a higher-ranked opponent in as many days over No. 14 Skander Mansouri on court 1 by a count of 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 to bring the Hokies within a point of tying the match.
Corbett and Contini both forced third sets in their matches, but Corbett ultimately fell to Uspensky 6-4, 7-5, 6-1 to give Wake Forest the 4-2 victory and a berth in the ACC Championship match.
The Hokies will wait to find out their NCAA Tournament fate on Tuesday, May 3 during the NCAA Championship Selection Show. Coach Jim Thompson and the guys should be a lock for the tournament, and at least Monteiro, if not more, will be selected to the NCAA Singles Championship field as well.
Singles:
1. #22 Joao Monteiro (VATECH) def. #14 Skander Mansouri (WF) 6-3, 3-6, 6-3
2. #19 Petros Chrysochos (WF) def. #66 Andreas Bjerrehus (VATECH) 6-2, 6-3
3. #107 Amerigo Contini (VATECH) vs Jon Ho (WF) dnf
4. #118 Romain Bogaerts (WF) def. #74 Edoardo Tessaro (VATECH)
5. Mitch Harper (VATECH) def. Christian Seraphim (WF) 6-4, 6-4
6. Dennis Uspensky (WF) def. Jai Corbett (VATECH) 4-6, 7-5, 6-1
Doubles:
1. #13 Skander Mansouri/Christian Seraphim (WF) def. #15 Andreas Bjerrehus/Joao Monteiro (VATECH) 7-5
2. Amerigo Contini/Edoardo Tessaro (VATECH) def. #78 Petros Chrysochos/Jon Ho (WF) 6-0
3. Romain Bogaerts/Dennis Uspensky (WF) def. Jai Corbett/Mitch Harper (VATECH) 6-4