Men's Singles First Round Quotes ⢠May 25
Men’s Singles First Round Quotes • May 25 #1 seed, Mikael Torpegaard, Ohio State defeated David Biosca, East Tennessee State 6-3, 6-7, 7-5 Advanced to play William Bushamuka (Kentucky)
On pulling out a tough first round match… “The guy is a very good player. All respect to him. He played a very well-played match all the way through. These courts aren’t really my best friend. They’re very slow, and I have a hard time really figuring my game out on these courts, but I’m happy I got through this one today.” On the point he knew he had the match won… “I went into the match thinking I had a good shot at (winning) this match and all the way through, even though I was down in periods. I knew that I could have a shot at all times to get back into the match. With this no-Ad scoring, it’s so easy to turn around a match. I just got lucky on the most important parts in the third set, and that helped me win the match.” On getting used to the courts, and his mindset going forward… “I definitely have to adapt to these slow courts. I can’t just play one-strike tennis. I have to really work on setting every single point up, and I have to really adapt my game to these courts. It’s super hard to play in these conditions when you come from a super fast indoor court in Ohio.”
#2 seed, Robert Cid, South Florida defeated Felipe Soares (Texas Tech) 4-6, 6-0, 7-5 Advances to play Mazen Osama (Alabama)
On being at the NCAA’s and getting first win… “It’s a huge win for me. This is the first match I’ve finished in a couple of weeks. I knew coming into today it was going to be a tough match. I had a rusty start, but I managed to bounce back and I got lucky at the end.” On familiarity with the courts… “Yea, we have played on these courts numerous times, we played the conference championships here, we’ve played Tulsa here and I think that is an advantage for me.” On mindset going into tomorrow’s match… “Focus on one match at a time and try to get a little bit better every time I play. It’s going to be fun.”
#3 seed, Dominik Koepfer, Tulane defeated Max deVroome (Southern Cal) 6-4, 6-4 Advances to play Martin Relicki (UCLA)
On his win today... “I started off really good. I was a little nervous at the beginning, first match of the tournament. But, I was just really focused and just played my game the entire match. I broke him once, got back on serve, and then broke him, I think 4-all in both sets. It was really good for the first match.” On whether he feels a great comfort level with a match under his belt... “I feel more comfortable with the courts. I practiced yesterday once on the courts. It was good to have a good match at the beginning, and then go forward.” On playing in the singles tournament again this year... “I have some good memories here in Tulsa, so I feel very confident going forward.”
#4 seed, Aleks Vukic, Illinois defeated Julian Cash (Oklahoma State) 6-2, 6-4 Advances to play Rishab Agarwal (Mississipi State)
Opening Statement… “It was good to get the win, especially because we didn’t make it as a team. So I’m glad to get this (win). I was just trying to get used to the courts, because the conditions were different. I warmed up inside today, and then went outside to play a match. These are difficult conditions, but it was good to get on the board and get a win.” On having to warm up inside then play outside… “I always feel like it’s easy to come outside, because it’s slower and you have time to adjust. It’s really a mentality thing. My coach Brad and I just worked on trying to get me mentally ready and I feel like we did a good job today.” On what you take from today moving forward… “Just focus. I feel like if you display focus throughout the match it’s going to be a good match either way.”
#5 seed, Cameron Norrie, TCU defeated Mike Redlicki (Arkansas) 6-2, 6-2 Advances to play Sam Shropshire (Northwestern)
On his win today... “At the start of the match, I was a little bit nervous. I’m hitting the ball well. I had good few days of preparation. I did everything solid. I hit my forehand well. My backhand was moving. I managed to come forward a bit and knock off some vollies. I’m just really excited to move on to the next round.” On having to battle a little bit in the second set... “He fought hard. I was up 5-0, he got it back to 5-2. At deuce point at 5-2, I just went with my best play, and it managed to pay off.” On playing in the individual tournament... “It’s different playing the team the whole year, and then you come out and play an individual tournament. It’s kind of a nice change. It’s a great tournament. This is a great facility here in Tulsa. I’m just excited to move on.”
#6 seed, Mackenzie McDonald, UCLA defeated Ryotaro Matasamura (Kentucky) 6-0, 6-2 Advances to play Quentin Monaghan (Notre Dame)
On his win today... “I thought I played a really good match. I think that was a perfect first round match for me. I got my feel a little we. But I really took care of business, played very clean, and that’s how I pictured a perfect first round.” On whether he feels a greater comfort level with a match under his belt... “I definitely feel more settles going into the next round. Of course you’re going to have nerves here in the NCAA’s. I think I just handled it well.” On playing in the singles tournament again this year... “Like anything, it’s just another tournament. It’s a lot of people and you have to compete and play your game.”
Unseeded Shane Vinsant, Texas A&M defeated #7 seed Christopher Eubanks (Georgia Tech) 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 Advances to play Jared Hitzik (Illinois)
Comments on your match… “It was tough conditions with the wind. Chris (Eubanks) is a great player. He is a player who doesn’t give you a lot of rhythm because he has a big serve, just goes for so much. It was a match that really came down to a few points and I happened to win them today.” On the conditions effecting play… “I think the wind always affects a big server quite a bit. It made it tougher for him and his serve. But, it is what it is, we’re both playing in the same stuff. I think it could have affected him more.”
#8 seed, Ryan Shane, Virginia defeated Andre Goransson (California) 6-2, 7-6 (0) Advances to play Elliott Orkin (Florida)
Comments on your match… “Its tough coming out here against a great player (Andre Goransson), obviously. His team (California) made to it the semifinals and I know he did a lot for his team. I knew coming out here was going to be tough, in these conditions, a lot of wind and I had to kind of factor that in. Also, I had to get my head back to down to earth after yesterday’s team championship. So, a lot of things I had to work around. I think I did a pretty good job of getting the job done. I may have gotten broken in the second set, when I didn’t want to, but, credit to him. He did play an unreal game and an unreal second set, honestly. So, I’m just kind of happy to move into the second round.” Is there pressure of being the defending singles champion… “No. I think I’ve definitely overcame that throughout the year. At the start of the season and in the fall, I have been working with that target on my back. Now, that I actually got to the tournament and am defending, I really don’t feel it, I feel like I played pretty free out here. Andre played well, but just feel no matter what, I knew where the ball was going, I could just swing. I didn’t feel any sort of pressure, which is a nice change.”
Tulsa Individual Or Ram-Harel defeated Konrad Zieba (Northwestern) 6-2, 6-4 Advances to play Joao Monteiro (Virginia Tech) at 11:30 am (Thursday)
On what it’s like to get a win in two sets in the first round of NCAA’s… “It’s a good feeling to start the tournament with a win. I came today to the tournament with the idea that I am not only playing for me, but I am playing for the team, the University and the city of Tulsa. Unfortunately, we didn’t make it in the doubles or the team tournament, so I felt it was important to show up ready today.” On what it’s like to get a win against a guy he lost to earlier this season… “I had some thoughts in the back of my head before the match, but I really was just trying to focus on my game plan. I was more worried about myself at the time of the match.” On what it’s like to play on his home court during the NCAA’s… “These last few days during the team tournament both Oklahoma teams came (OU and OSU) and it got really packed. Today, I had the same feeling. It wasn’t as packed as it was then for them, but it was really fun.” On what he takes from today moving forward… “Playing more offensive, and I have improved in that a lot. Also just to keep believing in myself and to keep fighting for every point.”
On pulling out a tough first round match… “The guy is a very good player. All respect to him. He played a very well-played match all the way through. These courts aren’t really my best friend. They’re very slow, and I have a hard time really figuring my game out on these courts, but I’m happy I got through this one today.” On the point he knew he had the match won… “I went into the match thinking I had a good shot at (winning) this match and all the way through, even though I was down in periods. I knew that I could have a shot at all times to get back into the match. With this no-Ad scoring, it’s so easy to turn around a match. I just got lucky on the most important parts in the third set, and that helped me win the match.” On getting used to the courts, and his mindset going forward… “I definitely have to adapt to these slow courts. I can’t just play one-strike tennis. I have to really work on setting every single point up, and I have to really adapt my game to these courts. It’s super hard to play in these conditions when you come from a super fast indoor court in Ohio.”
#2 seed, Robert Cid, South Florida defeated Felipe Soares (Texas Tech) 4-6, 6-0, 7-5 Advances to play Mazen Osama (Alabama)
On being at the NCAA’s and getting first win… “It’s a huge win for me. This is the first match I’ve finished in a couple of weeks. I knew coming into today it was going to be a tough match. I had a rusty start, but I managed to bounce back and I got lucky at the end.” On familiarity with the courts… “Yea, we have played on these courts numerous times, we played the conference championships here, we’ve played Tulsa here and I think that is an advantage for me.” On mindset going into tomorrow’s match… “Focus on one match at a time and try to get a little bit better every time I play. It’s going to be fun.”
#3 seed, Dominik Koepfer, Tulane defeated Max deVroome (Southern Cal) 6-4, 6-4 Advances to play Martin Relicki (UCLA)
On his win today... “I started off really good. I was a little nervous at the beginning, first match of the tournament. But, I was just really focused and just played my game the entire match. I broke him once, got back on serve, and then broke him, I think 4-all in both sets. It was really good for the first match.” On whether he feels a great comfort level with a match under his belt... “I feel more comfortable with the courts. I practiced yesterday once on the courts. It was good to have a good match at the beginning, and then go forward.” On playing in the singles tournament again this year... “I have some good memories here in Tulsa, so I feel very confident going forward.”
#4 seed, Aleks Vukic, Illinois defeated Julian Cash (Oklahoma State) 6-2, 6-4 Advances to play Rishab Agarwal (Mississipi State)
Opening Statement… “It was good to get the win, especially because we didn’t make it as a team. So I’m glad to get this (win). I was just trying to get used to the courts, because the conditions were different. I warmed up inside today, and then went outside to play a match. These are difficult conditions, but it was good to get on the board and get a win.” On having to warm up inside then play outside… “I always feel like it’s easy to come outside, because it’s slower and you have time to adjust. It’s really a mentality thing. My coach Brad and I just worked on trying to get me mentally ready and I feel like we did a good job today.” On what you take from today moving forward… “Just focus. I feel like if you display focus throughout the match it’s going to be a good match either way.”
#5 seed, Cameron Norrie, TCU defeated Mike Redlicki (Arkansas) 6-2, 6-2 Advances to play Sam Shropshire (Northwestern)
On his win today... “At the start of the match, I was a little bit nervous. I’m hitting the ball well. I had good few days of preparation. I did everything solid. I hit my forehand well. My backhand was moving. I managed to come forward a bit and knock off some vollies. I’m just really excited to move on to the next round.” On having to battle a little bit in the second set... “He fought hard. I was up 5-0, he got it back to 5-2. At deuce point at 5-2, I just went with my best play, and it managed to pay off.” On playing in the individual tournament... “It’s different playing the team the whole year, and then you come out and play an individual tournament. It’s kind of a nice change. It’s a great tournament. This is a great facility here in Tulsa. I’m just excited to move on.”
#6 seed, Mackenzie McDonald, UCLA defeated Ryotaro Matasamura (Kentucky) 6-0, 6-2 Advances to play Quentin Monaghan (Notre Dame)
On his win today... “I thought I played a really good match. I think that was a perfect first round match for me. I got my feel a little we. But I really took care of business, played very clean, and that’s how I pictured a perfect first round.” On whether he feels a greater comfort level with a match under his belt... “I definitely feel more settles going into the next round. Of course you’re going to have nerves here in the NCAA’s. I think I just handled it well.” On playing in the singles tournament again this year... “Like anything, it’s just another tournament. It’s a lot of people and you have to compete and play your game.”
Unseeded Shane Vinsant, Texas A&M defeated #7 seed Christopher Eubanks (Georgia Tech) 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 Advances to play Jared Hitzik (Illinois)
Comments on your match… “It was tough conditions with the wind. Chris (Eubanks) is a great player. He is a player who doesn’t give you a lot of rhythm because he has a big serve, just goes for so much. It was a match that really came down to a few points and I happened to win them today.” On the conditions effecting play… “I think the wind always affects a big server quite a bit. It made it tougher for him and his serve. But, it is what it is, we’re both playing in the same stuff. I think it could have affected him more.”
#8 seed, Ryan Shane, Virginia defeated Andre Goransson (California) 6-2, 7-6 (0) Advances to play Elliott Orkin (Florida)
Comments on your match… “Its tough coming out here against a great player (Andre Goransson), obviously. His team (California) made to it the semifinals and I know he did a lot for his team. I knew coming out here was going to be tough, in these conditions, a lot of wind and I had to kind of factor that in. Also, I had to get my head back to down to earth after yesterday’s team championship. So, a lot of things I had to work around. I think I did a pretty good job of getting the job done. I may have gotten broken in the second set, when I didn’t want to, but, credit to him. He did play an unreal game and an unreal second set, honestly. So, I’m just kind of happy to move into the second round.” Is there pressure of being the defending singles champion… “No. I think I’ve definitely overcame that throughout the year. At the start of the season and in the fall, I have been working with that target on my back. Now, that I actually got to the tournament and am defending, I really don’t feel it, I feel like I played pretty free out here. Andre played well, but just feel no matter what, I knew where the ball was going, I could just swing. I didn’t feel any sort of pressure, which is a nice change.”
Tulsa Individual Or Ram-Harel defeated Konrad Zieba (Northwestern) 6-2, 6-4 Advances to play Joao Monteiro (Virginia Tech) at 11:30 am (Thursday)
On what it’s like to get a win in two sets in the first round of NCAA’s… “It’s a good feeling to start the tournament with a win. I came today to the tournament with the idea that I am not only playing for me, but I am playing for the team, the University and the city of Tulsa. Unfortunately, we didn’t make it in the doubles or the team tournament, so I felt it was important to show up ready today.” On what it’s like to get a win against a guy he lost to earlier this season… “I had some thoughts in the back of my head before the match, but I really was just trying to focus on my game plan. I was more worried about myself at the time of the match.” On what it’s like to play on his home court during the NCAA’s… “These last few days during the team tournament both Oklahoma teams came (OU and OSU) and it got really packed. Today, I had the same feeling. It wasn’t as packed as it was then for them, but it was really fun.” On what he takes from today moving forward… “Playing more offensive, and I have improved in that a lot. Also just to keep believing in myself and to keep fighting for every point.”
