SAN FRANCISCO – The San Diego State men's tennis team took the road for just the second time this season when it played at San Francisco on Saturday. The Aztecs faced the Dons at Goldman Tennis Center in Golden Gate Park. SDSU dropped the doubles point for the first time this season but came storming back to win four singles matches to earn a 4-3 win.
The Scarlet and Black improve to 6-1 while the Dons drop to 2-3.
"I'm proud of our group," said Head Coach Gene Carswell after the team's first road win of the season. "We found ways to overcome adversity with our back against the wall. We never stopped fighting as a team, which made it possible to win on a day that could have gone the other way."
In doubles, Alexander Mandma and Robin Parts (5-0) played on the top court against Giovanni Branchetti and Davide Cortimiglia. They won 6-2 to stay perfect on the season. Chikaya Sato and Johannes Seeman (4-3) played Moritz Hoffmann and Nikola Kuraica on court No. 2. They were bested 6-4. On the third court, Eugenio Gonzalez Fitzmaurice and Bora Sengul (3-1) battled Asaf Frielder and Roman Lafond but fell by the same score as the Dons took the doubles point.
In singles, on the top court, Sengul (2-2) went up against Hoffmann but was dropped in straight sets 6-4, 6-4.
Playing on court No. 2, Seeman (2-4) played Kuraica. He was defeated 6-3 in the first set but refused to give up, taking the second and third sets by the same score to get the Aztecs on the board.
Parts (5-0) brought his undefeated record into his match with Friedler on court No. 5. Like Seeman, he recovered from a 6-3 setback in the first set, and he won 6-4, 6-3 to even the match score at two.
Facing Paul Theate on the third court, Sato (3-3) jumped out to an early lead by taking the first set 6-4. However, he was unable to close out the Don, falling 6-2, 6-4 to make the score 3-2 San Francisco. The Aztecs had to win out if they wanted to continue their win streak.
On the bottom court, Mandma (3-2) earned a 6-3 first set victory over Lafond but his opponent took the second by the same score to force a deciding third set. The finale was close, but Mandma came through with a 6-4 win.
The match came down to Gonzalez Fitzmaurice (3-2) facing off with Branchetti on the fourth court. Gonzalez Fitzmaurice stumbled in the first set, dropping it 6-4. He was on the brink of defeat in the second but came out on top 7-5 to force a final set to decide the match. Gonzalez Fitzmaurice carried over his momentum from the second set and triumphed 6-2 to win it for the Aztecs.
San Diego State will cross back over the Bay Bridge to the East Bay to face Saint Mary's at 11 a.m. PT tomorrow in Moraga, Calif.
San Diego State 4, San Francisco 3
Goldman Tennis Center – San Francisco, Calif.
February 24, 2024
Singles Competition
1. Moritz Hoffmann (USF) def. Bora Sengul (SDSU) 6-4, 6-4
2. Johannes Seeman (SDSU) def. Nikola Kuraica (USF) 3-6, 6-3, 6-3
3. Paul Theate (USF) def. Chikaya Sato (SDSU) 4-6, 6-2, 6-4
4. Eugenio Gonzalez Fitzmaurice (SDSU) def. Giovanni Branchetti (USF) 4-6, 7-5, 6-2
5. Robin Parts (SDSU) def. Asaf Friedler (USF) 3-6, 6-4, 6-3
6. Alexander Mandma (SDSU) def. Roman Lafond (USF) 6-3, 3-6, 6-4
Doubles Competition
1. Alexander Mandma/Robin Parts (SDSU) def. Giovanni Branchetti/Davide Cortimiglia (USF) 6-2
2. Moritz Hoffmann/Nikola Kuraica (USF) def. Johannes Seeman/Chikaya Sato (SDSU) 6-4
3. Asaf Friedler/Roman Lafond (USF) def. Eugenio Gonzalez Fitzmaurice/Bora Sengul (SDSU) 6-4
Order of finish: Doubles (1,3,2); Singles (1,2,5,3,6,4)