University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
Princeton
Tar Heels Tame Tigers 4-3
January 31, 2003 | Men's Tennis
Jan. 31, 2003
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - A large opening night crowd watched the University of North Carolina men's tennis team defeat Princeton 4-3 Friday at the Cone-Kenfield Indoor Tennis Center. Princeton fell to 3-2 with the loss, while Carolina readies for a stern test Sunday afternoon against sixth-ranked Georgia.
Sophomore Daniel Pinchbeck clinched the match for the Tar Heels at #3 singles when he defeated Darius Craton, 6-2, 4-6, 6-4.
It was the first tennis Pinchbeck had played in more than two weeks. The No. 3 seed had been suffering from tennis elbow, golfer's elbow and a possible stress fracture. Nevertheless, he felt like he was ready to go today.
"I was supposed to take off three months, but it felt good enough to play," Pinchbeck said. But he labored through his match. There was still some pain in his elbow and shoulder, and he hasn't returned to peak physical condition. "I was dead tired, but it comes down to how bad you want to win," he said.
The day started off well for the Tar Heels with Trystan Meniane and Nicholas Monroe winning, 8-3, at No. 1 doubles against Darius Craton and David Gopstein. Andy Metzler and Pinchbeck won, 8-4, against Daniel Friedman and Hans Plukas at the No. 3 doubles spot and that clinched the team doubles point for UNC. Greg Archer and Geoff Boyd lost their doubles match, 9-8 (9-7), to Josh Burman and Tim Kofol at the #2 spot.
In singles play, Trystan Meniane defeated Trevor Smith of Princeton, 6-2, 6-3 at #1 and Monroe took out Burman, 7-6, 6-3 at #2 to give UNC two singles wins. Archer fell, 6-3, 6-3, to Friedman at #6 singles, and Boyd lost to Gopstein, 6-4, 6-4 at the #5 spot.. That brought the score to 3-2 in favor of UNC with two matches remaining on the court.
As Metzler began his third set in singles, a large crowd gathered to watch Pinchbeck, as he completed his comeback win. It wasn't until after he walked off the court that Pinchbeck realized his win clinched the match. "I didn't realize it," Pinchbeck said. "I don't notice that stuff out on the court, because I want to win regardless of the situation."
The Tar Heels will face four-time national champion Georgia on Sunday. The match begins at 1 p.m. at the Cone-Kenfield Indoor Tennis Center. Admission is free to the public.
#26 North Carolina 4 Princeton 3
DOUBLES
#1 Trystan Menian/Nicholas Monroe (UNC) d. Darius Craton/David Gopstein (Princeton) 8-3
#2 Josh Burman/Tim Kofol (Princeton) d. Greg Archer/Geoff Boyd (UNC) 9-8(7)
#3 Andy Metzler/Daniel Pinchbeck (UNC) d. Daniel Friedman/Hans Plukas (Princeton) 8-4
SINGLES
#1 Trystan Meniane(#17) (UNC) d. Trevor Smith (Princeton) 6-2, 6-3
#2 Nicholas Monroe(#61) (UNC) d. Josh Burman (Princeton) 7-6, 6-3
#3 Daniel Pinchbeck (UNC) d. Darius Craton (Princeton) 6-2, 4-6, 6-4*
#4 Hans Plukas (Princeton) d. Andrew Metzler (UNC) 4-6, 7-6, 6-3
#5 David Gopstein (Princeton) d. Geoff Boyd (UNC) 6-4, 6-4
#6 Daniel Friedman (Princeton) d. Greg Archer (UNC) 6-3, 6-3
*Clinched Match
Order of Singles Finish (#1, #6, #2, #5, #3, #4)
Players Mentioned
