Blumberg Makes History As Tar Heels Advance In NCAA Singles & Doubles
May 24, 2021 | Men's Tennis
Blumberg is a 10-time ITA All-America, earning the honor five times in both singles and doubles. Entering this season, he had been one of three men's players in ITA history to be an eight-time All-America.
Blumberg and Rinky HIjikata both cliched All-America honors in singles for the 2021 season by advancing into the Round of 16 in the singles bracket.
Blumberg won his second-round match on Monday, 7-5, 6-2, over Hady Habib of Texas A&M, ranked third in the nation in the ITA rankings prior to the NCAA Tournament. Blumberg will try for a fourth consecutive appearance in the NCAA quarterfinals when he meets Gabriel Diallo of Kentucky on Tuesday at noon.
"That was a tough win today," Blumberg said afterward. "Playing a guy ranked top-three in the country is always difficult. I knew I had a tough draw coming into the tournament, so I just needed to keep my head down and focus. I felt like I played a good match today. I was feeling a lot of pressure and nerves, so to fight through that was huge.
"It's a huge honor to be a 10-time All-American," Blumberg continued. "With the Covid situation and being able to play five years, I'm not sure if that'll happen again, so to do that is an honor. I put a lot of pressure on myself to do it, whether I've talked about it or not, so I'm kind of relieved that it's done. College tennis is amazing, I love it so much, to achieve this is an honor. I'm proud to do it and represent the University of North Carolina. Hopefully it can keep going."
Hijikata won in straight sets over Eduardo Nava of Wake Forest, 7-6 (2), 6-4, on Monday in the second round. He will try for a trip to the quarterfinals when he meets fourth-seeded Val Vacherot of Texas A&M on Tuesday at 1:30 p.m.
In doubles action, second-seeded Blumberg and Brian Cernoch beat Will Davies and Oliver Okonkwo of Iowa, 7-6 (7), 6-2, on Monday evening. They will meet Rithvik Bollipalli and Jacob Wojcik of South Florida on Tuesday night at 7 p.m.
5-time singles
— USTA (@usta) May 24, 2021
5-time doubles
All-time legend
Hats off to 🇺🇸 William Blumberg! pic.twitter.com/sNSmyDmW2x
Highlights from William Blumberg's record setting 7-5, 6-2 @NCAATennis victory, earning him a trip to the Rd. 16 and the first 10 time All 🇺🇸 in @ITA_Tennis history pic.twitter.com/K11hAbook2
— UNC Men's Tennis 🐏🎾 (@carolinatennis) May 24, 2021
William Blumberg d. Hady Habib 7-5, 6-2 @NCAATennis to become the first player in @ITA_Tennis history to earn All America honors five straight years in singles and doubles (10x All American) @usta pic.twitter.com/LsGVDLjvzq
— UNC Men's Tennis 🐏🎾 (@carolinatennis) May 24, 2021
Rinky Hijikata into @NCAATennis Rd. 16, 7-6(2), 6-4 over Wake Forest's Eduardo Nava pic.twitter.com/jP6yTeosNc
— UNC Men's Tennis 🐏🎾 (@carolinatennis) May 24, 2021
Blumberg/Cernoch d. Davies/Okonkwo 7-6(7), 6-2 @NCAATennis Rd. 32; advance to face Texas/USF winner pic.twitter.com/tniQkfzu3j
— UNC Men's Tennis 🐏🎾 (@carolinatennis) May 24, 2021
