Sunday, January 29
Chapel Hill
2 PM
North Carolina
4
vs
1
Harvard (Championship)
Anuj Watane celebrates his clinching win with Ryan Seggerman, Benjamin Kittay and William Jansen.
Photo by: Jeffrey A. Camarati
Gritty Men's Tennis Downs No. 13 Harvard In ITA Kickoff, 4-1
January 29, 2023 | Men's Tennis
CHAPEL HILL, N.C.—Anuj Watane came from behind to win the clincher as North Carolina's men's tennis team beat No. 13 Harvard, 4-1, in the championship match of the ITA Kickoff Weekend on Sunday. The two ranked teams played before a standing-room-only crowd at the Cone-Kenfield Tennis Center to cap an exciting weekend of action in Chapel Hill.
After dropping the first set to Steven Sun at No. 5 singles, Watane roared back to win the next two frames by 6-2 scores and grab the victory, upping his season singles record to 7-2.
With the win, UNC advances to the ITA National Team Indoor Championship on February 17-20 in Chicago. The Tar Heels won the ITA National Indoor title in both 2016 and 2021.
Carolina, ranked No. 17 in the ITA Top 25 poll, improved to 4-1 this season. Harvard fell to 3-1.
"I'm so proud of our guys," head coach Sam Paul said afterward. "First of all, Harvard's got a great team. We knew that coming in here. We knew also that Oklahoma State [on Saturday] would be a tough challenge for us. They've got a great coach, and they're getting a lot better. Putting two matches together, back-to-back like this…I'm just really proud of our guys.
"I'm really proud of how we fought," Paul continued. "At this time last week, we had a long ride home from South Carolina. We were in a pretty good position, we thought, but things didn't go our way. I think that helped us coming into the weekend. I'm really proud of the guys."
The Tar Heels won the doubles point to start the afternoon. William Jansen and Karl Poling took a 6-3 at No. 3 over Steven Sun and Ronan Jachuck to begin. Casey Kania and Ryan Seggerman clinched the point with a 6-4 at No. 1 over Daniel Milavsky and Valdemar Pape, 6-4.
Chris Li grabbed the first singles win of the day at No. 6. He trailed, 4-1, to begin the first set before roaring back to win, 6-4. He then cruised in the second set, 6-1, to give Carolina a 2-0 advantage. Li (7-1 singles record) has started the dual season on a tear, winning in singles in all five Tar Heel matches in 2023.
After Harvard pulled within a point at 2-1 by beating Poling at No. 4, Jansen beat Jachuck 6-4, 6-4 for a 3-1 Tar Heel edge. Watane then won the clincher to punch the ticket to Chicago.
Earlier in the day, No. 21 Columbia beat Oklahoma State, 4-0, in an ITA Kickoff consolation match in Chapel Hill.
The Tar Heels will return to action with a pair of big home matches next weekend when they host Illinois on Saturday at 4 p.m. and TCU on Sunday at 2:30 p.m.
After dropping the first set to Steven Sun at No. 5 singles, Watane roared back to win the next two frames by 6-2 scores and grab the victory, upping his season singles record to 7-2.
With the win, UNC advances to the ITA National Team Indoor Championship on February 17-20 in Chicago. The Tar Heels won the ITA National Indoor title in both 2016 and 2021.
Carolina, ranked No. 17 in the ITA Top 25 poll, improved to 4-1 this season. Harvard fell to 3-1.
"I'm so proud of our guys," head coach Sam Paul said afterward. "First of all, Harvard's got a great team. We knew that coming in here. We knew also that Oklahoma State [on Saturday] would be a tough challenge for us. They've got a great coach, and they're getting a lot better. Putting two matches together, back-to-back like this…I'm just really proud of our guys.
"I'm really proud of how we fought," Paul continued. "At this time last week, we had a long ride home from South Carolina. We were in a pretty good position, we thought, but things didn't go our way. I think that helped us coming into the weekend. I'm really proud of the guys."
The Tar Heels won the doubles point to start the afternoon. William Jansen and Karl Poling took a 6-3 at No. 3 over Steven Sun and Ronan Jachuck to begin. Casey Kania and Ryan Seggerman clinched the point with a 6-4 at No. 1 over Daniel Milavsky and Valdemar Pape, 6-4.
Chris Li grabbed the first singles win of the day at No. 6. He trailed, 4-1, to begin the first set before roaring back to win, 6-4. He then cruised in the second set, 6-1, to give Carolina a 2-0 advantage. Li (7-1 singles record) has started the dual season on a tear, winning in singles in all five Tar Heel matches in 2023.
After Harvard pulled within a point at 2-1 by beating Poling at No. 4, Jansen beat Jachuck 6-4, 6-4 for a 3-1 Tar Heel edge. Watane then won the clincher to punch the ticket to Chicago.
Earlier in the day, No. 21 Columbia beat Oklahoma State, 4-0, in an ITA Kickoff consolation match in Chapel Hill.
The Tar Heels will return to action with a pair of big home matches next weekend when they host Illinois on Saturday at 4 p.m. and TCU on Sunday at 2:30 p.m.
Anuj Watane sends Carolina to Chicago!#GoHeels #ITAKickoff pic.twitter.com/6Qe30cVvnL
— Carolina Men's Tennis 🐏🎾 (@carolinatennis) January 29, 2023
Tennis Match Results
Harvard vs North Carolina 01/29/2023 at Chapel Hill, N.C. (Cone-Kenfield Tennis Center)
#17 North Carolina 4, #13 Harvard 1
Singles competition
1. Brian Cernoch (NC) vs. #22 von der Schulenburg (HAR) 5-7, 7-6 (7-5), unfinished
2. #9 Ryan Seggerman (NC) vs. #46 Harris Walker (HAR) 7-6 (7-4), 1-6, 4-3, unfinished
3. Will Jansen (NC) def. Ronan Jachuck (HAR) 6-4, 6-4
4. Daniel Milavsky (HAR) def. Karl Poling (NC) 6-1, 6-4
5. Anuj Watane (NC) def. Steven Sun (HAR) 1-6, 6-2, 6-2
6. Chris Li (NC) def. Alan Yim (HAR) 6-4, 6-1
Doubles competition
1. Casey Kania/Ryan Seggerman (NC) def. Daniel Milavsky/Valdemar Pape (HAR) 6-4
2. Brian Cernoch/Benjamin Kittay (NC) vs. Harris Walker/von der Schulenburg (HAR) 3-5, unfinished
3. Will Jansen/Karl Poling (NC) def. Steven Sun/Ronan Jachuck (HAR) 6-3
Match Notes:
Harvard 3-1; National ranking #13
North Carolina 4-1; National ranking #17
Order of finish: Doubles (3,1); Singles (6,4,3,5)
T-2:33 A-605
Harvard vs North Carolina 01/29/2023 at Chapel Hill, N.C. (Cone-Kenfield Tennis Center)
#17 North Carolina 4, #13 Harvard 1
Singles competition
1. Brian Cernoch (NC) vs. #22 von der Schulenburg (HAR) 5-7, 7-6 (7-5), unfinished
2. #9 Ryan Seggerman (NC) vs. #46 Harris Walker (HAR) 7-6 (7-4), 1-6, 4-3, unfinished
3. Will Jansen (NC) def. Ronan Jachuck (HAR) 6-4, 6-4
4. Daniel Milavsky (HAR) def. Karl Poling (NC) 6-1, 6-4
5. Anuj Watane (NC) def. Steven Sun (HAR) 1-6, 6-2, 6-2
6. Chris Li (NC) def. Alan Yim (HAR) 6-4, 6-1
Doubles competition
1. Casey Kania/Ryan Seggerman (NC) def. Daniel Milavsky/Valdemar Pape (HAR) 6-4
2. Brian Cernoch/Benjamin Kittay (NC) vs. Harris Walker/von der Schulenburg (HAR) 3-5, unfinished
3. Will Jansen/Karl Poling (NC) def. Steven Sun/Ronan Jachuck (HAR) 6-3
Match Notes:
Harvard 3-1; National ranking #13
North Carolina 4-1; National ranking #17
Order of finish: Doubles (3,1); Singles (6,4,3,5)
T-2:33 A-605
Team Stats
#1 Doubles Match
#2 Doubles Match
#3 Doubles Match
Order of Finish:
3,1
#1 Singles Match
123
von der Schulenburg / 0 (22/-) [HAR]
760
57UF
#2 Singles Match
1234
Harris Walker / 0 (46/-) [HAR]
6630
714UF
#3 Singles Match
12
Ronan Jachuck / 0 [HAR]
44
66
#4 Singles Match
12
Daniel Milavsky / 0 [HAR]
66
14
#5 Singles Match
123
Steven Sun / 0 [HAR]
622
166
#6 Singles Match
12
Alan Yim / 0 [HAR]
41
66
Order of Finish:
6,4,3,5
Players Mentioned
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
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